Magic File Renamer Help


Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Magic File Renamer 8. Also see Tips.

What is Magic File Renamer?

Magic File Renamer (MFR) is a Windows batch renamer and audio tagger. You build a Filter Chain, preview names and tags live, then apply. See What is Magic File Renamer? and Features.

What operating systems does MFR support?

Magic File Renamer 8 requires Microsoft Windows 10 or later (64-bit). It is not available for macOS or Linux. Downloads include the .NET runtime — no separate Microsoft .NET install is required.

Is MFR 8 free? Is it a beta?

Current MFR 8 builds are a time-limited beta: free to use, with GO (and other disk commits) blocked starting 90 days after that build’s release until you install a newer beta or the official release. Details: What's New — Beta release. Download from www.finebytes.com/mfr/download8.

How much does a license cost?

Published prices on the site are for Magic File Renamer 7 licenses (Single from $30; Dual, Educational, Upgrade, and Site licenses listed separately). See Pricing. MFR 8 is currently the time-limited beta download above — check the site for the latest licensing status as MFR 8 leaves beta.

MFR 7 vs MFR 8 — which should I use?

MFR 8 is a full rewrite with the current Filter Chain, Rename List, help, and console (mfrc). Prefer it for new work. MFR 7 remains available for existing licensed users who need the classic app. Migration notes (presets, tokens, paths): Migrating from MFR 7. Downloads: MFR 8 and MFR 7.

Can MFR rename from audio tags, EXIF, Explorer, or the console?

Yes. Formatter tokens and Rename List fields can pull audio tags, image/EXIF properties, and document Info into new names; tag write-back is previewed before GO. See Supported formats and Rename List fields. File Explorer offers Rename with MFR 8 after Setup (see context menu below). Scripts and Task Scheduler use Console Mode (mfrc).

Can MFR change file extensions?

Yes. Select a Filter Chain step, open its Filter Options, and set Apply To to the extension target (or include the extension in a multi-target apply). See Filter Options.

Preview looks wrong — will GO still change my files?

GO commits what Preview shows. If Auto-Preview is on, the Rename List New columns update as you edit the Filter Chain. Fix Preview first (or use console --dry-run for a no-write run). See Apply Changes and Rename List Preview.

Can I undo a rename?

Undo Last prepares a reverse preview of the last GO; disk is unchanged until you press GO again. Older operations may still be listed in the Rename Log. See Undo Last.

Where are my presets stored?

Presets are JSON under your AppData finebytes MFR folder (not MFR 7 .mps files). Manage them from the Preset Manager. See Preset Manager and Save Preset.

Can I load MFR 7 presets in MFR 8?

Yes, as a one-shot best-effort import. When MFR 8 finds MFR 7 presets under %ProgramData%\FineBytes\MFR\Presets\, it may offer Import from MFR 7. Name collisions and unsupported filters are skipped or noted in the summary. Format strings are rewritten where MFR 8 has a peer token; unported tokens stay and warn. After you dismiss the offer, use Reset Configuration if you want to see it again. Details and limits: Migrating from MFR 7 — One-shot import offer and Formatting tokens.

Where is configuration stored? How do I reset it?

Preferences live in config.json under %AppData%\finebytes\mfr\. See Options and Reset configuration.

How do I rename from a script or Task Scheduler?

Use the console entry point with a saved preset. See Console Mode. Prefer --dry-run until the preview looks right.

Is there a File Explorer “Rename with MFR” menu?

Yes — after a Setup install (or after enabling it in Options), right-click a file or folder and choose Rename with MFR 8. That opens the desktop app and puts the selected items on the Rename List. Selecting several items opens one window with all of them.

How do I open Help?

Press F1 or choose Help → Index. Help → Tips opens tips. Filter Configuration ? opens that filter’s topic. Pages open in your default browser.

Still stuck? See Support & Contact.