Change your Mac name through System Settings in under five minutes

Your Mac's computer name appears in Finder, on your network, and when you connect to other devices. You can change it at any time without affecting your files or programs. The process takes about two minutes and requires no restart.

Open System Settings (called System Preferences on older Macs), go to General, then About, and click Edit next to the computer name field. Type your new name and press Return. That's it — the change takes effect when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Mac's computer name is found in System Settings under General > About and can be changed by clicking the Edit button next to the current name.
  • The name you choose appears in Finder, on your network when you share files, and on other devices when you connect via AirDrop or file sharing.
  • Changing your computer name does not affect your user account name, your files, or any installed programs.
  • On older Macs running macOS Monterey or earlier, the setting is in System Preferences rather than System Settings, but the steps are identical.

Where to find the computer name setting

The computer name lives in System Settings, which is the main control panel for your Mac. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings. On Macs running macOS Monterey (2021) or earlier, this was called System Preferences — the steps are the same either way.

Once System Settings opens, look for the General category on the left sidebar. Click it, then click the About tab. You will see several lines of information about your Mac, including the computer name at the top of the window. The name appears next to a pencil icon, which means you can edit it.

How to edit and save your new name

Click the Edit button (or the pencil icon) next to your current computer name. A text field will appear with your existing name highlighted. Delete the old name and type the new one. Mac computer names can include letters, numbers, and hyphens, but not spaces or special characters like @ or &.

After you type your new name, press Return or click the Done button. The change takes effect when ready — you do not need to restart your Mac or log out. Your new name will appear in Finder, in network settings, and on other devices the next time they look for your Mac.

What the computer name controls and what it does not

Your computer name is different from your user account name. Changing the computer name does not change your login password, your user folder, or anything inside your home directory. Your files stay exactly where they are, and all your programs continue to work normally.

The computer name is what appears in Finder's sidebar under Locations, what shows up when someone tries to connect to your Mac over a network, and what other devices see when you use AirDrop or file sharing. If you share files with others on your network or use your Mac as a shared printer, they will see the new name the next time they look for your Mac.

Naming conventions that work best

Choose a name that is straightforward to remember and straightforward to type. Short names (under 20 characters) work best because they display fully in most places. Avoid names that are too similar to other devices on your network, since that can cause confusion when you are looking for your Mac in a list.

Common naming patterns include your first name plus "Mac" (like "Sarah-Mac"), your name plus the device type (like "Sarah-MacBook"), or a straightforward descriptor (like "Home-Mac" or "Work-iMac"). Hyphens are allowed and make longer names easier to read. Spaces, apostrophes, and special characters will not work — the system will reject them or remove them automatically.

If you cannot find the Edit button

On very old Macs or in certain network setups, the Edit button may not appear. This usually means your Mac is connected to a network that controls the computer name centrally (common in workplaces). In that case, contact your IT department or network administrator — they control the name and you cannot change it locally.

If you are on your own home network and the Edit button is missing, try restarting System Settings and checking again. If the problem persists, restart your Mac and return to System Settings > General > About. The button should appear after a restart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my computer name affect my files or programs?

No. Your files, folders, and all installed programs remain unchanged. Only the name that appears in Finder and on your network changes. Your user account name, password, and home folder stay the same.

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

No. Mac computer names accept only letters, numbers, and hyphens. Spaces, apostrophes, periods, and symbols like @ or & will cause an error or be removed automatically. Use hyphens instead of spaces if you want to separate words.

Will other people on my network see the new name right away?

Usually within a few seconds to a minute. If someone has your Mac bookmarked in Finder or has an active connection to it, they may need to refresh their view or disconnect and reconnect to see the new name.

What if I change my mind and want to change the name again?

You can change it as many times as you want. Just return to System Settings > General > About, click Edit, and type a new name. There is no limit to how many times you can do this.

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

No. Your user account name is what you use to log in to your Mac. Your computer name is what appears on your network and in Finder. You can change one without affecting the other.