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RenameFile[file1,file2]

renames file1 to file2.

Details and Options
Details and Options Details and Options
Examples  
Basic Examples  
Scope  
See Also
Tech Notes
Related Guides
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History
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RenameFile

RenameFile[file1,file2]

renames file1 to file2.

Details and Options

  • file1 must already exist; file2 must not.
  • RenameFile sets the modification date for file2 to be the same as for file1.
  • RenameFile returns the full new file name, or $Failed if the file cannot be renamed.
  • RenameFile works on cloud objects, changing their cloud file names but not their UUIDs.
  • RenameFile works on local objects.
  • Files can be specified either using "path" or File["path"].
  • RenameFile has the following option:
  • OverwriteTargetFalsewhether to overwrite if the target file already exists

Examples

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Basic Examples  (1)

Copy a file:

Wolfram Language code: file = $InstallationDirectory <> "/Documentation/English/System/ExampleData/ocelot.jpg";
Wolfram Language code: cfile1 = FileNameJoin[{$TemporaryDirectory, "ocelot.jpg"}];
Wolfram Language code: CopyFile[file, cfile1]

Rename the file:

Wolfram Language code: cfile2 = FileNameJoin[{$TemporaryDirectory, "test123"}];
Wolfram Language code: RenameFile[cfile1, cfile2]

Import the renamed file:

Wolfram Language code: Import[cfile2]

Delete the file:

Wolfram Language code: DeleteFile[cfile2]

Scope  (3)

Rename a file specified by the File object:

Wolfram Language code: file = File[CreateFile[]]
Wolfram Language code: newfile = File[FileNameJoin[{$TemporaryDirectory, CreateUUID[]}]];
Wolfram Language code: RenameFile[file, newfile]

RenameFile works on cloud objects:

Wolfram Language code: obj = CloudPut[12345, "cloudfile"]
Wolfram Language code: RenameFile[obj, CloudObject["newfile"]]
Wolfram Language code: CloudGet[CloudObject["newfile"]]
Wolfram Language code: DeleteObject[CloudObject["newfile"]]

Convert an anonymous object to a named one:

Wolfram Language code: obj = CloudPut[N[Pi, 10]]
Wolfram Language code: RenameFile[obj, CloudObject["pi.wl"]]
Wolfram Language code: CloudGet[CloudObject["pi.wl"]]
Wolfram Language code: DeleteObject[CloudObject["pi.wl"]]

RenameFile works on local objects:

Wolfram Language code: lo = Put[42, LocalObject[]]
Wolfram Language code: RenameFile[lo, LocalObject["some/path"]]
Wolfram Language code: Get[%]
Wolfram Research (1991), RenameFile, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/RenameFile.html (updated 2020).

Text

Wolfram Research (1991), RenameFile, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/RenameFile.html (updated 2020).

CMS

Wolfram Language. 1991. "RenameFile." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2020. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/RenameFile.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (1991). RenameFile. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/RenameFile.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2026_renamefile, author="Wolfram Research", title="{RenameFile}", year="2020", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/RenameFile.html}", note=[Accessed: 12-June-2026]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2026_renamefile, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={RenameFile}, year={2020}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/RenameFile.html}, note=[Accessed: 12-June-2026]}