How do I batch rename PDF files by their title?

Use a tool like Renomee that reads the title metadata embedded in each PDF and uses it as the new filename. Select all PDFs, choose title-based renaming, preview the results, then apply. No manual typing required.

Can I rename PDFs automatically using their content?

Yes. Tools with AI or OCR can read the actual text inside each PDF and generate meaningful filenames based on what the document is about — useful when PDF metadata is missing or incorrect.

How to rename scanned PDFs with no text layer?

Use OCR-powered renaming. The tool scans the visible text in the scanned PDF and extracts key information like dates, vendor names, or invoice numbers to create accurate filenames.

What is the best way to rename research paper PDFs?

Extract the paper title, author, and publication year from the PDF metadata or first page. Use a format like "2024_author_title.pdf" for easy sorting and searching. Renomee automates this workflow.

How to rename PDFs without losing the original filename?

Most batch rename tools, including Renomee, show a preview before applying changes. You can also backup files or use version control. Renomee allows you to undo renaming if needed.

Rename FilesPDF Files

Batch Rename PDF Files by Title, Author, Date or OCR

Drop a folder. Renomee opens each PDF, reads what's inside, and renames it — by title, author, date, or any key text it finds. It even handles scanned files that other tools can't touch.

Download Free See how it works →

✓ 20,000+ users✓ Free tier✓ Windows 11

Before
📄 scan_001.pdf
📄 document_final_v2.pdf
📄 IMG_20240615_0023.pdf
📄 untitled(1).pdf
RENOMEE
After — named from content
📄 Smith_Invoice_2024-01-15.pdf
📄 ProjectProposal_Q2_Approved.pdf
📄 Chen_Contract_Renewal_2024.pdf
📄 2024_AnnualReport_Finance.pdf

Two approaches — use either one, or combine them

Filename & Info Rules

Works directly on the filename. No need to read the PDF's contents.

🔢Numbering & Order

Add sequence numberdoc_001.pdf, doc_002.pdf

📎Add / Remove

Add prefix2024_report.pdf

Add suffixreport_final.pdf

Remove prefixscan_ → removed

Remove suffix_v2 → removed

📅File Info

Insert file date20240615_contract.pdf

Append file sizereport_2.4MB.pdf

✏️Text Editing

Find & replaceinvoice → bill

Remove special charsfile#1 → file1

Change caseREPORT → report

Custom separator_ or - or space

By PDF content

Renomee reads what's inside the file and uses it as the new name.

📋

PDF MetadataMetadata

Pulls the title, author, subject, or keywords from the PDF's built-in properties.

🔍

OCROCR

Recognizes text in scanned PDFs that have no selectable text layer.

🤖

AIAI

Reads the full document and generates a meaningful, context-aware filename.

⚡

OCR + AIBest for scanned files

The strongest combo: OCR unlocks scanned PDFs; AI turns the raw text into an accurate filename.

Scanned PDFs are just images. Renomee reads them anyway.

Most renaming tools hit a wall with scanned PDFs — no title, no text, nothing to grab onto. Renomee's OCR engine scans every page image, pulls out the visible text, then AI turns that into a clean, accurate filename.

→Reads image-only PDFs with no selectable text at all
→Extracts vendor name, invoice number, and date from scanned receipts
→Handles multi-language documents, stamped forms, and handwritten notes
→AI cleans up OCR noise so the final filename comes out right

Before (scanned — unreadable by other tools)
📄scan_001.pdf
OCR + AI
After (OCR + AI)
📄Acme_Invoice_INV-2024-0891_Due-Feb15.pdf

Three steps. That's it.

Drag in your PDFs

Drop a folder or pick individual files. Renomee loads hundreds of PDFs in seconds.

Choose your method

Pick rules, metadata, OCR, or AI — or combine several in a single pass.

Preview, then apply

Every new filename is shown before anything changes. Undo is always one click away.

Download Renomee — Free

What kind of PDF are you working with?

📚Research papersMetadata + AI2024_Zhang_ML_Transformers.pdf

🧾Scanned invoicesOCR + AIAcme_Invoice_INV-0891_2024.pdf

📑Contracts & legal docsAI + dateNDA_TechCorp_Signed_2024-01.pdf

📷Image-only PDFsOCR requiredSmith_Receipt_2024-01-15.pdf

🗂Files needing orderSequence rulesReport_001.pdf, Report_002.pdf

📁Mixed folder, any typeAI (adaptive)AI names each file correctly

Tutorials

Research

Rename Research PDFs by Title and Author

A metadata + AI workflow built for academic paper collections.

OCR

Rename Scanned PDFs with OCR and AI

Covers invoices, receipts, and image-based PDFs.

Invoice

Auto-Rename Invoice PDFs with OCR

Pull vendor name, date, and amount straight from the scan.

Common Questions

Can I mix rules and content-based renaming in one go?

Yes. You can add a date prefix from the file system and pull the title from PDF metadata in the same operation. Example output: 2024_Smith_ProjectProposal.pdf.

How do I rename scanned PDFs with no text layer?

Turn on OCR mode. Renomee reads the visible text from each scanned page — invoices, receipts, forms, handwritten notes — and AI formats the result into a clean filename.

What if the PDF has missing or incorrect metadata?

Switch to AI mode. AI reads the actual body text of the PDF rather than metadata fields, so it produces accurate names even when metadata is blank or wrong.

Does Renomee handle Chinese or other non-English PDFs?

Yes. OCR supports multiple languages and AI handles them well. The filename format follows whatever template you configure.

Can I preview before anything gets renamed?

Always. Every proposed filename is visible before you apply. If something looks off, you can adjust or undo after applying.

Is there a limit on how many files I can rename at once?

No hard cap. That said, OCR takes longer per file than metadata-only renaming — something to keep in mind when processing very large batches.

Rename your PDFs in minutes, not hours

20 free AI renames daily. No account, no setup, no command line.