What Can TV Rename Do for My TV Show and Movie Files?

TV Rename is a free, open-source Windows media management tool that renames TV show and movie files using TheTVDB data and your own rules, moves or copies them into a Media Library, downloads artwork and metadata, and reports which episodes you're missing. It runs on Windows 10 and later and is aimed at people who want their files to look right in Kodi (XBMC), Mede8er, PyTivo, and similar media hubs. It is not a player or a downloader — it organizes files you already have.

Rename files with TheTVDB data and your own rules

TV Rename "fixes" messy release filenames so they follow a consistent, readable pattern. The site's example turns:

The.Shannara.Chronicles.S02E03.XviD-AFG.avi

into:

The Shannara Chronicles - S02E03 - Graymark.avi

The show name, season, episode number, and episode title come from TheTVDB; the output format is something you configure. The site describes virtually every aspect of the tool as configurable — media locations, library language, show and episode images, and metadata — so the naming pattern is a setting to adjust rather than a fixed behavior.

When this fits: your files are named by release groups and you want a predictable "Show - S02E03 - Title" style for a media hub. When it doesn't: files that are already cleanly named and correctly placed gain little from this step.

Monitor folders and build a Media Library

TV Rename can watch specified folders for new TV show files. Once it knows about your Media Library — one or more folders on a PC, NAS, or similar storage — it can copy or move files from the monitored folders into that library.

The basic flow the site describes:

1. Set your preferences and point TV Rename at your TV show and movie collection location(s).
2. Run a scan to find out what's current in your library.
3. Let it run — it handles the rest automatically.

What to decide before starting: whether you want files copied (originals stay in the download folder) or moved (originals leave it). Copying is safer while you're testing your rules; moving keeps storage tidy once you trust the setup.

Download artwork and create metadata automatically

Beyond renaming, TV Rename downloads TV show posters, banners, and episode images, and creates .nfo files automatically. This is the part that makes a library look finished in Kodi and similar hubs, where artwork and metadata drive how shows appear on screen.

Practical note: artwork and metadata come from external sources (TheTVDB is named on the site), so results depend on those sources having entries for your shows. Obscure or very new titles may come back incomplete.

Find what's missing and what's next

TV Rename can list any missing TV show episodes or seasons in your Media Library and create web searches to help you find missing files. It also tells you how long you'll have to wait until the next episode of a current favourite airs — the site calls this "calendarizing" your shows.

How to use this: run it after a scan to get a gap list for a series you're collecting, then use the generated searches as a starting point. Treat the list as a to-do, not a guarantee — a "missing" episode may simply be one you haven't acquired yet.

What it integrates with, and what it costs

The site gives no pricing tiers or paid edition, and describes the tool as "100% Free." No account or login requirement is mentioned.

Where to start

If you're new, the site says to read the Quick-Start Guide first, then follow the basic setup guides: set preferences and collection locations, run a scan, and review the results before letting it run automatically. That order matters — a scan on a small test folder shows you how your naming rules behave before they touch your whole library.

Common sticking points to plan for: confirming your library path is correct before the first move, deciding copy vs. move up front, and checking that TheTVDB has entries for your shows so names and artwork resolve properly.