Renaming a file changes the file name of an existing file. You cannot rename a file while someone has it open in any program. The file must be closed, and if it is a shared file, it must be checked in. You can save an open file with a new name, but a copy of the file with the original name will still exist.

  1. Do the following in these Microsoft Office system programs:

    Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Access

    • Click the Microsoft Office Button button image, and then click Open.

      Keyboard shortcut To display the Open dialog box, press CTRL+O.

    InfoPath, OneNote, Outlook, Project, Publisher, SharePoint Designer, or Visio

    • On the File menu, click Open.

      Keyboard shortcut To display the Open dialog box, press CTRL+O.

  2. In the Look in list, click the folder or drive that contains the file that you want to rename.
  3. In the folder list, locate and open the folder that contains the file that you want to rename.

    Note By default, the files that you see in the Open dialog box are only those files that are created by the program that you are using. For example, if you are using Microsoft Office Excel, you do not see files that are created by using Microsoft Office Word unless you click All Files in the Files of type box.

  4. Right-click the file that you want to rename, and then click Rename on the shortcut menu .
  5. Type the new name, and then press ENTER.

Note For more information about renaming files and folders by using My Computer or Microsoft Windows Explorer, see the Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center, which you can access by clicking Help and Support on the Start menu.