Where to find your computer's name

Your computer's name is a label that identifies it on a network. You may need it to connect to shared printers, join a work network, or troubleshoot connection problems. The location depends on your operating system — Windows, Mac, and Linux each store this information in different places, but all three let you find it in under a minute.

The name is usually set during your first setup, but you can change it anytime. It's different from your user account name (the login you type each day) and your IP address (a number that changes when you restart). Your computer name stays the same until you deliberately change it.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Settings, go to System, then About — your computer name appears as "Device name" near the top.
  • On Mac, click the Apple menu, select System Settings, then General — the name is listed as "Computer Name" in the About section.
  • On Linux, open a terminal and type hostname to see your computer name when ready.
  • You can change your computer name anytime, but you may need to restart for the change to take effect on your network.
  • Your computer name is separate from your user account name and your IP address.

Finding your computer name on Windows

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then press Enter. Click on System in the left sidebar, then scroll down and click About. Near the top of the page, you'll see "Device name" — this is your computer's name.

If you're using an older version of Windows 10 or earlier, you can also right-click This PC on your desktop or in File Explorer, select Properties, and look for "Computer name" under the System section. Both methods show the same information.

Finding your computer name on Mac

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 look for the About section. Your computer name appears as "Computer Name" at the top of the window.

On very old Mac models, you may see it labeled as "Sharing Name" instead. If you're not sure which version you have, the Apple menu always shows your macOS version number — you can search for that version online to confirm where the name appears.

Finding your computer name on Linux

Open a terminal window (usually by right-clicking the desktop or pressing Ctrl+Alt+T, depending on your Linux distribution). Type the command hostname and press Enter. Your computer name will appear on the next line.

If you want more detail, you can type hostnamectl instead, which shows your computer name along with other system information like your operating system version. Both commands work on most Linux distributions.

Changing your computer name

On Windows, go back to Settings > System > About and click the Rename this PC button. Type your new name (letters, numbers, and hyphens only — no spaces or special characters), then click Next. Windows will ask you to restart your computer for the change to take effect.

On Mac, go to System Settings > General > About and click the Edit button next to "Computer Name." Type your new name and press Enter. The change takes effect when ready on your local computer, but may take a few minutes to update across your network.

On Linux, open a terminal and type sudo hostnamectl set-hostname your-new-name (replace "your-new-name" with what you want). You'll need to enter your password. Restart your computer for the change to take effect on your network.

Common mistakes to avoid

Don't confuse your computer name with your user account name. Your account name is what you type to log in each day; your computer name is what identifies the machine itself. You can have multiple user accounts on one computer, but the computer has only one name.

Avoid using spaces or special characters in your computer name. Stick to letters, numbers, and hyphens. Some networks have trouble recognizing names with spaces, and special characters can cause connection problems. If you're renaming a work computer, check with your IT department first — they may have naming rules you need to follow.

Remember that changing your computer name won't affect your files, programs, or settings. It only changes how the computer identifies itself to other devices on your network. If you're having network problems, changing the name usually won't fix them — but it may help if you're trying to connect to a printer or shared folder that requires a specific computer name.

When you need your computer name

You'll need your computer name when connecting to a work network, setting up a shared printer, or troubleshooting remote access. Some software also asks for it during setup. If someone is helping you with a technical problem over the phone or email, they may ask for your computer name to identify which machine they're helping with.

If you're setting up a home network and want to access files from one computer on another, you'll use the computer name to find it on the network. On Windows, you can type the computer name into File Explorer's address bar (like \\computername) to browse its shared folders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my computer name the same as my IP address?

No. Your computer name is a label you can read (like "Marcus-Laptop"). Your IP address is a number (like 192.168.1.5) that changes depending on your network. Both identify your computer, but in different ways. You need the computer name for file sharing; you need the IP address for technical troubleshooting.

Can I have the same computer name as another computer on my network?

No. If two computers have the same name on the same network, they'll conflict and cause connection problems. Each computer on a network must have a unique name. If you're adding a new computer to your home network, give it a different name from any others.

What if I can't find the About section in my settings?

Make sure you're in the right place. On Windows, it's Settings > System > About. On Mac, it's System Settings > General > About. If you still can't find it, try the terminal method instead: Windows users can open Command Prompt and type hostname, or Mac and Linux users can open Terminal and type the same command.

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

On Windows and Linux, yes — restart so the change takes effect on your network. On Mac, the change is when ready on your computer, but other devices on your network may take a few minutes to recognize the new name. If you're having trouble connecting after a rename, restart anyway to be safe.

What if my computer name has numbers or characters I didn't choose?

Windows and Mac sometimes auto-generate names during setup (like "DESKTOP-ABC123" or "MacBook-Pro-2"). You can change it to anything you want following the steps above. Pick something straightforward and memorable so it's straightforward to find on your network.