topic Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Renaming a gdb in Catalog

GISJess — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 02:02:09 GMT

Hi! It's not the biggest issue, but it's happened enough times since using Pro that I thought I'd ask here.

When I go to rename a gdb file in the catalog pane, it's a hit or miss when the new name holds or throws the 'Rename Failed' error. I try with the .gdb and without, and it eventually either works (rarely on the first try), or I give up, get out of the program, rename the file in my file explorer then reopen the project.

Is this normal? Is it me? Does anyone else experience this issue?

Thanks!

*I should mention that this seems to happen whether or not data from the gdb is being used in a map.

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

DanPatterson — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 02:43:18 GMT

The process is here, are you selecting the gdb in the Databases section of catalog?

Rename a geodatabase—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

BrianE1 — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 16:32:40 GMT

Same issue. I have tried those steps but it is always hit or miss.

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

DEAF_PROBERT_68 — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 20:45:19 GMT

Did you try rename it ~~and press enter~~ ? I had the same issues many times and what I found is that you need to press enter to rename it...

Edit. First Type the name and then use space bar and then Enter it... should work...

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

Robert_LeClair — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:42:24 GMT

What release of ArcGIS Pro are you using? There are several bugs I see from Esri Support Services that could explain why you're seeing this item:

BUG-000178942 -In ArcGIS Pro, if the attribute table data in a file geodatabase is opened through the Catalog pane and then closed, any attempt to rename the file geodatabase that the data was stored in returns the error message "Rename Failed" during the current ArcGIS Pro session." Workaround is to close the table/feature class attribute table to release the locks. Currently in the Product Plan to fix.

BUG-000169229 - "In ArcGIS Pro 3.3.1, the error message, "Rename Failed" returns when the file geodatabase name is renamed multiple times in the Catalog pane." Reproduced at 3.3.1 but not 3.4.

BUG-000178940 - "Renaming a file geodatabase in ArcGIS Pro that contains data with an open attribute table or in an open map returns the error message "Rename failed" instead of a detailed explanation of why the renaming failed." Currently in review.

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

BBicking1 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 23:41:43 GMT

Hello @GISJess and @BrianE1,

when you write "... I try with the .gdb and without ...", @GISJess, does that mean the extension of the fileGDB isn't showing, as controlled from winExplorer?

Both, please also see of it is makes a difference if the map with the layer, who's workspace [fGDB] you want to rename, is the active map or not.

Please do let me know what you find -- thank you.

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

GISJess — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:26:17 GMT

I was selecting from the Folders section, and I just made the gdb a part of the project, and tried from the database section with the same issue. It usually will eventually rename, after many attempts.

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

GISJess — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:28:07 GMT

Just tried this, and it didn't work unfortunately.

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

GISJess — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:34:10 GMT

Thanks, I just tried in a new untitled map, with a newly created fgdb, both in the folders and database sections of the catalog pane with the rename failed error being thrown.

I'm currently using ArcGIS Pro 3.6.1, but this has been happening for many versions now. It usually will eventually rename after many tries, or I just give up and rename in the file explorer eventually. I finally just thought to ask about this peculiar issue.

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

GISJess — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:44:56 GMT

The extension is visible initially, but I play around with leaving and removing it when trying to rename until it finally allows me to successfully change the name. I reported to the above comment, I just tried in a fresh untitled map. It didn't work.

When I saved the untitled map, then renamed the geodatabase in the folders section it worked.

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

Robert_LeClair — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:17:25 GMT

Another thing to consider is a How To: Perform an ArcGIS pro Soft Reset - this sometimes fixes "wonky" behaviors such as this. I'm using ArcGIS Pro 3.6.1 as well and am not experiencing this issue.

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

BBicking1 — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:53:42 GMT

Hello @GISJess,

thanks for your response. I hear you!
We do not recommend to ever remove/leave off the .gdb extension.
I'm gathering more info and will get back to you.

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

DEAF_PROBERT_68 — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:20:46 GMT

Yeah, I have noticed that sometimes when I create a new file geodatabase and most of them it works fine..and just a few times I would see rename it and then all of sudden it does not rename it.. But one thing I can see.. is if it does not rename and returns to the create name. You just highlight it and the rename will show it and you just need to press enter to make it work...

My ArcGIS Pro is currently 3.5.2 right now and we are suppose to upgrade to 3.6 but we are waiting which patch they are upgrade so ...

Just kind of weird..

By the way, You can try create a record a video in PowerPoint and record the problem and upload it to ESRI here.... FYI.

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

DEAF_PROBERT_68 — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:45:26 GMT

I can't create File Geodatabase in Database because it will ask me to save it in a different Folder. But Once you save it it will show up in Database. The rename show no problem. So I can see what GISJess was trying to do here....

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

BBicking1 — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:08:00 GMT

Hello @GISJess, can you please share the workflow that includes you renaming fGDB-s? Thank you.

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

BBicking1 — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:19:18 GMT

Hello @DEAF_PROBERT_68,

thanks for the comment.

Can you please clarify what your goal is when you attempt to create a FileGDB in a Database as this suggests "...I can't create File Geodatabase in Database .."
Please do include screenshots -- thank you.

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

DEAF_PROBERT_68 — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:38:30 GMT

(view in My Videos)

Let me know if this is correct for ArcGIS Pro 3.5.2 ?

So it is asking me to save it in another folder...

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

BBicking1 — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:05:36 GMT

Thanks @DEAF_PROBERT_68., for the video.

I do not see in your video where you're being asked '...to save it in another folder...'.

Please share when and where does that happen and when and where do you rename the Test.gdb, assuming that's the .gdb you want to rename.

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

GISJess — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:46:09 GMT

It varies, but for instance, just now I created a new file gdb in catalog under the folders section. It actually let me rename it with no issue. The 'New File Geodatabase' was highlighted and I just changed that leaving the .gdb and it worked fine. Then I tried this same process again and it threw the Rename Failed error. Sometimes I need to rename a file, and I've been doing this up until recently in the folders section. And this is where I feel it gets inconsistent when it throws the Rename Failed error. I eventually just play with and without the extension and, hitting tab or enter until something eventually works. This has been happening for several Pro updates. I feel like there's no rhyme or reason, just it will eventually work. If I'm having a lucky day it works for the first attempt.

Re: Renaming a gdb in Catalog

DEAF_PROBERT_68 — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 14:47:56 GMT

So you can't see my video ? What kind of video does ESRI support to upload ?