Frequently Asked Questions

Files and Naming

Which files can I use?

RenameClick supports selected image, document, text, and audio formats. It does not support every Office format, video, or archive. See the complete list.

Can I keep the original filename or extension?

Extensions are preserved. Use $oldName in a format to keep the original stem, or $words{old,...} for a defined part. Original-name patterns.

Can I just move files, or just rename them?

Yes. In the Rename workspace, enable Rename, Categorize, or both. Rename only keeps files in their current folders; Categorize only keeps their names. In Auto Flow, you can also turn both off and simply move or copy supported files to a destination without AI or apply credits. Auto Flow actions.

Does a scanned PDF use all pages?

No. When usable text is absent, RenameClick reads the first page with the text recognition built into your operating system and analyzes it visually. Later pages are not included. Long extracted text is also limited before analysis. PDF processing.

Can I name recordings from speech?

Yes, for supported formats after installing Audio Transcription. Choose Local AI and install its capability too for fully local naming. Long recordings are sampled; song identification is not supported. Audio setup.

Can I undo changes after restarting?

Auto Flow saves Undo and Redo history across restarts, including new duplicate cleanup operations from 2.16.1 onward. Stop watching first; the files and saved recovery information must still be available. Starting watching clears recent-action history, but eligible saved Applied records can still be selected for Undo after stopping again. Clearing a record removes its app Undo. The separate Rename workspace keeps up to 10 history entries in memory and clears them on restart. Auto Flow history.

Instructions and Folders

Why are Format and Output Language disabled?

A selected custom prompt defines the final name. Put its structure and language in that prompt, or select the built-in instructions to use ordinary formatting. Custom Instructions.

Does the naming prompt choose the category?

No. Naming and categorization are separate. AI Categories, Metadata Folders, and Match Folders use different sources for folder decisions. Sorting presets.

Does Match Folders create missing folders?

No. It chooses among up to 50 existing top-level destination folders. Unmatched behavior differs between a separate output folder and same-folder Auto Flow. Match Folders.

Can Auto Flow rename files without moving them?

Yes. Use the source folder as the destination with Rename on. Files are renamed where they are, and a file the rule already renamed is not processed again, even after you edit it or rename it by hand. Same Folder as Source.

Processing and Privacy

Does it work offline?

With Local AI selected and required capabilities installed, file processing can work offline. Model downloads, license activation/recovery, and Apple restoration have separate internet requirements. Providers.

Can I use another model?

Yes. Connect LM Studio or Ollama, or an optional cloud provider in direct macOS and Windows builds. A configured remote endpoint receives content; provider choice alone does not make processing local. Provider setup.

How fast will a batch run?

Time depends on hardware, model, file content, context settings, and any network connection. Processing one observed file does not establish a rate for every batch. The Batch File Limit controls intake, not speed.

Can I use synced cloud folders?

Yes, through the provider’s sync application, including OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and iCloud Drive on macOS. Auto Flow reads the full file contents, allowing cloud placeholders to download, then waits for stability before processing. If the provider stops delivering files, the rule waits and offers Try again. RenameClick does not browse a cloud provider’s website. Moving or renaming a synced file can also change it on your other devices. Cloud storage in Auto Flow.

Search, Automation, and Payment

Does AI Search modify files?

Only when you apply. Indexing and searching read files and never change them. Every match shows a proposed name; select rows and use Rename Selected, Move to folder or Rename & Move to apply them with the Rename settings, one apply credit per changed file, with Undo in the toolbar. Reveal opens a location, Exclude changes the result list, and Move to Trash affects the actual file. Rename and move from search.

Does Auto Flow guarantee that a download is complete?

Auto Flow reads the complete current contents and then waits for the file to remain unchanged. Changes during either step restart the readiness check. You see Loading file and Processing while it waits. This supports cloud downloads, but cannot guarantee that another application will never write more data later. Stability settings and retry timing.

Can Auto Flow rules run in stages?

Yes. An applied output can become another rule’s input. Folder connections define the route; cycles and conflicting sources are rejected. Connect rules.

Can Auto Flow remove duplicate files?

Enable Trash duplicates for the rule. It compares eligible source files by content, keeps one copy, and sends extra identical files to Trash when you apply the results, or automatically with Auto Apply. It is off by default and uses no apply credits. New cleanup operations from 2.16.1 onward support Undo and Redo with watching stopped, subject to file and history availability. Duplicate cleanup.

Does clearing Applied delete my files?

No. Remove selected from list and Clear applied list remove records from Auto Flow, including their Undo and saved Trash recovery information. They do not change files or empty the system Trash. Every Applied result type can be cleared. Clearing results.

What is free?

Analysis, AI Search indexing, searching and proposed names do not use RenameClick credits. Free includes 100 apply credits each month; applying renaming and sorting together, on the Rename screen or from search results, uses one credit per file. In Auto Flow, plain Move or Copy with both Rename and Sort off, and duplicate cleanup, use no credits. External API fees are separate. Credits and plans.

Does one purchase cover every installation channel?

Direct macOS and Windows share an email-linked license for up to three active devices. Mac App Store purchases are separate and use Apple restoration. Installation.