How to Rename Tableau Workbook

Renaming a Tableau workbook seems like it should be as simple as changing any other file name, but the right way to do it depends on where your workbook lives. The process for a file saved on your computer is different from one published to Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud. This guide breaks down every scenario to help you rename your workbooks cleanly without breaking data connections or shared links.

First, Understand Your Workbook: .twb vs. .twbx

Before you rename anything, it’s important to know what kind of Tableau file you're working with. Look at the file extension - is it a .twb or a .twbx? This small difference has a big impact on how your workbook handles data.

Tableau Workbook (.twb): This is the most common file type. A .twb file contains all your sheets, dashboards, stories, and the formatting you've added. Crucially, it doesn't contain the actual data. Instead, it holds the connection information, telling Tableau where to find the data source, whether it's a server, a database, or a local Excel file.
Tableau Packaged Workbook (.twbx): A .twbx is a self-contained package. It includes everything a .twb file does, but it also bundles a copy of any local data sources (like CSVs or Excel files), custom shapes, background images, and more. This makes it perfect for sharing with people who don't have access to the original data source.

Why does this matter? Renaming a .twbx is usually safe because the data is packed inside it. Renaming a .twb, however, requires a bit more care, especially if it points to local files, as the workbook still needs to know where to find that data.

How to Rename a Local Tableau Workbook

If your workbook is saved on your computer’s hard drive or a shared network drive, you have two primary methods for renaming it. We almost always recommend using the "Save As" method as it’s the safest and most reliable approach.

Method 1: Using "Save As" in Tableau Desktop (Recommended)

Using the "Save As" function within Tableau Desktop is the best way to rename a local workbook. It creates a new copy with the desired name, ensuring that data connections are preserved correctly without risking corruption of the original file.

Here’s how to do it step-by-step:

Open Your Workbook: Launch Tableau Desktop and open the .twb or .twbx file you want to rename.
Go to the File Menu: In the top-left corner, click on File.
Select "Save As": From the dropdown menu, choose Save As.... This will open a dialog box that looks just like a standard "Save" window.
Choose a Location and New Name: Navigate to the folder where you want to save the renamed file (it can be the same folder as the original). In the "File name" field, type the new name for your workbook.
Check the File Type: Make sure the "Save as type" dropdown is set correctly to either Tableau Workbook (.twb) or Tableau Packaged Workbook (.twbx), depending on your needs.
Click Save: Once you click Save, Tableau will create a new, identical workbook with the new name.

You will now have two versions of the workbook: the original and the newly named copy. You can safely delete the old file if you're sure you no longer need it.

Method 2: Renaming Directly in Your File System

You can also rename a Tableau file just like you would any other file in Windows File Explorer or macOS Finder. This method is faster but can sometimes cause issues if the workbook is open or has complex connections to local files.

Follow these steps carefully:

Close Tableau Desktop Completely: This is the most important step. Ensure the workbook you want to rename is not open in Tableau. Closing the program prevents file locking errors that can corrupt the workbook.
Locate the File: Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (macOS) and navigate to where the workbook is saved.
Rename the File: Right-click on the file and choose Rename from the context menu. (Alternatively, you can select the file and press F2 on Windows or the Enter/Return key on Mac).
Enter the New Name: Type the desired name and press Enter to confirm it.
Verify the Workbook: Double-click the newly renamed file to open it in Tableau. Check that all your sheets, dashboards, and data sources load correctly.

Pro Tip: Use a consistent naming convention to keep your work organized. For example, [ProjectName]_[ReportContent]_[Version]_[Date].twbx, like Sales-Executive-Dashboard-v2-20240915.twbx.

How to Rename a Workbook on Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud

Once a workbook is published, you can't rename it using Tableau Desktop. The renaming process must happen directly within the Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud web interface. You'll typically need to be the workbook owner, a Project Leader, or a Site Administrator to have the necessary permissions.

Step-by-Step Guide for Tableau Server/Cloud

The interface is nearly identical for both Tableau Server and Tableau Cloud. Here’s the process:

Log In to Your Tableau Site: Open your web browser and sign in to your Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud account.
Navigate to the Workbook: Use the Explore tab on the left-hand navigation pane to browse through your Projects and find the workbook you want to rename.
Open the Actions Menu: Hover your cursor over the workbook thumbnail or name. An actions menu will appear, represented by three dots (...). Click on it.
Select "Rename": In the dropdown menu that appears, click on Rename.
Enter the New Name: A pop-up dialog box will appear. Type the new name for the workbook into the text field.
Confirm the Change: Click the blue Rename button to save the new name. The change will take effect immediately.

Important Things to Consider When Renaming Published Workbooks

Renaming a published workbook is easy, but it can have unintended consequences if the workbook is already being used throughout your organization. Here’s what you need to check:

URLs and Bookmarks: When you rename a workbook on the server, its URL will change. Anyone who has bookmarked the old URL will find it no longer works. It's best practice to communicate the change to stakeholders and provide them with the new link.
Embedded Views: This is a big one. If your workbook's dashboards are embedded in other platforms like SharePoint, Confluence, Salesforce, or a company intranet, those embedded views will break. The embed code points directly to the workbook by name. You must manually update the embed code on every page where it’s used.
Subscriptions and Alerts: Fortunately, most existing data-driven alerts and subscriptions tied to the workbook will automatically update and continue to function after a rename. However, it's always a good idea to double-check next time a subscription is scheduled to run.

Bonus: How to Rename Worksheets, Dashboards, and Stories

Sometimes you don't need to rename the entire workbook - just a specific tab inside it. Giving your sheets and dashboards clear, descriptive names is crucial for organization, especially in complex workbooks with dozens of tabs. This is all done within Tableau Desktop.

Open the Workbook: Launch the workbook in Tableau Desktop.
Locate the Tabs: Look at the bottom of the window. You’ll see all your worksheets, dashboards, and stories organized as tabs.
Rename the Tab: You have two easy options:
- Double-click on the tab name you want to change. It will become an editable field.
- Right-click on the tab and select Rename Sheet from the menu.
Enter the New Name: Type the new name and press the Enter key. That's it!

Keeping these names logical (e.g., "Sales Trend - Line Chart," "Executive KPI Summary") makes navigating your own work much faster and helps others understand your analysis when they open the file.

Final Thoughts

Mastering how to rename a Tableau workbook is a fundamental skill that keeps your analytics environment tidy and efficient. For local files, "Save As" is your safest move, while for published content, the actions menu in your Tableau site's web portal is the only way to go. Paying attention to these small details prevents broken links, keeps teams aligned, and makes your reports easier to manage in the long run.

Keeping reports organized - managing versions, naming conventions, and sharing correctly - is exactly the kind of manual work that distracts from getting real insights. With Graphed, we remove that friction entirely. You never have to think about "saving" or "renaming" a file. Instead, you simply tell our AI what you need to see with a prompt like, "create a dashboard showing ROAS for my Facebook campaigns last quarter," and we instantly build a live, interactive dashboard for you. It's a faster way to explore data and get answers without ever getting lost in file menus.