How to copy the filename quickly in windows

Question

Want to copy the file name quickly in Windows. I always use rename, copy , but feel it is quite slow. Any better way?

Solution 1

Press F2 to rename, Ctrl+C to copy. Two keystrokes without any additional utilities.

Solution 2

You can get a free context menu utility, rightfully named "Copy File Name Utility", that will add that option to files:

Compatible with XP, Vista, 7 (32 and 64-bit editions). Just 11kb.

Solution 3

I know it's an old question but I was also looking for a way to do this and if you select the files you need and then press shift + right click -> 'copy as path', you can get the complete file paths without using the command prompt. Then you can use a quick find and replace to remove the parts of the paths that you don't need. It takes about five seconds.

Solution 4

If you are just trying to copy the files names into the clipboard try the following -

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
2. change to the appropriate directory using the cd command.
3. type dir
4. Using the mouse, highlight the file names you want to copy.
5. Press the right mouse button - this copies the selected text onto the clipboard.

You may need to enable quick edit mode, follow the instructions here.

View more solutions

Comments

[HikeMike]

Bonus info for Mac OS X users: Press Return to rename, Cmd-C to copy.

[user598527]

Not a complete answer. Filename extension isn't selected when renaming.

[HikeMike]

@user598527 Ctrl-A should do it, but haven't used Windows in years. Could have tested this on a throwaway VM without known file extensions shown, or perhaps it was different back then if you're on Windows 10 now. Looking over the other answers, three keystrokes still come out ahead.

[user598527]

Yes, Ctrl + A after F2 selects the full filename.

[ahorn]

In Windows 10, it asks to open the file, and I don't know how to copy the name to my clipboard.

[user2834566]

Best answer I've ever seen. Does exactly what I have to do so often but using just one click. Only niggle is that it has double quotes around it but some of the time that's handy

[Ryan]

Here is how to copy all files' names without using the command line: stackoverflow.com/a/17867130/470749