Commons:File renaming

The file rename function allows renaming (or "moving") of files, which works basically the same way as "normal" page moves. The function is available to administrators and file movers. Requests to become a filemover go at Commons:Requests for rights#Filemover.

How to rename a file?

Only Commons administrators, file movers and Wikimedia stewards can rename files for now. If you belong to any of those groups, and therefore have the 'movefile' right, just use the "move" tab as you would normally do to a regular page.

If you can't rename files, you can place the text {{rename|newname.ext|reason}} on the image description page. An editor who can will perform the move, if it conforms to the guidelines described below.

Responding editors should follow the instructions on the template. In most cases a file redirect should be left on the original page, except if it is a misleading or promotional name.

What files should be renamed?

Commons:File naming describes how files should be named. In general, Commons aims to provide stable file names as there might be external file clients and file moving involves significant human and computing resources. Thus renaming should be used with caution. Currently there are seven widely undisputed uses for rename requests:

Aim	Examples (old name)	Examples (new name)
1. Uploader requested
2. change from completely meaningless names into suitable names, according to what the image displays	File:22785u9ob807b3c4f4.jpg File:DSC_1342.jpg	File:Tower_Bridge_2009.jpg File:Pretoria_Venningpark.jpg
3. correct misleading names into accurate ones	File:!My_cuTe!!_MOUSSE.JPG File:1BIGGest_nOSE_everS33n.JPG	File:Dutch_pet_rabbit.jpg File:John_Doe_at_concert.jpg
4. change meaningless bio-names into binomial scientific names	File:Unknown_insect_02.jpg File:Unidentified_flowers_HFJ.jpg	File:Hogna_radiata_02.jpg File:Echinops_setifer_Japan.jpg
5. correct obvious errors in file names (e.g. wrong proper nouns or false historical dates)	File:Ayres_Rock_3.png File:Van_Gogh_portrait_1787.jpg	File:Ayers_Rock_3.png File:Van_Gogh_portrait_1887.jpg
6. harmonize file names of a set of images (so that only one part of all names differs) to ease their usage in templates (e.g. diagram symbols, scans of pages of a book, maps)	File:Bhf-BS-Icon.svg File:Icon_HST_bs_1.svg File:Dst_symbol.svg etc.	File:BSicon_BHF.svg File:BSicon_HST.svg File:BSicon_DST.svg etc.
7. remove pejorative, offensive or crude language that would not be appropriate in the file description	File:Stupid fat idiot.jpg	File:<Name of the person>.jpg

Additional naming conventions and exceptions from the above list might be discussed for specific projects.

What files should not be renamed?

As a matter of principle it's best to leave all files with generally valid names at their locations, even if slightly better names may exist. So for example:

1. File:TowerBridge'09.jpg should not be renamed to File:Tower_Bridge_2009.jpg only because the latter looks a bit better.
2. File:Rathaus_bremen.jpg should not be renamed to File:Bremen_town_hall.jpg only because the latter is English and correctly capitalized (Remember, Commons is a multilingual project, so there's no reason to favor English over other languages).
3. If a filename in a local project conflicts with a filename at Commons, the file in the local project should be renamed. Renaming it at Commons would mean changing it in 500+ projects instead of just 1.

Is there a log of file renames?

All file renamings are recorded in the Move log which is a log for all moves in all namespaces. There's no namespace filter for "files only" available yet.

Current file movers

• List of all file movers (currently 435).
• All administrators have access to the movefile tool as well (currently 262).

See also

• Category:Media requiring renaming — list of files to be renamed
• MediaWiki:Filename-prefix-blacklist — filenames that the wiki software itself prevents from being uploaded.
• Commons talk:MediaMoveBot — when file renaming wasn't active on Commons, this robot would reupload the image under the target name; an administrator would then review this and instruct another robot to replace the image on the several Wikimedia projects; finally the administrator would delete the bad named file.
• Commons:File renaming/requests — obsolete page. The template + category should work for this from now on.
• Commons:Rename a category