The Rename module

Rename thousands of photos by date, camera, counter, or a pattern you define

The Rename module reads the EXIF metadata inside every file and renames it exactly as you specify. Use simple tokens, write regex patterns with capture groups, or pick from 7 pre-built naming strategies. A live preview shows every result before a single file is touched.

macOS 14+ & Windows 10+ Live preview · full undo
FolioSort Rename module — ready to configure a naming pattern

IMG_0001 tells you nothing about the photo.

Every camera and phone spits out the same meaningless names — IMG_4523.jpg, DSC00218, PXL_20260503 — so a folder of a thousand photos is a wall of numbers you can't search, sort or skim. Rename them by hand and it's an evening lost; get one wrong and there's no going back.

Yet each file already knows exactly when and how it was taken. That information sits unread inside the EXIF, waiting to become a filename that actually means something.

Turn metadata into meaningful names — in seconds.

The Rename module reads the EXIF from every file and builds the filename you define: the capture date, camera tokens like {Camera} or {Lens}, an auto-incrementing counter, a prefix or suffix — or a full regex with capture groups. Pick a strategy, watch the live preview, run it.

It handles 50+ formats — JPEG, HEIC, video and RAW — updates a live match count as you type, and every batch is fully undoable. Thousands of files renamed while you finish your coffee.

How it works

From IMG_0001 to a name that means something

STEP 01

Point at your files

Choose the folder, drive or SD card to rename — mix cameras, phones and formats freely.

STEP 02

Pick a strategy

EXIF date, camera tokens, sequential counter, prefix/suffix — or a full regex with capture groups.

STEP 03

Preview live

See the before → after for every file and a live match count. Nothing renames until you're happy.

STEP 04

Rename or copy

Run it in place, or copy-rename to a new destination and leave originals untouched. Full undo, one click.

What it does

7 naming strategies — from simple to powerful

Date & time from EXIFRename by the real date taken — 2026-05-03_143022.jpg or 2026-05_wedding.jpg. Custom separators, time precision and date ordering.
Camera metadata tokensUse {Camera}, {Lens}, {ISO}, {Aperture} and {ShutterSpeed} in patterns — ideal for identifying the body on multi-camera shoots.
Regex with capture groups (Pro)Find pattern plus replacement with $1, $2 references. Turn IMG_4523.jpg into 4523_holiday.jpg. Back-reference validation catches bad groups first.
Sequential numberingAdd an auto-incrementing counter — holiday_001.jpg, holiday_002.jpg. Control start number, padding width and step; reset per folder or run continuously.
Prefix and suffixAdd text to the start or end of existing names without touching the rest — a client name, shoot location or project code across hundreds of files at once.
Copy-rename modeWrite renamed copies to a new destination while leaving the source folder intact — ideal for client delivery or archive creation.

Preview first

Review every rename before it runs

FolioSort Rename — live before to after preview of filename changes across a full folder scan

Precise patterns, no surprises.

Regex renaming gives you find-and-replace with capture-group references — $1, $2 — and a match count that updates live as you type, so you see exactly how many files a pattern will touch before you commit.

Back-reference validation catches a reference to a group that doesn't exist and blocks the run, and a live stats strip shows totals as you configure — you never rename blind.

Reversible, and offline.

Renaming thousands of files is high-stakes, so every batch is fully undoable with one click — roll a whole run back if the pattern wasn't what you wanted.

Prefer to keep the originals? Copy-rename mode writes renamed copies to a new destination and never touches the source. And it all runs 100% on-device: no cloud, no account, no upload of your library. Ever.

7 strategies
from simple tokens to full regex
50+ formats
JPEG, HEIC, video and RAW
Live preview
before → after, full undo
100% local
no cloud, no account, no upload
I deliver galleries to clients and the IMG_ names always looked amateur. I built a date-then-counter pattern, previewed the whole shoot, and renamed 900 files in one pass — with a copy so my originals stayed put. The live preview means I never guess what I'm about to do.
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER
Sort. Locate. Rename.

Rename works hand in hand with the FolioSort Organizer. Sort by real capture date and camera, geocode by place, and rename in bulk — build the exact archive your workflow needs.

FAQ

Rename questions, answered

Is Rename free?

Yes — Rename is free to start, with EXIF date, camera-token, sequential and prefix/suffix naming, plus live preview and full undo. Regex with capture groups and advanced patterns are a Pro feature. Pro is a one-time €19.99, no subscription.

Can I preview the new filenames before anything is renamed?

Yes. FolioSort shows a live before → after preview for every file in the list, and a match count updates as you type a pattern or regex. Nothing is renamed until you press Start, so you always see the exact result first.

Does Rename read the real EXIF date and camera from my photos?

Yes. It reads the EXIF metadata embedded in each file — capture date and time, camera make and model, lens, ISO, aperture and shutter — and can build filenames from those true values using tokens like the date taken or {Camera}. It works across JPEG, HEIC, video and 50+ RAW formats.

Can I undo a batch rename?

Yes. Every rename batch is tracked and reversible with one click, so you can roll a whole run back if a pattern wasn't what you wanted. There is also a copy-rename mode that writes renamed copies to a new destination and leaves your originals completely untouched.

How does regex renaming work?

Write a find pattern and a replacement using capture-group references like $1 and $2. Turn IMG_4523.jpg into 4523_holiday.jpg with a single regex, with the live match count updating as you type. Back-reference validation catches references to non-existent groups before any file is renamed. Regex is a Pro feature.

From IMG_0001 to a meaningful name — in seconds.

FolioSort is free to start. Pick a naming strategy, preview every result, and let Rename turn a wall of camera numbers into filenames you can actually read — fully undoable, never uploaded. Regex and advanced patterns come with Pro.

Free to start · no account Live preview · undo anything macOS 14+ & Windows 10+
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