Fixed: Can’t Change Folder Name in Windows 10

Can’t change your folder name in Windows 10? Many other users of Windows 10 around the world complain about this frustrating problem.

In this article, we will go over some of the causes of this problem and the troubleshooting techniques to take to overcome this problematic issue.

What do I do if I can’t change folder name in Windows 10?

1. Modify your registry

1. Hold the Windows + R keys simultaneously, type regedit in the text field, and hit Enter.
   
2. Click once on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
3. Navigate to the File tab and pick Load Hive.
   
4. Locate your software hive, give it a new name, and load it.
5. After the hive is loaded, navigate to the path below.
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\your hive name\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes
6. Highlight the folder types, right-click on them, and choose Export.
   
7. Return to your hive name and close it.
8. Open the File menu, select Unload Hive, and click on the Yes button.
9. Next, close the registry, locate the registry file you just exported, and double-click on it to import it back into the registry.
10. Reboot your device and try to rename your folders again.

2. Change your Windows Defender settings

1. Hold the Windows + I keys simultaneously to launch the Settings app and choose Update & Security.
   
2. Choose Windows Security on the left side of your screen and click the Open Windows Security button on the right.
   
3. Choose the Virus & threat protection option and select Virus & threat protection settings.
   
4. Turn off the toggle under the Manage Controlled folder access option.
   
5. Finally, check to see if the problem has been fixed.

3. Ensure that you have ownership of your folders

1. Locate the folder you want to access, right-click, and choose Properties.
2. Click the Security tab and hit the Advanced button.
   
3. Verify the Owner section at the top and click on the Change link.
   
4. In the Enter the object name to select field, input the desired username or group, and hit the Check Names button.
   
5. Tick the box next to the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects option and hit OK to save the changes you made.
   
6. Check to see if the problem persists.

4. Remove some values from your registry

1. Hit the Windows + R keys to launch the Run dialogue, type regedit in the field text, and hit Enter.
   
2. Go to the path below.
   HKLM\Software\Microsoft\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Folder\Descriptions
3. Next, delete the following keys below.
   {2112AB0A-C86A-4ffe-A368-0DE96E47012E}
{491E922F-5643-4af4-A7EB-4E7A138D8174}
{7b0db17d-9cd2-4a93-9733-46cc89022e7c}
{A302545D-DEFF-464b-ABE8-61C8648D939B}
{A990AE9F-A03B-4e80-94BC-9912D7504104}
4. Following this process should resolve the problem.

5. Ensure that the preview pane in File Explorer is disabled

1. Launch the File Explorer by holding the Windows + E keys simultaneously.
2. Navigate to the View tab, and click on the Preview pane option to disable it if enabled.
   
3. Check to see if this process has resolved the issue.

6. Make sure that the file is not running in the background

1. Launch the Task Manager by holding the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys.
2. In your Task Manager, check to see if the file is running. If it is, right-click on it and hit the End Task button.
   
3. Go back and try renaming your folder.

7. Remove autorun.inf files

1. Launch the File Explorer by holding the Windows + E keys simultaneously and look for the directory whose name you want to change.
2. Navigate to the View tab and check the box next to the Hidden items option.
   
3. Locate autorun.inf and delete it.

8. Update your Windows operating system

1. Hold the Windows + I keys simultaneously to launch the Settings app and choose Update & Security.
   
2. On the right-hand side of your screen, hit the Check for updates button.
   
3. If any update is available, download and install them.
4. Reboot your system and verify to know if the problem has been resolved.

9. Use a static picture as your background

1. Right-click on your desktop and select Personalize from the menu.
   
2. Replace your device background from Slideshow to Picture.
   
3. After completing this, check to see if the problem has been resolved.

10. Restart your Windows Explorer

1. Open your Task Manager by simultaneously holding the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys.
2. Locate Windows Explorer from the list, right-click, and hit Restart.
   
3. Finally, check to see if the problem has been fixed.

11. Change view settings

1. Launch the File Explorer by holding the Windows + E keys simultaneously, then locate the directory that holds the folder you want to rename.
2. Navigate to the View tab.
   
3. Choose any other view except for Small icons.
4. Now, go back and try to rename your folder.

12. Check for malware using the Microsoft Defender Offline scan

1. In the search bar at the bottom of your screen, type Windows Security and click Open.
   
2. In the Windows Security panel, choose Virus & threat protection.
   
3. Select Scan options.
   
4. Next, click the radio button next to the Microsoft Defender Offline scan option, and hit the Scan Now button.
   
5. In the next prompt, click Scan.
   
6. In the UAC prompt, select Yes.
   
7. The scan will begin, and your system will restart.
8. After the scan, check to see if the problem has been fixed.

Why can’t I rename folders in Windows 10?

You might be unable to rename your folders for many reasons. Some of the most common causes are listed below.

• Virus infection – If your device has been infected with a virus or your files have been infected, you will often face this problem. We recommend an efficient antivirus.
• Outdated Windows – If your PC is running on an obsolete operating system, you won’t be able to change the folder name.
• The file is opened in another program – If you cannot rename the folder, it might be because it is opened in another program in Windows 10.
• Third-party anti-virus software – You might be facing this issue due to third-party anti-virus software installed on your device.

What are the file name restrictions in Windows 10?

Some of the file name restrictions on Windows 10 include the following:

• Do not begin or end your file name with a period, space, underline or hyphen
• Many operating systems are case-sensitive, so always use lowercase
• Ensure that your filenames are not too long. Generally, they should be under 31 characters
• Do not use underscores or spaces in your filenames; use a hyphen instead.

In conclusion, following the steps in this article will help you overcome the can’t change folder name error without any problem.

However, note that if you can’t change a folder name because the file is open, this is normal, and you will have to first close the file.

The steps in this article have not been arranged in any particular order, so try as many steps as possible until you find a solution that helps you overcome the folder name sync pending error.