rename file / folder shortcut?

speakerwizard · Nov 20, 2006

Hi, just a quick question (while its at the forefront of my mind) is there a better way of renaming a file / folder than clicking to select the icon, waiting a couple of seconds, then clicking again on the name (and waiting a tick) to edit the fil name? like a keyboard shortcut im not aware of, im a seasoned mac user but need enlightening, thanks guys

Josias · Nov 20, 2006

press return.

Mitthrawnuruodo · Nov 20, 2006

Click on the file/folder and use the Enter key (or just the Return key) to "enter" edit mode...

speakerwizard · Nov 20, 2006

hahaha, thnks guys, that easy, feel silly

alptkz · Feb 26, 2009

Hi

I'm bumbing this thread for my question. In my Mac, pressing Enter or Return doesn't let me renaming the file or folder. So far I cannot find a single keyboard shortcut that can help me rename files easily. Any idea why it's not working ?

I'm on the latest update of Leopard.

Thanks

Ashka · Feb 26, 2009

Relaunch Finder.
Right click the finder dock icon while holding down the option key. Relaunch is on the context menu.
You should then be able to rename by selecting and using the return key.

sickmacdoc · Feb 26, 2009

alptkz said:
Hi

I'm bumbing this thread for my question. In my Mac, pressing Enter or Return doesn't let me renaming the file or folder. So far I cannot find a single keyboard shortcut that can help me rename files easily. Any idea why it's not working ?

I'm on the latest update of Leopard.

Thanks

Are you clicking on the file once to select it first? If not, no rename.

alptkz · Feb 27, 2009

I tried to relaunch Finder, I do click the file to select it and still no renaming

Did I deactivate this function somehow, is it even possible to do that ?

alptkz · Mar 2, 2009

Any ideas anyone ? This is really troublesome as I have to do a lot of renaming.

BertyBoy · Mar 2, 2009

File may be in use,

or you may not have permissions on the file itself or the directory the file is in.

Or it may be on read-only media.

alptkz · Mar 2, 2009

That does not seem the be the case as I can rename the files (any files) just fine by clicking the file and clicking it again. However the Enter/Return shortcut never works for any files. That's why I'm thinking the shortcut is somehow disabled. I don't see what else it could be.

Cromulent · Mar 2, 2009

alptkz said:
That does not seem the be the case as I can rename the files (any files) just fine by clicking the file and clicking it again. However the Enter/Return shortcut never works for any files. That's why I'm thinking the shortcut is somehow disabled. I don't see what else it could be.

Click file. Press return. That's all there is to it.

alptkz · Mar 2, 2009

It should but it doesn't. I'm quite good with computers, I'm not doing something wrong here. The file is clicked, I press Return, nothing happens.

Darfuria · Apr 30, 2009

Try command + return or ctrl + return. I can't remember if I've mapped the keys on this Mac or not, but ctrl + return works for me.

alptkz · Apr 30, 2009

I figured it out: I was using the international keyboard which I downloaded but was using an older version which had a few bugs, one of which didn't let me rename by pressing return. I updated to the latest version and all is good. Thanks for the help

trvasu · Jul 19, 2009

Here is the answer you are looking for

Hi, if you are using macbook keyboard, you would notice, "enter" and "return" in the same key. If you want to hit enter, then you should press "fn" and then press the "enter" key.

So to re-name a file, click the file / folder and then "fn+enter" to rename the file

MacManiac76 · Jul 19, 2009

trvasu said:
Hi, if you are using macbook keyboard, you would notice, "enter" and "return" in the same key. If you want to hit enter, then you should press "fn" and then press the "enter" key.

So to re-name a file, click the file / folder and then "fn+enter" to rename the file

The fn key press is not necessary. The Enter / Return on the same key is just alternate naming, just like the Alt / Option key. You can still press the fn key+Enter / Return and it will enter edit mode, but really the fn key press is doing nothing and is not necessary.

Gyalis · Mar 4, 2010

MacManiac76 said:
The fn key press is not necessary. The Enter / Return on the same key is just alternate naming, just like the Alt / Option key. You can still press the fn key+Enter / Return and it will enter edit mode, but really the fn key press is doing nothing and is not necessary.

This is my official n00b post. I know this is an old thread, but I'm posting this for the benefit of those searching for this information.

The fn key press is necessary in iTunes (Return alone plays the song). I haven't noticed it being necessary anywhere else though.

detuned · Aug 6, 2010

return is slow

pressing return is slower than using the mouse as you have to delete the file name and then type. with the mouse you can select the name and type away. any shortcut that selects just the name and lets you type in an alternative?

GGJstudios · Aug 6, 2010

detuned said:
pressing return is slower than using the mouse as you have to delete the file name and then type. with the mouse you can select the name and type away. any shortcut that selects just the name and lets you type in an alternative?

If you're talking about Finder, this is not true. When you press enter/return on a file in Finder, it enables edit mode and highlights the existing filename. If you want to replace the name, you simply start typing after pressing return, and whatever you type will overwrite the old filename. In iTunes, fn+enter/return does the same thing.

detuned · Aug 6, 2010

so it doesn't matter if the file extension disappears? because that's what seems to happen if you press return then type

GGJstudios · Aug 6, 2010

detuned said:
so it doesn't matter if the file extension disappears? because that's what seems to happen if you press return then type

No, when you press return on a file name in Finder, it highlights everything except the extension.

angelwatt · Aug 6, 2010

GGJstudios said:
No, when you press return on a file name in Finder, it highlights everything except the extension.

That's a behavior that started in 10.6, the other poster may be using an older OS where it highlights the entire file name, extension included.

GGJstudios · Aug 6, 2010

angelwatt said:
That's a behavior that started in 10.6, the other poster may be using an older OS where it highlights the entire file name, extension included.

I'm on 10.5.8.

angelwatt · Aug 6, 2010

GGJstudios said:
I'm on 10.5.8.

Must have been Tiger (10.4) and earlier then that highlighted the entire name and extension. I didn't spend much time in Leopard before Snow Leopard came.

rename file / folder shortcut?

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