Finding your computer name in Windows, Mac, and Linux

Your computer has a name — a label that identifies it on a network and in system settings. You may need this name to connect to a printer, join a work network, troubleshoot a connection problem, or help someone support your machine remotely. The steps differ depending on whether you use Windows, macOS, or Linux, but the process takes less than a minute on any system.

The name is not the same as your user account name. Your computer name is a single identifier for the whole machine; your user account is one of possibly several logins on that machine. If you share a computer with others, you all see the same computer name, but you each have your own account name.

Key Takeaways

  • Your computer name appears in Windows Settings under System > About, in the "Device name" field.
  • On a Mac, open System Settings, click General, then About — the name is listed as "Computer Name."
  • In Linux, open a terminal and type hostname to see your computer's name when ready.
  • You can change your computer name in the same place you find it, though some changes require a restart.
  • If you are on a work network, ask your IT department before changing your computer name, as it may affect network access.

Finding your computer name in Windows 10 and 11

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. Look for the field labeled Device name — that is your computer name. It typically looks something like "DESKTOP-ABC1234" or a custom name you or someone else set up.

If you prefer the older method, right-click the Start button, select System, and scroll to the bottom of the window. You will see the same device name listed there. Both routes show the identical information.

Windows also lets you see your computer name in File Explorer. Open File Explorer, right-click This PC in the left sidebar, select Rename, and the current name appears in an editable field. Do not change it unless you intend to — just read it and press Escape to close without saving.

Finding your computer name on macOS

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Click General in the sidebar, then click About. The field labeled Computer Name shows your machine's name — for example, "Sarah's MacBook Pro" or "iMac-Office."

You can also find this name in the Finder. Open Finder, click Finder in the menu bar, select Settings, click the Advanced tab, and check the box next to "Show all filename extensions." The computer name also appears at the top of any Finder window when you navigate to the root level of your drive.

Finding your computer name in Linux

Open a terminal window — the keyboard shortcut is usually Ctrl+Alt+T, though this varies by distribution. Type the command hostname and press Enter. Your computer name appears on the next line. This is the fastest method on any Linux system.

If you use a graphical desktop environment like GNOME or KDE, you can also find the computer name in Settings. The exact path depends on your distribution, but it is usually under System Settings > Details or System Settings > About. The terminal method works on all distributions without variation.

Changing your computer name if needed

You can change your computer name in the same place you found it. In Windows, go to Settings > System > About, click the Rename this PC button, type a new name, and click Next. Windows will ask you to restart your computer for the change to take effect. Choose to restart now or later — the new name does not become active until you do.

On a Mac, go to System Settings > General > About and click the Edit button next to "Computer Name." Type the new name and press Enter. The change takes effect when ready without a restart.

In Linux, open a terminal and type sudo hostnamectl set-hostname new-name (replace "new-name" with what you want). You may need to restart for the change to show everywhere on your system, depending on your distribution.

If your computer is part of a work network or domain, changing the name may cause connection problems. Ask your IT department or network administrator before making any changes. Some organizations lock the computer name to prevent accidental disconnection from the network.

Why you might need your computer name

Network printers often ask for your computer name when you set them up, so the printer knows which machine is sending the print job. Remote support technicians may ask for it to connect to your computer securely. If you work from home or in an office with multiple machines, the computer name helps you identify which device you are using when you log into shared accounts or cloud services.

Some software also displays your computer name in logs or error messages, which helps technical support narrow down which machine had a problem. If you share a computer with others, the computer name is the same for all users, but each person has their own account name and login.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my computer name the same as my username?

No. Your computer name identifies the entire machine on a network. Your username is the account you log into — one computer can have multiple user accounts with different usernames. If you share a computer, you all see the same computer name but have different usernames.

Can I change my computer name to anything I want?

Most personal computers allow any name, but work computers on a domain network may have restrictions. Some organizations require specific naming formats or lock the name to prevent network disconnection. If your computer is managed by an employer or school, ask IT before changing it.

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

Windows requires a restart for the change to take effect everywhere on the system. Mac and Linux usually explore the change when ready, though some services may not recognize it until you restart. When in doubt, restart to may support all programs see the new name.

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

On Windows, restart your computer and watch the login screen — your computer name often appears there. On Mac, restart and look at the Finder window title bar. If you can open a terminal on Linux, type hostname to see it when ready. If you cannot access any of these, you may need to restart in Safe Mode or contact technical support.

Will changing my computer name affect my files or programs?

Changing the name does not delete or move your files. Programs continue to work normally. However, if you have mapped network drives or set up shared folders using the old computer name, those connections may break and need to be reconnected with the new name.