Java Cookbook

Renaming a File

Problem

You need to change a file’s name on disk.

Solution

Use a java.io.File object’s renameTo( ) method.

Discussion

For reasons best left to the gods of Java, the renameTo( ) method requires not the name you want the file renamed to, but another File object referring to the new name. So to rename a file you must create two File objects, one for the existing name and another for the new name. Then call the renameTo method of the existing-name’s File object, passing in the second File object. This is easier to see than to explain, so here goes:

import java.io.*;

/**
 * Rename a file in Java
 */
public class Rename {
    public static void main(String[] argv) throws IOException {

        // Construct the file object. Does NOT create a file on disk!
        File f = new File("Rename.java~"); // backup of this source file.

        // Rename the backup file to "junk.dat"
        // Renaming requires a File object for the target.
        f.renameTo(new File("junk.dat"));
    }
}