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Unable to Rename a Folder in Windows 10: 9 Confirmed Fixes
Check our curated list of solutions that work for all
9 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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It is no secret that there is no perfect machine, and you will encounter problems on your Windows PC once in a while. While some can be ignorable, others, likeyour device ran into a problem and need to restart, can be frustrating.
One such frustrating problem that users are complaining about is the bug in Windows 10 that prevents them from renaming folders.
Why can’t I rename a file folder in Windows 10?
Here are a few reasons you might not be able to change a folder name on your PC.
Below are some of the variations of the error, as reported by users, and the possible causes:
What can I do if I can’t rename folders in Windows 10?
Before heading to the slightly complex solutions, try these quick tips:
If these don’t work, head to the solutions listed next.
1. Change the Windows Defender settings
Windows Defender is built-in antivirus software in Windows 10/11. However, sometimes, certain features of this tool can interfere with your system and cause problems like can’t change the folder name. Therefore, you might have to disable them to fix this problem.
Keep in mind that disabling this feature might make your system more vulnerable. If you don’t want to disable this feature, you might consider switching to one of thebest third-party antivirus softwareinESET NOD32.
Because viruses continually evolve, you need modern antivirus software with cutting-edge technology to protect you online and offline. And that is what you get with ESET NOD32.
It provides this total protection without messing with your PC.
ESET NOD32
2. Make sure you have ownership of the folder
To do anything (rename, delete, move, etc.) with a folder in Windows, you need to have ownership of it. Else, you will always encounter the can’t change folder name error.
If you have just one User Account, ownership of most folders is automatically granted to you.
However, if there are more User Accounts on a single PC,userswithout administrator privileges may have problems managing folders.
Once you’ve got full ownership of the folder you want to rename, try to change its name once again. If it fails, move on to the solution below.
3. Disable Preview Pane in File Explorer
A user pointed out that if a file is being viewed under thePreview pane, Windows might have trouble renaming it. So might want to disable the feature, just to be sure.
4. Use a registry tweak
After you’ve performed this, check whether you still can’t change the folder name. If you’re unsure about what you’re doing, it’s best to ask someone more experienced for help.
5. Remove certain values from the registry
After removing these entries, the issue should be resolved, and you’ll be able to change the folder’s name without any problems. If you can’t find the keys mentioned in this solution, this solution can’t be applied to your PC.
6. Change your view settings
As you know, Windows allows you to change how you view your files. You can view your files as thumbnails, icons, or in a list. However, a glitch prevents you from renaming folders while usingSmall icons.
After changing your view, you should be able to rename the folders without too many issues. Remember that this is a workaround, so you’ll need to repeat it for every directory you want to remove.
7. Delete autorun.inf files
According to users, you can’t change a folder name because of the autorun.inf files. These files can interfere with your system and cause issues such as this one to appear.
Once you find and remove that file, the issue should be resolved, and you’ll be able to rename directories without any problems.
8. Make sure that your system is up to date
After installing the latest updates, check if you still can’t rename the folder. As we already mentioned, not being able to rename folders can be a Windows 10 glitch and to fix it, it’s required that you update your system.
Windows 10 usually installs the latest updates automatically, but you might miss an update or two due to specific issues. If you are having trouble updating your Windows, you can look at our guide, which will help you solve them in no time.
9. Set your background to a static picture
Many usersuse the slideshow as their background, which can lead to issues like this.
If you can’t rename folders on your PC, try disabling the slideshow backgrounds. After doing that, the issue should be resolved.
How do I force a folder to rename?
If you can’t change the name of a folder because the file is in use by another program, you need to close the program and try to rename it again.
This is because Windows does not allow you to change the name of such a folder. However, if a bug causes the problem, you should be able to solve it with one of our solutions.
If you can’t change the name of a folder on Windows 10, it might be caused by a bug or some wrong settings on your PC. With the fixes in this guide, you should be able to fix the issue easily.
Alternatively, if you want a software tool that will get the job done for you, look at our list ofthe bestfilerenaming softwareavailable.
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below.
More about the topics:windows 10,windows 10 fix
Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
When he’s not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.
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Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Ivan has delved deep into understanding the Windows OS, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
