A lot many users have been unable to locate the rename function for files and folders on the context menu of the newly introduced Windows 11 operating system. Microsoft has optimized the operating system in terms of the use of memory spaces. As a result, it has also optimized the context menu of the files and folders on Windows 11 computers.
Due to the modification in the context menu on a Windows 11 computer, the rename function is not available as a standard menu item on the standard context menu. However, this does not mean that the ability to rename files and folders on a Windows 11 computer has been taken away from within the context menu. Within the context menu, Microsoft has crafted icons for specific tasks that are of a repetitive nature. Rename function for the files and folders is one such function. The rename function for the files and folders can be controlled or managed directly through the ‘rename icon on the Windows 11 context menu.
Rename files and folders through full context menu
When you right click a file or a folder on Windows 11, the context menu opens up on the screen. The context menu will look like the screen capture given below.
This is the standard listing of the context menu, that has been designed to provide optimum system performance at all times.
The default context menu items will contain options to open files, see the properties of the file, or even the file or folder to the taskbar. The last option on the context menu will give you an option – ‘Show more options‘. When you click on ‘Show more options‘, the full context menu of Windows will load. This will also contain the option to rename the file or folder on the system. When you right click a file or folder, you will see the context menu with a menu item ‘Show more options’ like the screen shot below:
Alternatively, to rename a file or the folder, you can highlight the file or the folder name. And, then press Shift + F10 key i.e. Shift plus the function f10 key. This will load the full context menu that is inline with the classic Windows context menu. The option to rename the file or folder will be a part of the full context menu.
Rename files or folders through rename icon
Aside from this, when you right click on a file or a folder, you will notice that the context menu has a list of icons on the top. The third icon from the left is the rename icon on the context menu. Once you click on the icon for renaming a file or folder, you will be able to rename the file or the folder in question.
Rename icon on the top layer is displayed in the screen capture herein.
Rename files or folders through function keys
Finally, renaming the file or folder should not take these many hops or clicks. The quickest and easiest method to rename a file or folder remains unchanged between Windows 10 and Windows 11. Highlight the file name and press the function F2 key. If you wish to rename a folder, you will need to highlight the folder name and then press the function F2 key. This will allow you to set a new name for the file or the folder on the Windows 11 computer.
Renaming files and folders through the new context menu offers a user experience that has been designed to boost system performance. Such tweaks are visible all through the newly designed Windows 11 operating system. You will see a lot of memory space conservation and clubbing of common features in groups. One such example is the grouped icons on the taskbar of the Windows 11 operating system.
The rename function on the context menu achieves the desired functionality without the addition of any clicks from the preceding operating system of Windows 10.
Conclusion
Renaming a file or folder on the Windows 11 computer is a quick process. You could rename the file or folder on a Windows 11 computer using one of the following methods:
- Quickest way – highlight the file or folder and press the function f2 key.
- Context menu – third icon from the top is the rename icon. You can use the rename icon on the context menu to rename the file or the folder.
- Context menu – use the shift plus function f10 key to bring up the full context menu on a Windows 11 computer.
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Rajesh Dhawan is a technology professional who loves to blog about smart wearables, Cloud computing and Microsoft technologies. He loves to break complex problems into manageable chunks of meaningful information.