Where to find your computer name on Windows

Your computer's name is stored in Windows settings and appears in several places. The fastest way to see it is to right-click the Start button, select System, and look for "Device name" near the top of the window. That name is what your computer calls itself on your network.

If you're using an older version of Windows, open the Control Panel, go to System and Security, then System. You'll see "Computer name" listed under the device information section. Write down exactly what you see — capitalization and spacing matter if you're using it to connect to a network.

You can also find it by opening Command Prompt and typing hostname, then pressing Enter. The name that appears is your computer's network identifier. This method works the same way on every Windows version, from Windows 10 back to older releases.

How to find your computer name on Mac

On a Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Go to General, then About. The "Computer Name" field shows what your Mac calls itself on the network and to other devices.

You can also open Terminal (found in Applications > Utilities) and type hostname, then press Enter. The name that prints out is your computer's network name. This is the same name that appears in System Settings, so either method gives you the correct information.

If you're on an Intel Mac or an Apple Silicon Mac, the process is identical — the location of these settings hasn't changed between processor types.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open System settings from the Start menu and look for "Device name" to see your computer's name when ready.
  • On Mac, go to System Settings > General > About and check the "Computer Name" field to find your computer's network identifier.
  • Both Windows and Mac let you type hostname in the command line tool to see your computer's name without opening graphical settings.
  • Your computer's name is different from your user account name and is used to identify your device on a network and in file sharing.
  • If you changed your computer's name in the past, the current name in these settings is what your computer uses now on the network.

Why you might need your computer's name

Your computer's name is useful when you're connecting devices on the same network, setting up file sharing between machines, or troubleshooting connection problems. It's also what appears in network folders when other computers on your network try to find yours. If you're trying to locate a specific machine on a shared network, knowing its name makes the search much faster.

If you're trying to remember what you named your computer years ago, the name you see in your current settings is the one that matters — that's the active name your computer is using right now. If you renamed it since then, the old name is no longer in use and won't appear in any network listings.

How to change your computer's name if needed

On Windows, open System settings, scroll down to "Device name," and click Rename this PC. Type the new name and restart your computer for the change to take effect. Windows will ask you to confirm the restart, and the new name will be active after the restart completes.

On Mac, go to System Settings > General > About, click the "Computer Name" field, type a new name, and press Enter. The change takes effect when ready without restarting. You can verify the change by checking the same location again or by opening Terminal and typing hostname.

What to do if you can't remember your computer's name

If your computer is turned on and you can log in, use the methods above to see the current name. If the computer is off or you can't access it, check any documentation you kept when you set it up — old receipts, setup emails, or network setup guides sometimes list the computer name. Email confirmations from your computer manufacturer often include the default name assigned during setup.

If you're looking for a computer that's no longer in front of you, check your router's settings. Most routers show a list of connected devices with their names. Log into your router (usually through a web browser using the router's IP address, often printed on the router itself) and look for a "Connected Devices" or "DHCP Clients" section. This list shows every device currently connected to your network, along with the name each device reports.

Finding your computer name in network settings

On Windows, you can also find your computer name by opening File Explorer and right-clicking "This PC" in the sidebar, then selecting Properties. The device name appears in the same location as the System settings method. This approach works well if you prefer using File Explorer rather than navigating through the Settings app.

On Mac, you can check the computer name in the Sharing settings as well. Go to System Settings > General > Sharing, and you'll see the computer name listed at the top of the window. This is the same name that appears in the About section, so both locations show identical information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my computer name the same as my user account name?

No. Your computer name identifies the device itself on a network, while your user account name is the login you use to access Windows or Mac. You can have multiple user accounts on one computer, but the computer itself has only one name.

Can I see another computer's name on my network?

Yes. On Windows, open File Explorer and look for "Network" in the sidebar — you'll see other computers on your network listed by their device names. On Mac, open Finder, click "Network" in the sidebar, and you'll see other Macs and shared computers.

What happens if two computers have the same name on my network?

Windows and Mac will both warn you and prevent the second computer from using that name. You'll need to rename one of them. Duplicate names cause connection problems because the network can't tell the computers apart.

Do I need to restart my computer after checking its name?

No. Looking at your computer's name in settings doesn't require a restart. You only need to restart if you change the name on Windows. Mac changes take effect when ready without restarting.

Where is the computer name stored if the computer won't turn on?

The computer name is stored in the operating system, so you can't access it without powering on the machine. Your best option is to check your router's device list or look for documentation from when you first set up the computer.