Why and how to rename your computer

Your computer has a name — the one it displays on your network and in system settings. Changing it takes five minutes and requires no special tools. You might rename it to match a new owner, to organize multiple machines, or straightforward because the factory default name is confusing. The steps differ between Windows and Mac, but both are straightforward.

A computer name (also called a hostname or device name) is what appears when you connect to a network, share files, or set up remote access. It has nothing to do with your user account name — you can have a computer called "Kitchen-Laptop" with a user account called "Sarah". Changing the computer name does not affect your files, passwords, or installed programs.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows 11, go to Settings > System > About, click Rename this PC, type the new name, and restart your computer.
  • On Windows 10, right-click This PC, select Properties, click Rename this computer, type the new name, and restart.
  • On Mac, go to System Settings > General > About, click Edit next to the computer name field, type the new name, and click Rename.
  • Computer names can include letters, numbers, and hyphens, but not spaces or special characters like @ or #.
  • After renaming, your computer may take a few minutes to appear under the new name on your network.

Renaming a Windows 11 computer

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click System in the left sidebar, then scroll down and click About. You will see a section labeled "Device name" with your current computer name displayed.

Click the button labeled Rename this PC. A text box will appear with your current name highlighted. Delete the old name and type the new one. Click Next, then Restart now. Your computer will restart and the new name takes effect when ready.

If you do not restart right away, the name change will still take effect the next time you restart. However, some network features may not recognize the new name until you do.

Renaming a Windows 10 computer

Right-click the This PC icon on your desktop or in File Explorer. If you do not see it on the desktop, open File Explorer and look for This PC in the left sidebar. Select Properties from the menu that appears.

In the System window, look for the section labeled "Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings". Click the button that says Rename this computer. Type your new name in the text box, click Next, then click Restart now. Your computer will restart and explore the change.

You can also reach this screen through Settings > System > About > Rename your PC, which follows the same steps as Windows 11 but with slightly different menu labels.

Renaming a Mac computer

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions). Click General in the sidebar, then click About. You will see your computer name at the top of the window.

Click the Edit button next to the computer name. A text box will appear. Delete the current name and type the new one, then click Rename. The change takes effect when ready — no restart required. Your Mac will update its network name within a few seconds.

On older Mac systems, the computer name field may be labeled "Computer Name" instead of appearing at the top of the About window. The Edit button works the same way.

Rules for computer names

Computer names can contain letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and hyphens. They cannot contain spaces, periods, or special characters like @, #, $, or &. Most systems limit names to 15 characters, though Mac allows up to 63.

A good computer name is short and descriptive — "Kitchen-Laptop", "Office-Desktop", or "Bedroom-Mac" are all clear. Avoid names that are too long or that use only numbers, as some older network devices may not recognize them properly.

If you try to use an invalid character, your system will show an error message and refuse to save the name. straightforward remove the invalid character and try again.

What happens after you rename your computer

The new name appears when ready in your system settings. On a network, it may take a few minutes to show up under the new name in file sharing, printer discovery, or network maps. If you are sharing files with others or have set up network printers, they will see the new name the next time they browse the network.

If you have set up remote access or syncing services (like OneDrive, iCloud, or Dropbox), they will continue to work without interruption. These services are tied to your user account, not your computer name. You do not need to sign in again or reconfigure anything.

If you use your computer name in any scripts, batch files, or network configurations, you will need to update those references manually. For most home users, this is not an issue.

Troubleshooting a failed rename

If your computer will not let you rename it, the most common cause is that you are not logged in as an administrator. Log out and log back in with an administrator account, then try again. On a work computer, your IT department may have locked the computer name — contact them before attempting to change it.

If the rename seems to complete but the old name still appears, restart your computer. Sometimes the display does not update until you do. If the old name persists after a restart, try the rename process again.

On Mac, if you see a message saying the name is already in use, try adding a number to the end (like "Kitchen-Laptop-2") or choose a different name entirely. This is rare but can happen on large networks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will renaming my computer delete my files or programs?

No. Renaming your computer changes only the name it displays on your network and in system settings. All your files, programs, user accounts, and settings remain exactly as they were. You can rename your computer as many times as you want without any risk to your data.

Can I rename my computer without restarting?

On Mac, yes — the change takes effect when ready. On Windows, you can technically skip the restart, but some network features may not recognize the new name until you do restart. It is best to restart to may support everything updates properly.

What is the difference between computer name and user account name?

Your computer name is the device's identifier on your network. Your user account name is what you log in with. You can have a computer called "Office-Desktop" with a user account called "Sarah" or "jsmith". Changing one does not affect the other.

Can I use spaces in my computer name?

No. Windows and Mac both reject spaces in computer names. Use hyphens or underscores instead — "Kitchen-Laptop" or "Kitchen_Laptop" both work, but "Kitchen Laptop" will not be accepted.

How long does it take for the new name to show up on my network?

Your computer displays the new name in its own settings when ready. Other devices on your network may take a few minutes to recognize it, especially if they have cached the old name. If a printer or file share still shows the old name after 10 minutes, restart that device.