Update tag names and references

[AliSyed1]

Hi, I need to update tag name without changing it's title. 

There are only four tags which need to be changed but It has over 140 references.

I need a tool in aem which updates tag names and and it's refernces without doing any deployment.

I got to know that renovator won't work for tags. Is there any way to update tag names and its refernces and activating those affected resources.

Thank you.

Ali syed

[arunpatidar]

Hi @AliSyed1 

Please check https://experienceleaguecommunities.adobe.com/t5/adobe-experience-manager/move-tags-between-folders-... 

If you are already using Groovy console in AEM then you can write a small script to update tags directly in AEM via script.

[SantoshSai]

Hi @AliSyed1,

I think, the "Move" option in the AEM Tag Console can be used to rename or move tags, and it automatically updates references to those tags.

1. Go to AEM Tag Console:

   • Touch UI:
     Navigate to http://<host>:<port>/aem/tags

   • Classic UI (for older versions):
     http://<host>:<port>/etc/tags.html

Move/Rename the Tag

2. Browse to the tag you want to rename.

3. Select the tag → Click the “Move” icon (or right-click → Move).

4. In the Move dialog:

   • Destination: Leave the same parent folder (if you're just renaming)

   • Name: Change only the Name field (do not change the Title)

     • Example: Rename myproject:old-tag → myproject:new-tag

5. Click “Move” to confirm.

Refer to the attached screenshot where I did rename footwear to footwears under We.retail tags

As you mentioned - "I need to update tag name without changing it's title." which is fine in your case.

Hope that helps!

[AliSyed1]

I checked this but move operation not updating the references. That is why I followed this approach.

1.move tag

2.bulk update referenced pages using data importer.

3.publish all pages again manually.

[SantoshSai]

@AliSyed1 
You are right, I realized it later and found more details about it why it happens:

When you move (rename or relocate) tags in AEM, the referenced pages do not automatically reflect the updated tag path. This is a known limitation in AEM’s tag management system - tag references are not dynamically updated on content nodes when a tag is moved.

Also, I found Adobe's official document confirms that:

In the Administering Tags section of the AEM documentation, Adobe states: https://experienceleague.adobe.com/en/docs/experience-manager-65/content/sites/administering/content...

"When a referenced tag is moved or merged, the tag is not physically deleted such that it is possible to maintain references."

This means that while the tag's location changes, existing references in content nodes remain pointing to the old path.

Additionally, the Building Tagging into AEM Applications guide explains: https://experienceleague.adobe.com/en/docs/experience-manager-cloud-service/content/implementing/dev...

"The references in the cq:tags property are automatically updated when the cq:tags property is updated, for example, through the page properties dialog."

This indicates that manual updates to the cq:tags property (such as editing through the page properties dialog) will refresh the tag references to the new path.

Hope this clarifies!

[chaudharynick]

Hi @AliSyed1 

Please use the move operation for renaming the name of the tag, and it should work.

[AmitVishwakarma]

Hi @AliSyed1 ,

Try below steps:

1. Go to Tag Console
Navigate to:

https://<author-instance>/aem/tags

2. Locate Your Tag
Browse to the tag path like:

/content/cq:tags/myproject/old-tag-name

3. Move/Rename the Tag

  - Select the tag.

  - Click the Move icon on the top toolbar (or right-click → Move).

  - In the Move dialog:

       - Leave the parent folder the same.

       - Change only the Name (keep Title same).
Example:

  - Old: myproject:old-tag-name

  - New: myproject:new-tag-name

Click Move.

AEM automatically:

  - Updates all references across pages, assets, content fragments, etc.

  - Retains the Title as-is.

  - Keeps tagging structure intact.

Regards,
Amit

[AliSyed1]

Hi @SantoshSai , @AmitVishwakarma  , @chaudharynick  move operation is not updating the referenced pages.