Renaming Files on Blog Storage Explorer

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Renaming Files on Blog Storage Explorer

Gourab Das 21

Hi,

I'm trying to rename files on blob storage explorer app but there is no option to do so. I was wondering if anyone has any idea on how to do that?

The only solution I could find is to create a new copy of the blob with an updated name, make necessary changes, re-upload and finally deleting the old blob. But I was wondering if there any other way to do it?

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Answer 1

deherman-MSFT 38,021 Microsoft Employee Moderator

@Gourab Das
I understand you wish to rename your file in blob storage using Storage Explorer.

It is not currently possible at this time as Blob storage does not support renaming on the backend. The easiest way to accomplish this is to use the Clone feature in Storage Explorer. This allows you to copy the blob and rename it without downloading and reuploading. You can then delete the previous blob.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions or issues.

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Gourab Das 21 Reputation points

2022-03-21T16:29:44.883+00:00

Hi @deherman-MSFT ,

Thank you so much for sharing this. I was following this same strategy but realized it is going to consume a lot of time as I've got a lot of files to rename.

Answer 2

Pratik Somaiya 4,211 Volunteer Moderator

Hello @Gourab Das

Yes you can rename either by pressing F2 Key or using Rename option as follows:

Which version of Storage Explorer you are using? Mine is below

Gourab Das 21 Reputation points

2022-03-21T16:33:51.343+00:00

Hi @Pratik Somaiya ,

Interestingly enough I don't have the rename feature available on the app that I'm running. Is it something to do with the my account's access to the blob?
Pratik Somaiya 4,211 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2022-03-22T03:41:25.507+00:00

Hey @Gourab Das : Yes it may happen due to access issues, but you surely can rename the files as attached in screenshot
Greg Low 1,980 Reputation points Microsoft Regional Director

2023-05-17T08:34:19.4433333+00:00

I'm guessing that was for ADLSgen2, not for a standard blob storage account. From what I can see, the REST interface for blob storage doesn't offer a rename option. But you can do it if the storage account is ADLS. It's completely bizarre that renaming a file isn't a supported operation on a standard blob storage account. You should not need to copy the file and then delete the source.
Trevor Little 0 Reputation points

2023-06-23T14:43:48.28+00:00

At some point Azure Storage Explorer removed the rename option and replaced it with "clone". In order to rename you can clone the object with the new name, then delete the old named object.
Greg Low 1,980 Reputation points Microsoft Regional Director

2023-06-24T02:52:10.1033333+00:00

That's not an "atomic" operation though. You could have the clone work and the delete fail. Additionally, most copy operations are done asynchronously, and can take a relatively long time for a larger blob.

In the end, it's crazy stuff. Who builds a file system where you can't rename or move a file? In 2023? Really?
Sudarshan Bhamare 60 Reputation points

2023-09-26T03:43:51.29+00:00

Hi Everyone, I'm unable to perform the rename operation on my ADLS Gen2. I have configured the private endpoint and using Azure Storage Explorer. But it is throwing an authorization error even though I'm the account owner and added the blob data contributor permission
Ted Martin 0 Reputation points

2024-04-05T13:40:34.1133333+00:00

ADLS Gen2 allows renaming, but Azure Blob Storage does not. F2 on an Azure Blob Storage that is not ADLS Gen2 brings up the "Clone" window.
Greg Low 1,980 Reputation points Microsoft Regional Director

2024-04-05T22:45:21.88+00:00

Hi Ted, as I mentioned, the underlying REST API for standard storage accounts doesn't support a rename operation. (I can't imagine for the life of me who comes up with a storage system where you can't rename objects, but it is what it is). When the accounts are converted (or initially created) as ADLS2 (i.e., with the hierarchical namespace), the rename operation is available. We regularly use it not just to rename files, but it can also move files.

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Renaming Files on Blog Storage Explorer

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