XnView Software

I just went through multiple folders of images to rename them. XnView displays the new names. However, Windows Explorer still displays the old names and I opened another image browser (Photo Mechanic) and it displays the old file names as well. I am confident that I am working on the correct hd. I just installed the latest version and renamed a file, but it did the same thing, displays the new name in XnView but nowhere else. I have a feeling that there is a setting I am missing, but I don't understand why it would allow me to think I am renaming files if it isn't actually doing so. I have catalog enabled so it will save thumbnails. I am on Windows 10. Any ideas?

Edited to add that I just discovered that it is also not writing ratings back to the image files.

Really strange, and if you rename in windows explorer, you have the same in XnView?

If I rename in Explorer, XnView will read the new file names correctly. If I rename in XnView the files are untouched.

Also, this is a local hd and permissions for the folders tested are set to allow Everyone Full Control, as inherited from the drive.

Edit 2; I just uninstalled, rebooted and installed and still have the same issue.

I don't understand, XnView read system file name so like windows explorer

Do you rename files in the browser, by clicking in the labels ? Or with F2 ? Or Tools>batch rename ?
Are file extensions shown in both explorers ? jpgs ?
Which settings do you have for labels ? ( Tools>Settings>Browser>Thumbnails>Labels )

Okay, this is mildly embarrassing. I just started running XnView in a sandbox and, while I am familiar with the concept, this is all new to me in practice.
I changed my sandbox settings so that XnView can write to one directory and it is now working properly.

What I still don't understand is why it didn't throw an error when it could not actually rename those files. It seems to me that it would do the same thing it does when attempting to make changes to a read-only volume. Unless there is another layer of sandbox behavior that I am not aware of.

Anyway, I appreciate your efforts to help me figure this out.

If your aim is to rename a lot of files , you can use batch rename ...

With this method, you can use existing exif informations, + other informations such as iptc keyword or headline that you have previously added to photos ...

I am using batch rename.
My curiosity is why XnView displayed the new file names when, in fact, the file names hadn't actually been changed.For example, I have the contents of a directory displayed in XnView. I select all and rename them to PeteWhistling-0001 through 0100. XnView displayed that the new file names are correct. However, when I viewed the files through Explorer it showed that the file names have not been changed. I am surprised that XnView allows such a discrepancy to exist. Does this explanation help?

I I am not very expert with sandboxes, but that the functioning of xnviewmp inside the sandbox is homogeneous is not surprising.
The purpose of a sandbox is precisely not to modify the files outside of it

Perhaps you could edit the first title of this thread with the word "sandbox" or [solved]
something like " Renaming from a sandbox ok but not effectve" (Frenchy don't speak native English)

Done Frenchy, lol.

Thank you.