Namexif is a popular, lightweight freeware tool designed specifically for Windows to batch rename photos and videos based on their embedded EXIF metadata. When you take a picture, your camera logs the exact second it was shot. Namexif reads this invisible timestamp and changes messy default filenames (like DSC_0024.jpg) into clean, chronologically organized names (like 2026-06-04_07-45-00.jpg).
You can download the tool directly from the official DigicamSoft Namexif Page. 🛠️ Step-by-Step Guide to Using Namexif
The program features a simple wizard-style interface that functions like an installer. Follow these steps to fix your photo filenames: Step 1: Open Namexif and Add Files
Launch the application. Click Next on the initial introductory splash screen.
Click Add Files to browse and select specific individual photos, or click Add Dir to select an entire folder of images.
Tip: If you choose a folder, you can check a toggle box to include all sub-folders.
Review the populated list of files. Namexif supports major formats like JPG, JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG, and HEIC. Click Next. Step 2: Configure Your Renaming Rules
On the next screen, you customize how the new names will look using the following built-in options:
Select a Preset Date Format: You can choose from standard date/time arrangements. By default, it formats as YYYY-MM-DD hh-mm-ss. Starting with the year is highly recommended because it ensures your files sort perfectly in chronological order when viewed alphabetically in Windows Explorer.
Add Custom Keywords: You can include a prefix or a suffix (e.g., 2026-06-04_07-45-00_Family_Vacation) to add text context to the batch.
Keep Original Filename: Check the option to append the original camera filename to the end if you still need it for reference.
Custom Tags: For manual configuration, you can use tags like (YYYY) for year, (MM) for month, (DD) for day, (hh) for hour, (mm) for minutes, and (ss) for seconds. Step 3: Execute the Rename Click Next after setting your naming format. Namexif will instantly process the batch.
If two photos have the exact same second timestamp (such as continuous burst shots), Namexif automatically adds a dash (-) or incrementing characters to the filename to prevent overriding. 💡 Advanced Feature: Time Shifting
One of Namexif’s best features is the Time Shift setting. If you went to an event where multiple people took photos with different cameras, the internal camera clocks are often out of sync. Namexif: Rename Photos or Videos to EXIF date – DigicamSoft
Leave a Reply