Rename a file in C#

Question

How do I rename a file using C#?

Answer 1

1. First solution

   Avoid System.IO.File.Move solutions posted here (marked answer included). It fails over networks. However, copy/delete pattern works locally and over networks. Follow one of the move solutions, but replace it with Copy instead. Then use File.Delete to delete the original file.

   You can create a Rename method to simplify it.

2. Ease of use

   Use the VB assembly in C#. Add reference to Microsoft.VisualBasic

   Then to rename the file:

   Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.FileSystem.RenameFile(myfile, newName);

   Both are strings. Note that myfile has the full path. newName does not. For example:

   a = "C:\whatever\a.txt";
   b = "b.txt";
   Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.FileSystem.RenameFile(a, b);
   

   The C:\whatever\ folder will now contain b.txt.