Can’t find the “Rename” option in the new Windows 11 File Explorer menu? Here’s a quick guide to help you rename a file and understand the basic new Windows 11 changes.
Windows 11 comes with a refreshed interface, a focused taskbar, redesigned settings, among other major and minor changes. While there is a mixed response from users to these changes, Windows 11 as a whole is much more user-friendly.
One of the major changes (from previous versions of Windows) that you may have noticed is the absence of the ‘Rename’ option in the context menu when you right-click on a file or folder. Windows 11 revamped the context menu, cleaned it up, and to be fair, it looks a lot cooler now. So, how to rename a file / folder in Windows 11?
Renaming a file on Windows isn’t the same anymore, so it’s time to familiarize yourself with the new process. There are three ways to rename a file and we have discussed each under a separate caption.
Rename a file using the Rename icon in the context menu
To rename a file in Windows 11, right click on it and select the “Rename” icon at the top or bottom of the context menu. Alternatively, you can also select the file and press the button F2 key to rename a file.
Then type in the new file name and press ENTER to save the changes.
Rename a file from the File Explorer command bar
Windows 11 also has the “Rename” icon in the new command bar, along with other icons. The command bar at the top contains a bunch of relevant options that make it much easier to navigate.
To rename a file from the command bar at the top, select the file then click on the “Rename” icon in the “Command bar”.
Now you can enter the name you want for it.
Rename a file from the legacy context menu
Although Windows 11 revamped the context menu, it didn’t completely do away with the old format that we had known and used for ages. For those who take the time to acclimatize, the legacy context menu might still be the option of choice when it comes to using Windows 11 File Explorer.
To rename a file using the old menu, right click on the file and select “Show more options” from the context menu. Alternatively, you can just select the file and press SHIFT + F10 keyboard shortcut to display the old menu.
The inherited context menu now appears on the screen, select the “Rename” option from the menu and give the file another name.
Windows 11, the latest iteration, introduced a lot of changes and it might take a few days for you to identify and get used to all of them. After you have learned how to rename a file, you are definitely one step closer.