How to rename photos by date and number on iPhone

IMG_4821.JPG sorts by camera counter, not by what’s in the photo. A few naming rules fix that, and once you have a pattern you can apply it to a whole batch in one go.

Most guides on this topic are written for Windows or Mac. This one is for the iPhone.

A pattern that sorts itself

A good default is date, name, number:

2026-10-31_wedding-smith_001.jpg

• Date first, as YYYY-MM-DD. Year, month, day with leading zeros. Sorted by name, these files also come out in date order. 31-10-2026 or Oct-31 don’t.
• A short name for the job or client. Lowercase, hyphens instead of spaces.
• A number at the end with leading zeros. 001, 002 and so on. Some apps sort text strictly, and then photo_10 comes before photo_2. With 010 and 002 that can’t happen. Use three digits for up to 999 photos.

Stick to letters, numbers, hyphens and underscores. Windows doesn’t allow \ / : * ? “ < > | in file names, so leave them out if the files might end up on a PC.

Prefix or suffix?

• Prefix (text in front): use it when the files should group together, e.g. a client name or listing- for product shots. Everything with the same prefix sits together in a folder.
• Suffix (text after the name): use it when you want to keep the original name in front, e.g. IMG_4821_web.jpg. You can still find the original photo later.

For deliveries a date or prefix plus a number is usually enough. For edited copies that sit next to the originals, a suffix is clearer.

Doing it on iPhone

The Files app renames one file at a time (long-press, Rename), and the Photos app can’t change file names. The batch rename guide covers the Shortcuts route.

With Batchly (I make it, so weigh this accordingly):

1. Select all the photos for the batch.
2. Add the rename step. Batchly renames all selected files at once.
3. Pick what goes into the name: numbering, a prefix, a suffix or a date-based name.
4. Add other steps if you need them, such as resizing or a watermark.
5. Export to Photos or Files and check a few names before you send the set.

Batchly writes new files, works offline and keeps the photo metadata. The app is in English.

Free vs Pro

The free version handles up to 7 photos at a time. Pro removes the limit and lets you save the workflow, so the same naming pattern is one tap away next time.

Related: batch rename photos on iPhone and batch resize photos on iPhone.