Bulk Rename Utility is a robust and lightweight file renaming software for Windows. It is designed to handle large-scale batch file renaming operations with extreme flexibility. Rewritten in C++ for speed and efficiency, the utility can process thousands of files in seconds, making it an indispensable tool for power users and digital archivists. While the software is free for personal, private use, a commercial license is required for business or commercial environments.
In This Post
Quick Start & Pro Tips
Using Regular Expressions for Complex Renaming
- Select the files you wish to rename in the file list.
- Navigate to the Reg. Ex. (Regular Expressions) panel (Group 11).
- In the Replace field, enter the Regular Expression pattern to match the text segment you want to change.
- In the With field, use back-references (e.g., $1, $2) to define the new filename structure.
- Observe the real-time changes in the New Name column before clicking the Rename button.
Why: Regular Expressions allow for highly precise, pattern-based text manipulation that is impossible with simple find-and-replace, enabling power users to standardize complex filename structures across thousands of files using a single expression.
Renaming Media Files with EXIF and ID3 Metadata
- Select the image (.jpg) or audio (.mp3) files in the main window.
- Ensure the Extract EXIF data and Extract ID3 tags options are enabled in the program Preferences to populate the respective columns.
- Go to the Auto-Number or Add panels.
- Use the Insert Renaming Tag… dialog (available via the arrow-down menu on renaming fields) to select a specific tag, such as EXIF Date Picture Taken or ID3 Artist.
- Insert the chosen tag into the desired position (e.g., as a Prefix) to automatically embed the metadata value into the new filename.
Why: Using EXIF metadata and ID3 tags allows for non-destructive, context-rich renaming of media files. This includes organizing photos by the exact date they were taken. It also includes organizing music by the track’s bitrate and album title. This method ensures file integrity and superior organization.
Saving and Loading Renaming Criteria (.bru files)
- After configuring a complex set of renaming rules across multiple panels (e.g., Remove, Replace, Auto-Number), go to the main menu.
- Select File > Save As to save the current configuration as a.bru file.
- To reuse the configuration, select File > Open and load the saved.bru file.
- Alternatively, place an _autoload.bru file in a folder to automatically load the criteria upon drag-and-drop or using the Bulk Rename Here Windows File Explorer extension.
Why: Saving the renaming criteria to a.bru file is essential for maintaining consistency across different projects or for automating repetitive file management tasks, ensuring that complex, multi-step renaming operations are instantly reproducible.
| Software Name | Bulk Rename Utility |
|---|---|
| Version | 4.1.0.1 |
| License | Free |
| OS Support | Windows 11, 10, 8, 7; Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012, 2008 |
| Language | English |
| Developer | TGRMN Software |
| Homepage | https://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/ |
| Last Updated | 18 Nov 2025 |
Highlights
- Advanced Metadata Renaming: Rename photos using embedded EXIF metadata (e.g., Date Picture Taken, Resolution) and MP3 files using ID3 tags (Artist, Album, Title) for rich, context-based file naming.
- Regular Expressions and Javascript Support: Power users can employ complex pattern matching with Regular Expressions (Regex) and custom Javascript conditions to define highly specific and powerful renaming rules.
- Real-Time Preview and Undo Functionality: A crucial real-time preview window displays the proposed new filenames before execution, and the utility can create an Undo batch file to revert accidental changes.
- File and Folder Attribute Management: Beyond renaming, users can modify file and folder properties, including changing date/timestamps (created, modified, accessed) and file attributes (hidden, read-only, archived).
- Directory Recursion and Filtering: Process files and folders across all sub-directories using directory recursion, and filter the target list using wildcards, name length, or path length criteria.
Compare Alternatives
| Feature | Bulk Rename Utility | Advanced Renamer | Rename Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ✅ Freemium (Free for Personal Use) | ✅ Freemium (Free for Personal Use) | ✅ Free (Donationware) |
| Platform | Windows | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Batch Rename | Files and Folders | Files and Folders | Files and Folders |
| Metadata Support (EXIF/ID3) | Yes (EXIF, ID3, Video Tags) | Yes (EXIF, ID3, Video, GPS) | Yes (EXIF, ID3, JFIF) |
| Regular Expressions | Yes, with Regex Assistant | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Portable Mode | Yes (Official ZIP) | Yes (Official ZIP) | Not specified |
| Our Pick | Best overall | Best for users needing cross-platform support (Windows/macOS) and a clean interface. | Best for a completely free, no-frills utility focused on core batch renaming functions. |
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