---
title: How to Bulk Rename Existing Media Files
description: Bulk rename existing WordPress media library files with your renaming rules, and watch progress in the background. Pro.
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/bulk-rename-existing-media-files/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: Pro Features
---

# How to Bulk Rename Existing Media Files

To bulk rename existing media with Rename Media Files: Improve Your WordPress SEO Pro, open the Media Library in list view, select the attachments, and choose Bulk update filename from the Bulk actions dropdown. Files run through a background queue you can watch on the Background Process tab at WPFactory > File Renaming. Back up first.

### Before you start

- This is a Pro feature, so you need the Pro version of Rename Media Files installed and active.
- Back up your site (files and database) first. Renaming existing media changes filenames and can update references.
- Test on a small batch before running the action across your whole library.

### Run the bulk action

1. Open the **Media Library** and switch to list view.
2. Select the attachments you want to rename.
3. From the **Bulk actions** dropdown, choose **Bulk update filename** and apply it.

The selected attachments are processed through a background queue rather than all at once, so large batches do not time out. Each file is run through your current renaming rules.

### Watch progress on the Background Process tab

Go to **WPFactory > File Renaming** and open the **Background Process** tab (added by Pro). The **Queue Progress** indicator (`queue_progress`) shows how far the queued filename updates have run. If you need to stop a run, the **Clear queue** option (`clear_queue`) empties the background queue.

### Schedule recurring renaming passes

To keep filenames updated automatically over time, use the **Schedule Filename Update** option (`schedule_filename_update`) on the **General Settings** tab. Enter a number of hours and Rename Media Files will run a filename update pass on that recurring interval.

### Ready to set this up?

This is a Pro feature of [Rename Media Files](https://wpfactory.com/item/file-renaming-on-upload-wordpress-plugin/). If you are still on the free version, upgrading unlocks this along with the rest of the Pro toolkit. [Get Rename Media Files Pro](https://wpfactory.com/item/file-renaming-on-upload-wordpress-plugin/).

Related articles

- [Rename Media Files on Upload: Free vs Pro Versions Compared](https://wpfactory.com/docs/pro-vs-free-rename/)
- [Rename Media Files on Upload: General Settings](https://wpfactory.com/docs/general-settings/)
- [Rename Media Files Slows Down Admin / Triggers Slow Queries](https://wpfactory.com/docs/rename-media-slow-admin/)
- [How to Rename Media Files on Upload in WordPress](https://wpfactory.com/docs/intro-how-to-use-rename-media-files-on-upload-plugin/)
- [Rename Media Files on Upload: Advanced Troubleshooting](https://wpfactory.com/docs/troubleshooting-rename/)