File renameTo() method in Java with examples

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025
The renameTo() method is a part of File class. The renameTo() function is used to rename the abstract path name of a File to a given path name. The function returns true if the file is renamed else returns false Function Signature: 
public boolean renameTo(File destination)
Syntax: 
file.renameTo(File destination)
Parameters: The function requires File object destination as parameter, the new abstract path name of the present file. Return Value: The function returns boolean data type. The function returns true the file is renamed else returns false Exception: This method throws following exceptions:
  • Security Exception if the method does not allow write operation of the abstract pathnames.
  • NullPointerException if the destination filename is null.
Below programs will illustrate the use of renameTo() function: Example 1: Try to rename the file program.txt to program1.txt Java 
// Java program to demonstrate
// the use of File.renameTo() method

import java.io.*;

public class GFG {

    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        // create an abstract pathname (File object)
        File f = new File("F:\\program.txt");

        // create the destination file object
        File dest = new File("F:\\program1.txt");

        // check if the file can be renamed
        // to the abstract path name
        if (f.renameTo(dest)) {

            // display that the file is renamed
            // to the abstract path name
            System.out.println("File is renamed");
        }
        else {
            // display that the file cannot be renamed
            // to the abstract path name
            System.out.println("File cannot be renamed");
        }
    }
}
Output: 
File is renamed
Example 2: Try to rename "program1.txt" to "prog.txt", "prog.txt" is a existing file in the f: drive . Java 
// Java program to demonstrate
// the use of File.renameTo() method

import java.io.*;

public class GFG {
    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        // create an abstract pathname (File object)
        File f = new File("F:\\program1.txt");

        // create the destination file object
        File dest = new File("F:\\prog.txt");

        // check if the file can be renamed
        // to the abstract path name
        if (f.renameTo(dest)) {

            // display that the file is renamed
            // to the abstract path name
            System.out.println("File is renamed");
        }
        else {
            // display that the file cannot be renamed
            // to the abstract path name
            System.out.println("File cannot be renamed");
        }
    }
}
Output: 
File cannot be renamed
The programs might not run in an online IDE. please use an offline IDE and set the path of the file
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