renaming-a-file.md

title	intro	redirect_from	versions	topics
Renaming a file	You can rename any file in your repository directly in {% data variables.product.product_name %} or by using the command line.	/articles/renaming-a-file /github/managing-files-in-a-repository/renaming-a-file /articles/renaming-a-file-using-the-command-line /github/managing-files-in-a-repository/renaming-a-file-using-the-command-line /github/managing-files-in-a-repository/managing-files-on-github/renaming-a-file /github/managing-files-in-a-repository/managing-files-using-the-command-line/renaming-a-file-using-the-command-line	fpt ghes ghec * * *	Repositories

Renaming a file on {% data variables.product.product_name %}

Renaming a file also gives you the opportunity to move the file to a new location

{% tip %}

Tips:

• If you try to rename a file in a repository that you don’t have access to, we will fork the project to your personal account and help you send a pull request to the original repository after you commit your change.
• File names created via the web interface can only contain alphanumeric characters and hyphens (-). To use other characters, create and commit the files locally and then push them to the repository.
• Some files, such as images, require that you rename them from the command line. For more information, see "Renaming a file using the command line."

{% endtip %}

1. In your repository, browse to the file you want to rename. {% data reusables.repositories.edit-file-button %}
2. In the filename field, change the name of the file to the new filename you want. You can also update the contents of your file at the same time. {% data reusables.files.write_commit_message %} {% data reusables.files.choose_commit_branch %} {% data reusables.files.propose_file_change %}

Renaming a file using the command line

You can use the command line to rename any file in your repository.

Many files can be renamed directly on {% data variables.product.product_name %}, but some files, such as images, require that you rename them from the command line.

{% data reusables.command_line.manipulating_file_prereqs %}

{% data reusables.command_line.open_the_multi_os_terminal %} {% data reusables.command_line.switching_directories_procedural %}

1. Rename the file, specifying the old file name and the new name you'd like to give the file. This will stage your change for commit.

   git mv OLD-FILENAME NEW-FILENAME

2. Use git status to check the old and new file names.

   $ git status
   > # On branch YOUR-BRANCH
   > # Changes to be committed:
   > #   (use "git reset HEAD <file>..." to unstage)
   > #
   > #     renamed: OLD-FILENAME -> NEW-FILENAME
   > #

{% data reusables.git.commit-file %}

$ git commit -m "Rename file"
# Commits the tracked changes and prepares them to be pushed to a remote repository.
# {% data reusables.git.reset-head-to-previous-commit-codeblock %}

{% data reusables.git.git-push %}