How to Rename a File in Python

Najwa Riyaz Feb 02, 2024 Python Python File
  1. Rename a File in Python Using os.rename()
  2. Rename a File in Python Using shutil.move()
How to Rename a File in Python

If you wish to rename a file in Python, choose one of the following options.

  1. Use os.rename() to rename a file.
  2. Use shutil.move() to rename a file.

Rename a File in Python Using os.rename()

The function os.rename() can be used to rename a file in Python.

For example,

import os

file_oldname = os.path.join("c:\\Folder-1", "OldFileName.txt")
file_newname_newfile = os.path.join("c:\\Folder-1", "NewFileName.NewExtension")

os.rename(file_oldname, file_newname_newfile)

In the above example,

file_oldname - the old file name.

file_newname_newfile - the new file name.

Result:

  1. The file named file_oldname is renamed to file_newname_newfile
  2. The content which was present in file_oldname will be found in file_newname_newfile.

Pre-requisites:

  • Import the os module.
    import os
  • Be aware of the current directory.

    If the source/destination file doesn’t exist in the current directory where the code is executed, mention the absolute or relative path to the files.

  • The source file should exist. Otherwise it displays the following error.
    [WinError 2] The system cannot find the file specified
  • The destination file should not exist. Else the following error is displayed -
    [WinError 183] Cannot create a file when that file already exists

Rename a File in Python Using shutil.move()

The function shutil.move() can also be used to rename a file in Python.

For example,

import shutil

file_oldname = os.path.join("c:\\Folder-1", "OldFileName.txt")
file_newname_newfile = os.path.join("c:\\Folder-1", "NewFileName.NewExtension")

newFileName = shutil.move(file_oldname, file_newname_newfile)

print("The renamed file has the name:", newFileName)

In the above example,

file_oldname: the old file name.

file_newname_newfile: the new file name.

Result:

  1. The file named file_oldname is renamed to file_newname_newfile
  2. The content which was present in file_oldname will now be found in file_newname_newfile.
  3. The return value - newFileName, which is the new file name.

Pre-requisites:

  • Import the shutil module as,
    import shutil
  • Be aware of the current directory.

    If the source/destination file doesn’t exist in the current directory where the code is executed, mention the absolute or relative path to the files.

  • The source file should exist. Else the following error is displayed -
    [WinError 2] The system cannot find the file specified.
  • If the destination file already exists, no error is displayed. Also, if any content was present in the destination file, it is overwritten with the content in the source file.
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