Microsoft PowerToys includes a useful tool called PowerRename that allows you to rename multiple files at once. It is especially useful when your files have names such as xxx(1), xxx(2), or xxxvv(3) and you want to change them to xxx-1, xxx-2, and xxxvv-3.

What PowerRename Can Do

PowerRename can rename many files at the same time using search and replace rules. It also supports regular expressions, which makes it possible to identify numbers inside parentheses and replace them with a hyphen and the number.

For example:

• xxx(1).jpg becomes xxx-1.jpg
• xxx(2).jpg becomes xxx-2.jpg
• xxxvv(3).png becomes xxxvv-3.png
• xxxvv (4).png becomes xxxvv-4.png

Step 1: Open the Folder

First, open File Explorer and navigate to the folder containing the files you want to rename.

For example, your files may look like this:

• xxx(1).jpg
• xxx(2).jpg
• xxxvv(3).jpg
• xxxvv (4).jpg

Step 2: Select the Files

Select the files that you want to rename. You can press Ctrl + A to select all files in the folder, or manually select only the files you want to change.

Step 3: Open PowerRename

After selecting the files, right-click on the selection and choose Rename with PowerRename.

PowerRename will open and display a preview of the current filenames and the new filenames.

Step 4: Enable Regular Expressions

In the PowerRename window, enable Use regular expressions.

Regular expressions allow PowerRename to identify the number inside parentheses automatically.

Step 5: Enter the Search Pattern

In the Search for field, enter the following:

\s*\((\d+)\)\s*

This pattern finds numbers inside parentheses and also removes unnecessary spaces around the parentheses.

Step 6: Enter the Replacement

In the Replace with field, enter:

-$1

The $1 represents the number captured from the original filename.

Step 7: Check the Preview

Before applying the rename, check the preview displayed by PowerRename.

The results should look similar to this:

• xxx(1).jpg → xxx-1.jpg
• xxx(2).jpg → xxx-2.jpg
• xxxvv(3).png → xxxvv-3.png
• xxxvv (4).png → xxxvv-4.png
• image (10).webp → image-10.webp

Step 8: Rename the Files

If the preview looks correct, click the Rename button.

PowerRename will rename all selected files automatically.

PowerRename Settings

Use these exact settings:

Search for:

\s*\((\d+)\)\s*

Replace with:

-$1

Use regular expressions: Enabled

Final Result

After the rename operation, filenames such as:

• xxx(1).jpg
• xxx(2).jpg
• xxxvv(3).png
• xxxvv (4).png

will become:

• xxx-1.jpg
• xxx-2.jpg
• xxxvv-3.png
• xxxvv-4.png

This method keeps the original file extension while changing only the numbered portion of the filename.