How to rename a Microsoft Word Document

There are several ways to rename a document in MS Word.

3 ways to rename a Word Document

  • Use Word itself to rename a Word document.
  • Use File Explorer to rename a Word document.
  • Make a copy of the document and rename the copy.

We will show you all the methods in simple stepwise instructions.

Let us start.


Method #1: Use Word to Rename a Word Document

This is useful when you want to keep to one document and give this document a different name.

Step #1: Open Word

Click on the Start icon in the Toolbar in Windows.

Use your keyboard to type w.

This will open the best match of apps beginning with w.

Click on Word to open the app.

Step #2: Open the Word document

In the left pane, click on the ‘Open’ icon.

In the right pane, navigate to the document you want to rename.

Click on its name to open it.

Step #3: Rename the document

Click on the ‘File’ tab in the top menu bar.

The File dialog box will open.

In the left pane, click on the icon ‘Save As’.

In the right pane, select the location where you want to save the new document.

Click on the folder where you want to save the new document.

The File Explorer dialog will open.

Enter the new name of the document in the field ‘File name:’.

If you want, you can also change the document type in the field ‘Save as type:’.

Click on Save to exit the File Explorer dialog.

You will now have the same document with a new name.


Method #2: Use File Explorer to Rename a Word Document

This is useful when you quickly want to rename one document, without having to open MS Word.

Step #1: Open File Explorer

Click on the Start icon in the Toolbar in Windows.

Use your keyboard to type f.

This will open the best match of apps beginning with f.

Click on ‘File Explorer’ to open the app.

Step #2: Rename the document

Navigate to the Word document file you want to rename.

Right-click on the Word document file icon to open a menu.

Click on Rename.

File Explorer will now highlight the name under the icon.

Type in the new name for the file, no need to backspace or delete, and hit Enter on your keyboard once you are done.

You now have the same document but with a new name.


Method #3: Make a Copy of the Document and Rename the Copy

This is useful when it is important to keep the original document, and make a replica with a different name.

Step #1: Open File Explorer

Click on the Start icon in the Toolbar in Windows.

Use your keyboard to type f.

This will open the best match of apps beginning with f.

Click on ‘File Explorer’ to open the app.

Navigate to the Word document file you want to rename.

Step #2: Make a copy of the document

Right-click on the Word document file icon to open a menu.

Click on Copy.

Place the cursor on any empty space within the right pane of the File Manager window.

With your cursor in that place, right click to open a menu.

Click on Paste.

Optional: Navigate to a new file location in ‘File Explorer’ to right click and paste your copied document there.

File Explorer makes a copy of the file, adding the word Copy to the end of the name.

Step #3: Rename the copy

While still viewing the File Explorer, hover your mouse over the copied document file icon.

Right-click on it to open a menu.

Click on Rename.

File Explorer will now highlight the name under the icon.

Type in the new name for the file, no need to backspace or delete, and hit Enter on your keyboard once you are done.

You have renamed the copy of your document.


Conclusion

We have shown you three easy methods of how you can rename a Word document. Use the method that best suits your needs.

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