How do I quickly rename a file name without refactoring in PHPStorm? Even after I've just created the file, PHPStorm takes a long time to search through my files for its usage.
5 Answers
My technique for renaming files quickly is to single-click the file name and press Shift-F6. A dialog opens and you can immediately type the new name of the file and hit return/enter to complete the rename.
I find this technique intuitive because you don't have to move your mouse to the dialog window, type the new name, or click anything to confirm. As long as all you're doing is a rename that you know is safe, you just type it and go.
I also like this feature because you still have the option of quickly previewing the changes before they're made. And on those occasions when you are refactoring something with possible implications to the rest of your app, you can still enable "Search for references" and/or "Search in comments and strings" to get the whole enchilada. (I have those options disabled by default.)
I agree with you that right-clicking the file name, scrolling down to Refactor, selecting Rename, and then entering the new name is cumbersome, especially if the safe checks are enabled. I find that PhpStorm developers seem to understand these types of issues and usually have thought of a "faster way" to do things as well.

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You can also use mnemonics(Alt +
) to quickly enable/disable checkboxes. – Nikolay Matveev Nov 14 '11 at 12:28
You can't do it without refactoring, though Refactor
| Rename
is usually very quick and you can disable options to search for references.

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sometimes I create a new file and then i want change it's name. Although the file just is created the refactorer report a lot of refrences to it?! – Handsome Nerd Oct 19 '11 at 10:16
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1False references can be found if you search for them in comments and the name of file is some common word, so just disable both checkboxes in the Rename dialog. – CrazyCoder Oct 19 '11 at 10:51
Default is Shift-F6. For not refactoring, disable the checkboxes in the popup.
I wanted to use F2 for file renaming like Windows default.
You can make a shortcut for F2. Go to:
- File
- Settings
- Keymap
- Search for "rename"
- Doubleclick "Refactor -> Rename"
- Click "Keyboard Shortcut"
- Press F2
- Ok
EDIT
If it does not work immediately, restart PHPStorm.

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1+1 This is why I came here. Google brought me, and disappointed I am not. F2 is for me the expected shortcut. Who ever heard of Shift+f6 for rename operations? – brett May 31 '19 at 09:56
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Weird, not sure why this shortcut needs a restart, while others don't. – George Dimitriadis Jun 05 '19 at 13:10
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There is also an option available Right-click on file select "Show In Explorer" and then in windows explorer rename file by F2. It will not refactor or effect any other file in your project.

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1This is eventually the fastest way when you are confident that you just want to rename and your renaming will not break the code. – Handsome Nerd Oct 11 '22 at 07:37
This will work for linux users.
It depends on zenity
, so first check if it installed on your system,
run in console: zenity --version
If it output something like 3.18.1.1
- then it's ok.
Create file idea-rename.sh
with content below:
#!/usr/bin/env bash
FileDir="$1"
FileName="$2"
NewFileName="$(zenity --entry --title "Rename ${FileName}" --text "Please enter new name" --entry-text "${FileName}" --ok-label="Rename" 2>/dev/null)"
if [[ "${NewFileName}" != "" ]]; then
if [[ -f "${FileDir}/${FileName}" ]]; then
path="${FileDir}"
name="${NewFileName}"
if [[ "${NewFileName}" == *"/"* ]]; then
IFS='/' read -ra newDirs <<< "$NewFileName"
IFS='/' read -ra dirs <<< "$FileDir"
last=$((${#newDirs[@]} - 1))
path=""
name="${newDirs[$last]}"
unset 'newDirs[last]'
if [[ "${NewFileName}" == *"./"* ]]; then
for i in "${!newDirs[@]}"; do
dir="${newDirs[i]}"
if [[ "$dir" == ".." ]]; then
unset 'newDirs[i]'
j=$i
while [ $j -ge 0 ]; do
j=$(($j-1))
if [ $j -lt 0 ]; then
for (( k=${#dirs[@]}-1 ; k>=0 ; k-- )); do
if [[ "${dirs[k]}" ]]; then
echo 'dirs[k]'
unset 'dirs[k]'
break
fi
done
elif [[ "${newDirs[j]}" ]]; then
echo 'newDirs[j]'
unset 'newDirs[j]'
break
fi
done
elif [[ "$dir" == "." ]]; then
unset 'newDirs[i]'
fi
done
fi
for dir in "${dirs[@]}"; do
if [[ "$dir" ]]; then
path="${path}/${dir}"
if [[ ! -d "$path" ]]; then
mkdir -m 0777 "$path"
fi
fi
done
for dir in "${newDirs[@]}"; do
if [[ "$dir" ]]; then
path="${path}/${dir}"
if [[ ! -d "$path" ]]; then
mkdir -m 0777 "$path"
fi
fi
done
fi
if [[ ! -f "${FileDir}/${NewFileName}" ]]; then
mv "${FileDir}/${FileName}" "${path}/${name}"
fi
fi
fi
Open your Settings
> Tools
> External Tools
, click on
and fill form as below
Name: Rename
Group: File
Program: /bin/bash
Parameters: /path/to/idea-rename.sh $FileDir$ $FileName$
Working Directory: $ProjectFileDir$
Click Ok
, Apply
After that you can see new item in your file menu
When you click on rename
will opens dialog
After rename in some cases phpstorm not sync files, so in path where located your file need to click in file menu "Synchronize 'path'"

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