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Sometimes I want to rename a file that has quite a technical, complicated name by appending a date or some other information to it. Because the name can be complex, it can be problematic if the name is erased. When renaming a file using the "Rename..." option of a file's context menu in Nautilus, how can one undo the changes to a file name? The natural Ctrl+Z does nothing to revert the name, whether one is in the process of typing the new name or whether the name has been saved.

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    If you change your mind while still in the process of renaming, pressing Esc will revert any changes.
    – Jos
    Apr 10, 2015 at 9:04
  • Just an observation that Ctrl+z works in my case (After the name is saved). (Ubuntu 14.10, Nautilus 3.10.1). The Undo functionality even worked after I completely closed Nautilus and re-opened it, and without being inside the directory when the name change happened.
    – Dan
    Apr 10, 2015 at 9:07
  • This is the typical case when I find that using command line (with history, copy and paste, TAB expansion, editing commands in the line...) is the best solution. Appending is just a matter of a well crafted rename command... Didn't add an answer because the question is clearly about nautilus...
    – Rmano
    Apr 10, 2015 at 9:52
  • @Jos Esc worked while in the process of renaming. Thanks. @Dan Thanks for your suggestion. Under what appear to be the same conditions, this does not work for me. @Rmano You're likely right. I happened to find the Nautilus behaviour unintuitive, so I mentioned it.
    – d3pd
    Apr 10, 2015 at 9:57

2 Answers 2

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While you are still editing the file name, press Esc to cancel the renaming without applying any changes. (You can still see the original name in the status bar in the lower right corner)

enter image description here

Once you confirmed it, you still can revert it with Ctrl+Z or through the
Menu > Undo Renaming. This seems even to work after the Nautilus window was closed and reopened.

Screenshot failed with open menu. Sorry! :(

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  • Great, Esc works. Thanks. For me, with Nautilus 3.10.1 in Ubuntu 14.10, Ctrl z does not work and there is no "Undo Renaming" option visible to me (in the Edit menu).
    – d3pd
    Apr 10, 2015 at 9:54
  • @d3pd But I have 14.10 and Nautilus 3.10.1 too... Strange. I just use XFCE instead of Unity, but that should not make a difference (?) - But anyway, I prefer the other file managers like Nemo or Thunar to Nautilus, as it also has a few other bugs and less features.
    – Byte Commander
    Apr 10, 2015 at 10:09
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Simply confirm the file name change, then go to EditUndo Renaming. ctrl+Z also works but you first have to confirm the file name change.

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    Thanks for your suggestions. For me, with Nautilus 3.10.1 in Ubuntu 14.10, Ctrl z does not work and there is no "Undo Renaming" option visible to me in the Edit menu.
    – d3pd
    Apr 10, 2015 at 9:54

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