An in-depth look at Name Changer and how it simplifies file organization for Mac users
As you might imagine, I handle a lot of image files as a content creator and I end up renaming them as one of my daily tasks. Between product photos, screenshots, reference images, and downloads, file names can get messy fast. While macOS does offer a built-in batch rename tool, it only goes so far once you need consistent naming, multiple rules, or the confidence that you can undo changes if something goes wrong. That’s where a dedicated utility like Name Changer comes in.
About Name Changer
Name Changer is a native macOS utility developed by independent app developer Lucas Raggers. The app is built to help Mac users rename large numbers of files quickly, consistently, and safely, offering far more flexibility than Finder’s built-in batch rename tools while remaining easy to use.
The primary purpose of Name Changer is to simplify file organization by allowing users to apply advanced renaming rules in bulk. This includes adding prefixes or suffixes, replacing or inserting text, working with metadata such as EXIF and file attributes, using presets, and undoing changes when needed. By handling all operations locally, the app avoids unnecessary complexity and keeps user data on the device.
Name Changer is designed for macOS users who regularly manage large collections of files, including photographers, designers, developers, content creators, and anyone who needs reliable batch renaming beyond basic system tools.
The app follows modern macOS design conventions and uses native interface components to feel familiar and approachable. Its focus on clarity and predictability makes powerful renaming features accessible without overwhelming the user.
From a privacy and security standpoint, Name Changer operates locally on the user’s Mac. According to its Mac App Store privacy information, the app does not collect or track user data and complies with Apple’s sandboxing and privacy requirements.
Name Changer is distributed through the Mac App Store, ensuring system-level security, automatic updates, and alignment with Apple’s platform standards. It is part of a broader lineup of macOS utilities developed by Lucas Raggers, which also includes DockX, another productivity-focused Mac app.
While the exact development timeline and underlying frameworks have not been publicly disclosed, Name Changer is actively maintained and updated through the App Store, with reliability and performance being ongoing priorities.
Main Features
Add prefixes, suffixes, insert text, replace text, use regular expressions, add dates and more. Use EXIF metadata (original date, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, focal length) in filenames. Rename extensions. Recursive Import: Easily import entire folder structures. Watchfolder: quickly open your favorite folder. Use metadata from photos, PDFs, audio files. Rename photo files using AI-based object recognition. Smart Filtering: Quickly find files with advanced filters by type, extension, name pattern, or date range. File Inspector: get detailed insights about your files. Include country, region, or city names from embedded GPS data. Reformat Date: Automatically detect and convert date formats in filenames. Hash: Add file hashes to filenames for verification or deduplication. Supports MD5, SHA-256, SHA-512, and CRC32 algorithms with customizable length and position. Path Component: Include the parent folder name in your filenames. Add sequential numbers with custom padding and separators. Sort files before renaming. Save your favorite renaming presets for quick reuse. Undo your renaming operation with a single click.Pricing & Availability
Name Changer is available in the Mac App Store for a one-time fee of $5.99.
User Experience
In testing Name Changer, I decided to look at the main functions as well as some of the more advanced features that it provides.
Installation and First Launch
Name Changer installs cleanly from the Mac App Store and opens very quickly. It only asks for permissions when it actually needs them. When you click Rename, the app requests access to the folders where your files live, which feels reasonable and easy to understand. Right away, it’s clear what you’re supposed to do thanks to the large drag-and-drop area for adding files.
That said, the first launch could be a little more welcoming. The interface is easy enough to figure out, but there’s no walkthrough or quick tutorial to explain how the renaming rules work. You can get going without help, but a short introduction would make the first experience feel more comfortable.
Basic Renaming Tasks
All of the core renaming tools worked exactly as expected. Adding prefixes, suffixes, numbering, and using find and replace was simple, and everything behaved correctly even with mixed file types. Applying changes felt fast and reliable.
The first time I renamed files, the process caught me slightly off guard. After clicking Rename and granting folder permissions, the filenames changed immediately without a confirmation step. This was especially noticeable when working with files on the Desktop. The good news is that Name Changer includes an immediate undo option, which made it easy to recover and helped reduce that initial anxiety.
Preview and Safety
The preview updates instantly as you adjust rules, making it easy to see what your filenames will look like before committing. In practice, the preview always matched the final results, and there were no surprises once the rename was complete.
That said, there’s no final “Are you sure?” moment before changes are applied. Once permissions are granted, the rename happens right away. This keeps things fast, but a confirmation option would help new users feel more confident, especially when handling large batches.
Undo works immediately after a rename and was completely reliable during testing. Reverting changes didn’t cause any slowdowns or weird behavior. Having a fast, dependable undo button makes it much easier to experiment with different naming rules without worry.
Presets and Repeated Workflows
Presets are one of Name Changer’s highlights. Once I realized I could stack multiple renaming rules using the plus and minus controls, building a custom naming format was very straightforward. I was able to combine a custom name, formatted date, serialization, and extension handling, then save everything as a preset.
Using that preset again was seamless. After loading a new batch of files and selecting the preset, all the rules appeared instantly and were ready to go. Presets also stick around between sessions, which makes this app especially useful for repeat tasks.
Metadata-Based Renaming
Metadata support is solid. EXIF photo data showed up correctly for all available fields, and both audio and document metadata were recognized without issues. Files that didn’t have relevant metadata were handled cleanly. When I mixed an audio file into a batch of photos and switched metadata modes, Name Changer didn’t insert incorrect data and simply left the original filename intact.
This kind of behavior helps build trust, especially when working with different file types at the same time.
Large Batch Performance
Name Changer handled heavy workloads surprisingly well. I tested it with a folder containing more than 22,000 files of various types and sizes, including lots of nested folders. It took a couple of minutes to scan and load everything, which was expected, but once that step was done, the renaming process ran smoothly.
The interface stayed responsive, and aside from a brief pause during the initial file scan, there were no freezes or crashes. Even with deeply nested folders, the app stayed stable.
macOS Integration
Dragging files in from Finder works as expected, and permissions are handled cleanly. Overall, Name Changer feels like a native macOS app and fits naturally into typical Finder-based workflows. One limitation worth noting is that you can’t drag files directly from the Photos app, which may matter if you rely heavily on Apple’s photo library.
Overall Experience
Name Changer delivers a dependable and well-thought-out experience, especially for users who regularly deal with large groups of files. The amount of control you get over naming conventions is impressive, and presets make repeat tasks quick and painless.
The AI object recognition feature works, but the results are fairly generic. Even when increasing the number of labels, the descriptions weren’t as detailed as I would have liked. It’s a nice extra, but not a standout feature.
Overall, Name Changer is easy to trust and feels comfortable to use on a regular basis. Its strong performance, reliable undo support, and flexible rule system make it a solid choice for macOS users who want more control over file naming.
Conclusion
Name Changer does exactly what it sets out to do and does it well. It takes the stress and tedium out of batch renaming by offering far more control than Finder while still feeling approachable and reliable. During testing, it handled everything from simple renaming jobs to massive folders with tens of thousands of files without falling apart.
There are a few areas where the experience could be improved, especially around first-time guidance and confirmation before committing changes. Even so, the combination of strong performance, immediate undo support, and flexible presets makes Name Changer an easy app to trust. For anyone who regularly works with large numbers of files, this is the kind of utility that quietly becomes part of your everyday workflow.
For more information, visit lucas.io
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