Java Program to Rename a File

Last Updated : 3 Sep, 2026

Renaming a file means changing its existing name without changing the file's content. Java provides different ways to rename a file, including the renameTo() method of the File class and the move() method of the Files class.

  • The Files.move() method can rename a file by moving it to a new path with a different name.
  • resolveSibling() can be used with Files.move() to create the new file path in the same directory.

Methods Used To Rename a File

There are several ways to rename a file in Java, depending on the approach and API being used.

1. renameTo() Method

The renameTo() method is used to rename the abstract pathname of a file to a given pathname. The method returns a boolean value i.e. returns true if the file is renamed else returns false.

Approach

  • Create an object of the File class and replace the file path with the path of the directory.
  • Create another object of the File class and replace the file path with the renaming path of the directory.
  • Use renameTo() method.
  • If rename operation successful then the function returns true.
  • Else returns false.
Java 
import java.io.File;
public class GFG {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        // Create an object of the File class
        // Replace the file path with path of the directory
        File file = new File("/home/mayur/Folder/GFG.java");

        // Create an object of the File class
        // Replace the file path with path of the directory
        File rename = new File("/home/mayur/Folder/HelloWorld.java");

        // store the return value of renameTo() method in
        // flag
        boolean flag = file.renameTo(rename);

        // if renameTo() return true then if block is
        // executed
        if (flag == true) {
            System.out.println("File Successfully Rename");
        }
        // if renameTo() return false then else block is
        // executed
        else {
            System.out.println("Operation Failed");
        }
    }
}

Output:

File Successfully Rename

Before Program Execution

After Program Execution

2. move() Method

Rename of file can be done using move the contents of the first file to a new file and deleting the previous file. Java is handling this operation using resolveSibiling method. It is used to resolve the given path against this path’s parent path

Java 
import java.nio.file.*;
import java.io.IOException;

public class GFG {
    public static void main(String[] args)
        throws IOException
    {

        Path oldFile
            = Paths.get("/home/mayur/Folder/GFG.java");

        try {
            Files.move(oldFile, oldFile.resolveSibling(
                                    "HelloWorld.java"));
            System.out.println("File Successfully Rename");
        }
        catch (IOException e) {
            System.out.println("operation failed");
        }
    }
}

Output:

File Successfully Rename

Before Program Execution

After Program Execution

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