The fastest way to find your PC name

Your PC name is the identifier Windows or macOS uses to recognize your computer on a network. You can find it in seconds using the system settings built into your operating system — you do not need to read anything or restart your machine.

On Windows, right-click the Start button, select System, and look for "Device name" near the top of the window. On a Mac, click the Apple menu, choose System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), then select General and look for "Computer Name" at the top.

Key Takeaways

  • Your PC name appears in Windows System settings under "Device name" and on a Mac under "Computer Name" in System Settings.
  • You can also find your PC name by opening Command Prompt on Windows and typing hostname, then pressing Enter.
  • On a Mac, open Terminal and type hostname to see your computer name when ready.
  • Your PC name is different from your username — the device name identifies the machine itself, while the username identifies you as a user on that machine.

Finding your PC name in Windows using System settings

Open the Start menu and right-click the Windows logo. From the menu that appears, click System. The Settings window will open to the System page. Look for the section labeled Device specifications — your PC name appears under "Device name" in large text near the top.

If you are on an older version of Windows (Windows 10 or earlier), the steps are slightly different. Right-click This PC on your desktop or in File Explorer, select Properties, and scroll down to find "Computer name" under the Device name section.

Finding your PC name using Command Prompt on Windows

Command Prompt is a text-based tool built into Windows that can show your PC name in one line. Press the Windows key and type cmd, then press Enter. The Command Prompt window will open.

Type hostname and press Enter. Your PC name will appear on the next line. This method is faster than navigating menus if you are comfortable typing commands, and it works the same way on all Windows versions.

Finding your PC name on a Mac using System Settings

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings. On older Macs running macOS Monterey or earlier, this menu item is called System Preferences instead. Once the window opens, click General in the sidebar on the left.

Look at the top of the General pane. Your computer name appears next to "Computer Name" in a text field. This is the name your Mac uses to identify itself on your network and when connecting to other devices.

Finding your PC name using Terminal on a Mac

Terminal is the Mac equivalent of Command Prompt. Open Spotlight by pressing Command + Space, type terminal, and press Enter. The Terminal window will open.

Type hostname and press Enter. Your computer name will appear on the next line. You can also type scutil --get ComputerName for the same result. Both commands work on all recent versions of macOS.

Why you might need your PC name

Your PC name is used when you connect to a network printer, share files with other computers, or set up remote access to your machine. If someone asks for your "computer name" or "device name," they are asking for this identifier. It is also useful when troubleshooting network problems or when a technician needs to access your machine remotely.

Your PC name is different from your username. Your username is the account you log into on your computer, while your PC name identifies the physical machine itself. You can have multiple user accounts on one PC, but the device name stays the same.

Changing your PC name if needed

If you want to change your PC name, you can do so in the same place you found it. On Windows, open System settings, click Rename this PC next to the Device name, type a new name, and restart your computer. On a Mac, open System Settings, click General, then click the edit button next to Computer Name and type a new name — no restart required.

Choose a name that is straightforward to remember and contains only letters, numbers, and hyphens. Avoid spaces and special characters, as some networks and devices have trouble recognizing names with those characters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my PC name the same as my username?

No. Your username is the account you log into, while your PC name identifies the computer itself. You can have multiple usernames on one machine, but there is only one device name. You can find your username by opening Command Prompt and typing whoami, or on a Mac by clicking the Apple menu and selecting System Settings, then General, and looking for "Full Name."

Can other people on my network see my PC name?

Yes. Your PC name is visible to other computers and devices on the same network. This is how printers and file-sharing services find your machine. If you are concerned about privacy, you can change your PC name to something generic, but this will not hide your computer from the network entirely.

What if I forgot my PC name and cannot access my computer?

If you can log into your computer, you can find your PC name using the methods above. If you cannot log in, you can restart your computer and look at the login screen — some versions of Windows display the device name there. You can also check your router's settings, which usually lists all connected devices by their names.

Does changing my PC name affect my files or programs?

Changing your PC name does not affect your files or installed programs. However, if you have set up network sharing or remote access, you may need to update those settings with your new name. Any shortcuts or network paths that reference your old PC name may also need to be updated.