# Rename directory from command line ## Rename directory from command line by SRINI In [Renaming files from command line](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-file-from-command-line/) we saw how to rename files using ***Rename*** command. We can use ***Rename*** command to rename directories too. See the syntax below. ``` Rename dir_oldname dir_newname ``` Example: ``` G:\data>mkdir dir1 G:\data>dir /b dir1 G:\data>rename dir1 dir2 G:\data>dir /b dir2 G:\data> ``` Note that, with rename command, we can’t move the files to another drive or directory. This command just renames the existing file/folder and does not create a new file. That is why it does not accept full path for the target file name. If you try to do that you will get the error – “*The syntax of the command is incorrect.*” Example: ``` C:\docs>ren 1.txt c:\docs\2.txt The syntax of the command is incorrect. ``` The below rename command works fine. ``` C:\docs>ren c:\docs\1.txt 2.txt C:\docs>dir /b 2.txt ``` We can also use *ren* (the short form of rename) for rename operations. Both *Ren* and *Rename* refer to the same command. This command can be used to rename files or directories on all Windows OS editions i.e Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7. *Related Posts:* [Delete directory from Windows command line](https://www.windows-commandline.com/delete-directory-from-command-line/)16 comments… [add one](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/#commentform) * Thai Can we use wildcats when renaming directories[REPLY](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/?replytocom=100#commentform) [LINK](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/#comment-100) * Sumeeth Tewar rename \*.txt \*.doc\ will definetely work :)\ it does accept wild cards.[REPLY](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/?replytocom=106#commentform) [LINK](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/#comment-106) * Techblogger Thanks for correcting me Sumith. Removed my earlier comment.[REPLY](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/?replytocom=107#commentform) [LINK](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/#comment-107) * Anonymous how do you deal with spaces in the directory you need to rename?[REPLY](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/?replytocom=142#commentform) [LINK](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/#comment-142) * Techblogger Specify the directory name in quotes. See below examples ren "directory with spaces" newdir ren "directory with spaces" "another directory with spaces"[REPLY](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/?replytocom=143#commentform) [LINK](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/#comment-143) * Anonymous In Win 7 you cannot rename directories! It just returns “Access denied”[REPLY](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/?replytocom=2081#commentform) [LINK](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/#comment-2081) * Anonymous Please ignore my previous comment. rename works fine.[REPLY](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/?replytocom=2082#commentform) [LINK](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/#comment-2082) * Guillaume Drolet What causes Access denied exactly? I somehow got it to work. I used rename then I tried again move and move was working after that. I have no idea what I was doing wrong because I tried everything I did at first with move and it didn’t give me access denied again. Of course I did start the command prompt with administrator rights (well at first I didn’t but I restarted it with admin rights and it was still giving me the same error)[REPLY](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/?replytocom=6404#commentform) [LINK](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/#comment-6404) * Prasad Shetty thanks[REPLY](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/?replytocom=12218#commentform) [LINK](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/#comment-12218) * Nathan Thanks this helped a lot, we have a network and I “think” the back up here sometimes locks files even though nobody has them open. @Guillaume Drolet I got “Access denied” when the folder was highlighted in Explorer.\ Not sure if that’s what caused it.[REPLY](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/?replytocom=24872#commentform) [LINK](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/#comment-24872) * Owen Wildcards in W7 do NOT work. For example:\ ren \*.RDX \*.REP from within the relevant folder (not root) gets ‘syntax error’. Also tried:\ ren ??????.RDX ??????.REP with same result….[REPLY](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/?replytocom=24995#commentform) [LINK](https://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-directory-from-command-line/#comment-24995) * Doug You must use cmd in administrator mode. Right click on cmd and select run as administrator --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://learnimportant.gitbook.io/learn-important/windows10/rename-directory-from-command-line.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. 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