Renaming Files and Folders

When you create a new file or folder, it helps to give it a name that somehow describes its contents. Sometimes, however, you might need to change a file's name. Fortunately, Windows makes it relatively easy to rename an item.

To rename a file (or folder), follow these steps:

1. Select the file or folder you want to rename.
   
   

2. Select Rename This File from the File Tasks list, or press F2; this highlights the filename.
   
   

3. Type a new name for your folder (which overwrites the current name), and press Enter.
   
   

caution

The one part of the filename you should never change is the extension the part that comes after the "dot." That's because Windows and other software programs recognize different types of program files and documents by their extension. For example, program files always have an .EXE extension, and Microsoft Word documents always have a .DOC extension. Try to change the extension, and Windows will warn you that you're doing something wrong.