Batch Rename Files in Google Drive Using Apps Script

Renaming dozens of files in Google Drive by hand is a chore. Apps Script can do it in seconds — whether you need to add a date prefix, replace text in filenames, or apply a numbered sequence.

Add a prefix to all files in a folder

function addPrefixToFiles() {
  const folderId = 'YOUR_FOLDER_ID';
  const prefix = '2025_';

  const folder = DriveApp.getFolderById(folderId);
  const files = folder.getFiles();
  let count = 0;

  while (files.hasNext()) {
    const file = files.next();
    const oldName = file.getName();
    file.setName(prefix + oldName);
    Logger.log(`Renamed: "${oldName}" → "${prefix + oldName}"`);
    count++;
  }

  Logger.log(`Done. Renamed ${count} file(s).`);
}

Add a suffix (before the file extension)

function addSuffixToFiles() {
  const folderId = 'YOUR_FOLDER_ID';
  const suffix = '_final';

  const folder = DriveApp.getFolderById(folderId);
  const files = folder.getFiles();

  while (files.hasNext()) {
    const file = files.next();
    const name = file.getName();
    const dotIndex = name.lastIndexOf('.');

    let newName;
    if (dotIndex !== -1) {
      newName = name.slice(0, dotIndex) + suffix + name.slice(dotIndex);
    } else {
      newName = name + suffix;
    }

    file.setName(newName);
    Logger.log(`Renamed: "${name}" → "${newName}"`);
  }
}

Find and replace text in filenames

function findAndReplaceInNames() {
  const folderId = 'YOUR_FOLDER_ID';
  const findText = 'Draft';
  const replaceText = 'Final';

  const folder = DriveApp.getFolderById(folderId);
  const files = folder.getFiles();

  while (files.hasNext()) {
    const file = files.next();
    const oldName = file.getName();

    if (oldName.includes(findText)) {
      const newName = oldName.replaceAll(findText, replaceText);
      file.setName(newName);
      Logger.log(`Renamed: "${oldName}" → "${newName}"`);
    }
  }
}

Apply a numbered sequence

function renameWithSequence() {
  const folderId = 'YOUR_FOLDER_ID';
  const baseName = 'Report';
  const padLength = 3; // e.g., Report_001, Report_002

  const folder = DriveApp.getFolderById(folderId);
  const files = folder.getFiles();
  const allFiles = [];

  while (files.hasNext()) {
    allFiles.push(files.next());
  }

  // Sort by creation date
  allFiles.sort((a, b) => a.getDateCreated() - b.getDateCreated());

  allFiles.forEach((file, i) => {
    const num = String(i + 1).padStart(padLength, '0');
    const ext = file.getName().includes('.') ? '.' + file.getName().split('.').pop() : '';
    const newName = `${baseName}_${num}${ext}`;
    file.setName(newName);
    Logger.log(`Renamed: "${file.getName()}" → "${newName}"`);
  });
}

Rename using data from a Google Sheet

For full control, list the old and new names in a Sheet:

A: File ID	B: New Name
1abc...	Q1 Report
2def...	Q2 Report

function renameFromSheet() {
  const sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();
  const data = sheet.getDataRange().getValues().slice(1); // Skip header

  data.forEach(([fileId, newName]) => {
    if (!fileId || !newName) return;
    try {
      const file = DriveApp.getFileById(fileId);
      const oldName = file.getName();
      file.setName(newName);
      Logger.log(`Renamed: "${oldName}" → "${newName}"`);
    } catch (e) {
      Logger.log(`Error renaming file ${fileId}: ${e.message}`);
    }
  });
}

Tips

To get a file's ID, right-click it in Google Drive > Get link — the ID is the string after /d/ in the URL.
folder.getFiles() only returns direct children, not files in subfolders. Use recursion if you need to rename files in nested folders.
Always log old and new names before running on large batches — it's easy to spot a pattern issue before it affects hundreds of files.
There's no undo in Drive for renames. Test on a small folder copy first.