Change your MacBook name through System Settings

Your MacBook has a computer name that appears in Finder, on your network, and when you share files with other devices. To change it, open System Settings (the gear icon in your Dock or Applications folder), click General in the sidebar, then select About. You'll see a field labeled Computer Name at the top—click it, type your new name, and press Enter. The change takes effect when ready.

The computer name can be up to 63 characters long and can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and periods, but not spaces or special characters like @ or #. If you try to use a space, macOS will automatically convert it to a hyphen. Choose something you'll recognize easily, especially if you share files or printers with other people on your network.

If you don't see the Computer Name field in About, your account may not have permission to change it. Only an administrator account can modify the computer name. If you're using a standard user account, ask whoever set up the Mac to make the change for you.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings, go to General, then About to find the Computer Name field at the top of the window.
  • Type your new name directly into the Computer Name field and press Enter—the change happens right away.
  • Computer names can be up to 63 characters and can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and periods, but not spaces.
  • Only an administrator account can change the computer name; if you're using a standard account, ask an admin to do it.
  • The new name will show up in Finder, on your network, and in AirDrop and file-sharing settings within a few seconds.

Where the computer name appears on your Mac

Once you change the name, it shows up in several places. In Finder, it appears at the top of the sidebar under "Locations" and in the window title when you're browsing your Mac. On your network, other devices will see your MacBook under this name when you're sharing files or printers.

If you use AirDrop to send files to nearby Macs or iPhones, they'll see your computer name as the source. The same applies to Handoff, which lets you start something on your Mac and finish it on another Apple device—the name helps you identify which device is which. If you've set up file sharing or screen sharing with other people, they'll see your computer name in their network browser.

Difference between computer name and local hostname

Your MacBook actually has two names: the Computer Name (what you see in System Settings) and the Local Hostname (a technical name used for network connections). Most of the time you only need to change the Computer Name, which is what appears in Finder and to other people.

The Local Hostname is usually set automatically based on your Computer Name—if you change your Computer Name to "Sarah's MacBook," the hostname becomes "sarahs-macbook.local." You can change the hostname separately if you need to, but this requires Terminal and is rarely necessary. Stick with changing the Computer Name unless you have a specific technical reason to do otherwise.

Renaming a Mac that's part of a network or workplace

If your MacBook is managed by a workplace or school, the computer name might be locked or set by an administrator. You may see the Computer Name field but be unable to edit it, or the name might change back after you restart. This is intentional—it helps IT departments keep track of devices and manage security.

If you need to change the name on a managed Mac, contact your IT department or help desk. They can either unlock the setting for you or change it themselves. Don't try to work around these restrictions; they're in place to protect the network and your data.

What happens if two Macs have the same name

If you have multiple MacBooks or share a network with other Macs, avoid giving them the same Computer Name. When two devices have identical names, your Mac adds a number to the end (like "MacBook (2)") to tell them apart, but this can cause confusion when sharing files or using AirDrop.

If you notice duplicate names on your network, change one of them to something unique. A straightforward approach is to add a location or person's name—"Sarah's MacBook," "Kitchen iMac," "Office Mac Mini"—so everyone on the network can identify which device is which at a glance.

Renaming a Mac after upgrading or restoring

When you set up a new MacBook or restore one from a backup, it usually keeps the old Computer Name. If you've inherited a Mac from someone else or upgraded to a new one, you may want to give it a fresh name that reflects its current use or owner.

The process is the same: open System Settings, go to General > About, and change the Computer Name. If you're setting up a Mac for the first time and want to change the name before you finish setup, you can do that too—just wait until you reach System Settings and follow the same steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use spaces or special characters in my computer name?

No. Computer names can only include letters, numbers, hyphens, and periods. If you type a space, macOS automatically converts it to a hyphen. Special characters like @, #, $, or & won't work—the field will reject them or remove them when you save.

Do I need to restart my Mac after changing the name?

No. The change takes effect when ready, and you'll see the new name in Finder and on your network within seconds. You don't need to restart or log out.

Will changing the computer name affect my files or passwords?

No. Your files, accounts, and passwords are unaffected. The Computer Name is just a label that identifies your Mac to other devices and in Finder—it has nothing to do with your data or security settings.

What if I can't find the Computer Name field in System Settings?

Make sure you're in System Settings (not System Preferences, which is the older version), then click General in the sidebar and select About. If the Computer Name field is grayed out or missing, your account doesn't have administrator permission. Ask whoever set up the Mac to change it for you.

Can I change my computer name from Terminal instead?

Yes, but System Settings is simpler and safer. If you want to use Terminal, you can run the command sudo scutil --set ComputerName "NewName", but this requires typing your password and understanding command-line syntax. For most people, the System Settings method is faster and less error-prone.