mv Command Guide for Moving and Renaming Files

This guide helps you understand and use the mv (move) command to move or rename files and directories in Unix-like systems.

What is mv, and Why Use It?

The mv command is used to move files or directories from one location to another — or to rename them.

Why Learn mv?

• File organization: Move files into appropriate folders.
• Renaming: Quickly rename files without needing a dedicated rename tool.
• Efficient: Unlike cp, mv doesn’t duplicate — it relocates or renames in-place.

Because mv replaces files by default, it’s often paired with safety flags like -i to avoid accidental overwrites.

1. Rename a File

mv oldname.txt newname.txt

• Changes the file name without changing its location.

2. Move a File to a Directory

mv file.txt /path/to/destination/

• Moves file.txt into the specified folder.

3. Move Multiple Files into a Directory

mv file1.txt file2.txt /destination/

• Places both files into the target directory.

4. Move a Directory

mv my_folder /new/location/

• Moves the folder and everything inside it to a new path.

5. Prompt Before Overwriting

mv -i file.txt /path/

• -i (interactive) asks before replacing any existing files.

6. Verbose Mode (Show What’s Happening)

mv -v file.txt /path/

• -v (verbose) displays each operation — helpful when working with many files.

Move Cheatsheet