Pick the attachment by its name
Current attachment name tells the tool which embedded file to change. It has to match an attachment in the PDF, so copy it from a List Attachments report instead of typing it from memory.
Rename a PDF attachment
or drop a file anywhere here
Dropbox
Google Drive
Files other than PDF are converted first. Signing in raises the size limit.
Or start from a blank IRS form
Browse all IRS forms →- You add
- One PDF
- You set
- The current name and the new name
- You get
- The PDF with the attachment renamed
A file embedded in a PDF keeps the name it had when someone attached it. Rename Attachment changes that name, and you do not have to extract the file and attach it again. Add one PDF, type the name the attachment has now in Current attachment name, type the name you want in New attachment name and run the job. You download a new PDF in which that attachment carries the new name. The page does not show the names stored in your file, so look them up with List Attachments before you start. One rename runs without an account.
What can you do when you rename a PDF attachment?
Type the new name in full
Whatever you enter in New attachment name is passed on as the new name, apart from spaces at the start and end, which the form trims. Include the extension, such as .csv or .xml, because indox does not add one.
Catch an empty box before the job starts
Both fields are required and carry an asterisk. Leave one empty, press the run button, and nothing is sent. Under the empty box the page shows This field is required.
Get an error when the name is not found
If no attachment has the current name you typed, the job ends with an error and no PDF is produced. You are not handed a file that looks processed but still carries the old name.
What renaming an attachment keeps and changes
Stays the same
- The attachment's contents. Only its name is set again.
- The pages and everything else in the PDF.
- The file on your device.
Changes
- The new name is written to both name entries the PDF keeps for the attachment, the plain one and the Unicode one.
- The current name must match exactly, capital letters included, and only the first match is renamed.
- The attachment list is rebuilt with the new name as its key.
- No file extension is checked or added. What you type is the new name.
How to rename a PDF attachment in 3 steps
Upload the PDF
Drop the PDF that contains the attachment on the upload box, or use Choose file to find it.
Enter both names
Type the existing name in Current attachment name and the replacement in New attachment name, extension included.
Run the rename and download
Press Run Rename Attachment. When the job finishes, choose Download to save the PDF with the renamed attachment.
Why rename a PDF attachment with indox?
Without a rename tool, changing the name of an embedded file means extracting it, renaming it on your device and attaching it again. This page does it in one job with two text boxes. It checks that both boxes are filled before anything is sent, and it fails openly when the current name matches nothing in the PDF. That way a finished download tells you the rename went through. A single rename runs without an account. The upload goes over HTTPS, and indox deletes free-tier files, the PDF you sent and the renamed result, automatically within 24 hours after the job finishes.
- Two boxes: the current name and the new name
- Empty fields are caught before the job starts
- A name that is not found fails with an error
- No extract and re-attach round trip
- One rename without an account
What are the limits when you rename a PDF attachment?
- Size
- The free tier has a file size limit. Signing in raises it, and paid plans raise it further.
- Formats
- This tool works on PDF files. To change a file's type, use the PDF converter.
- Privacy
- Files are encrypted in transit and processed on indox infrastructure.
- Deletion
- Free-tier files are deleted automatically within 24 hours after the job finishes. Signed-in output stays in your history for your plan's retention period.
Limits worth knowing
- The page does not show the attachment names stored in your PDF. Run List Attachments first and copy the name from its report.
- One attachment is renamed per job. For several, upload each downloaded PDF again and enter the next pair of names.
- indox does not add or check a file extension. Type the new name in full, such as report.csv, so the file still opens with the right app after someone extracts it.
- A current name that matches no attachment fails the job. The same happens when the PDF carries no attachments at all.
- Rename Attachment shows no password field. Unlock a password-protected PDF with Unlock PDF before you rename anything inside it.
When the rename is not what you expected
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The job fails and says the attachment was not found | The current name differs in a capital letter, a space or the extension, or the PDF has no attachments | Copy the name exactly from List Attachments. |
| Another attachment is gone after the rename | The engine keeps attachments in a list keyed by name, so a new name that another attachment already uses can replace it | Check the names with List Attachments first and choose a name that is not taken. |
| The extracted file opens in the wrong app | The tool does not add an extension | Rename again and type the full name, such as report.csv. |
| The file asks for a password | The form has no password box | Remove it with Unlock PDF first. |
What do the free and paid plans add?
Free
- All converters
- Daily credit refresh
- Email support
Basic
- Access to all features
- AI Extract
- Priority conversions
- Email support
Highest priority
Premium
- Everything in Basic
- Highest priority queue
- Larger file limits
- Priority support
Pay-As-You-Go
- No subscription
- Credits never expire
- Opt-in auto-refill
- Access to all features
What else can you do with a PDF?
Who renames PDF attachments?
Accounts teams with naming rules
A receiving system expects the embedded data file under a set name. Rename the attachment to match before you send the PDF.
Document controllers
Attachments arrive with names like scan001 or final_v3. Give each one a name that says what it is before the PDF is filed.
Authors fixing a slip
You embedded a file under the wrong name. Correct the name here instead of rebuilding the PDF from its source.
When to rename an attachment, and when to pick another tool
- An embedded file has a name that tells the reader nothing.
- A recipient's system expects the attachment under a specific file name.
- A version label such as draft should come off the attachment name.
- A typo slipped into the name when the file was embedded.
- The attachment should go, not get a new name. Delete Attachment removes it by name.
Where can I read more?
Sources
- AttachmentService.javaStirling-PDF source code, v2.14.2
- AttachmentController.javaStirling-PDF source code, v2.14.2
Facts checked on October 16, 2026
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Rename Attachment FAQs
How do I find the current attachment name?
Run List Attachments on the PDF. Its JSON report gives the name of every embedded file, and you can copy the one you need.
Does renaming change the content of the attachment?
The job sends two names and no file, so the request holds nothing that could replace what is inside the attachment.
Do I have to type the file extension?
Yes, type the name in full. indox passes the new name on as you entered it and does not append an extension.
What happens if the current name is wrong?
The job fails, and the page shows an error with a Try another button. No PDF is returned.
Can I rename several attachments in one job?
No. The form holds one pair of names. Rename one attachment, then upload the result again for the next.
Can I rename the PDF file itself here?
No. This tool renames a file embedded inside the PDF. Auto Rename is the indox tool that generates a file name for the PDF from its content.
Do I need an account to rename an attachment?
No. Rename Attachment has the free badge, and one rename runs without signing in.
Is my PDF kept after the rename?
Free-tier files are deleted automatically within 24 hours after the job finishes, and that covers the PDF you uploaded and the copy with the renamed attachment. Both move over HTTPS.