How to Rename a File in Linux

In this Linux tutorial, you'll learn how to rename a file using the terminal.

Alright, let’s get started!

The Command You Need: `mv`

In Linux, there's no separate rename command for everyday use. Instead, we use the mv command — short for "move" — to rename files. It's like telling Linux: “Hey, move this file from its old name to a new name... in the same place.”

Basic Syntax

mv old_filename new_filename

Let’s see it in action.

Step-by-Step Example

Suppose we have a file called notes.txt and we want to rename it to project_notes.txt.

ls

notes.txt

mv notes.txt project_notes.txt

ls

project_notes.txt

Awesome! You've just renamed a file.

Renaming Inside a Directory

If the file is inside another folder, like documents/, you can still rename it using the path:

mv documents/oldname.txt documents/newname.txt

This keeps the file in the same folder but changes its name.

What If the File Doesn’t Exist?

If you try to rename a file that doesn't exist, you'll get an error like this:

mv hello.txt goodbye.txt

mv: cannot stat 'hello.txt': No such file or directory

So always make sure the file you're trying to rename actually exists. Use ls to list files in the current directory if you're unsure.

Pro Tip: No Confirmation by Default

Linux won’t ask for confirmation if new_filename already exists — it will simply overwrite it. To avoid that, use the -i (interactive) option:

mv -i file1.txt file2.txt

mv: overwrite 'file2.txt'?

This gives you the chance to stop the action if needed.

Summary

Use mv old_name new_name to rename files
You can rename files in any directory by including the path
Use -i to prevent accidental overwrites

That’s it! You’ve now learned how to rename a file in Linux like a pro. Keep experimenting and try renaming a few files in your system.

How to Rename a File in Linux