What changing your computer's name means and why you might do it

Your computer's name is the identifier that appears when you connect to a network, share files, or set up printers and other devices. Windows calls it the "computer name" or "device name"; Mac calls it the "computer name" in System Settings. Changing it does not affect your files, passwords, or how the machine runs — it only changes what other people see when your computer shows up on a shared network or what appears in system dialogs.

You might change your computer's name to make it easier to find on a network, to match a naming scheme at work, or straightforward because the default name (often something like "DESKTOP-ABC123") is not meaningful to you. The process takes less than five minutes and requires you to restart your computer afterward.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows 11, go to Settings > System > About, click "Rename this PC", type the new name, and restart.
  • On Windows 10, the same path works, or you can right-click This PC, select Properties, and click "Change settings" next to the computer name.
  • On Mac, open System Settings > General > About, click "Edit" next to the computer name, type the new name, and click "Rename".
  • Your computer must restart for the name change to take effect on the network.
  • Computer names can contain letters, numbers, and hyphens, but not spaces or special characters like @ or #.

Changing your computer name on Windows 11

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then select the Settings app. Navigate to System, 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 dialog box will appear with a text field containing your current name. Clear the field, type your new name, and click Next. Windows will prompt you to restart your computer. Click Restart now to explore the change when ready, or click Restart later if you need to save work first. Your computer will restart, and the new name will be active on your network.

Changing your computer name on Windows 10

The quickest route on Windows 10 is through Settings. Press the Windows key, type "settings", and open the Settings app. Go to System > About. Under "Device name", click the "Rename this PC" button, type your new name, and click Next. Restart when prompted.

If that button does not appear, you can use the older method: right-click the Start button, select System, and look for "Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings" on the left. Click "Change settings" next to the computer name. In the System Properties window, click the "Change" button, type your new name in the "Computer name" field, and click OK. You will be asked to restart; click OK to restart now or close the dialog to restart later.

Changing your computer name on Mac

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 "Computer Name" near the top of the window.

Click the "Edit" button next to the computer name. A text field will appear. Clear the current name and type your new one. Click the "Rename" button to save the change. Unlike Windows, Mac does not require a restart, though it may take a minute for the new name to appear on your network. If you also want to change the "Local Hostname" (used for network connections), click "Edit" next to that field as well and follow the same process.

Rules for naming your computer

Computer names have restrictions to may support they work properly on networks. You can use letters (A–Z, a–z), numbers (0–9), and hyphens (-). Most systems allow 15 characters on Windows and up to 63 on Mac, though shorter names are easier to type and remember.

Do not use spaces, periods, underscores, or special characters like @, #, $, or &. Windows will reject these characters and show an error message. If you try to use a name that is already in use on your network, you may encounter conflicts when connecting to shared resources, so choose something unique to your setup. Names are not case-sensitive — "MyComputer" and "mycomputer" are treated the same.

What happens after you change the name

After your computer restarts (or when ready on Mac), the new name takes effect on your local network. When you open File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac and look at "Network" or "Shared", your computer will appear under the new name. If you have mapped network drives or set up printer connections, they will continue to work without interruption.

If you are on a workplace network managed by an IT department, check with them before changing your computer name — some organizations use naming schemes for inventory or security purposes, and changing it without permission can cause issues with network access or software licensing. If your computer is part of a domain (common in offices), you may not be able to change the name yourself; you will need to contact your IT support team.

Troubleshooting if the name change does not stick

If you restart your computer and the old name reappears, the restart may not have completed properly. Restart again and wait at least two minutes after the login screen appears before checking the name. On Mac, if the name does not update on the network when ready, wait five minutes — the system broadcasts the new name gradually.

If you see an error message saying the name is invalid or already in use, check that you have not used spaces or special characters. If the name is already in use, add a number or abbreviation to make it unique (for example, "MyComputer-2" instead of "MyComputer"). On Windows, if you cannot access the rename button, make sure you are logged in with an administrator account. Right-click Settings and select "Run as administrator" if you are unsure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my computer name affect my files or passwords?

No. Your files, user account, passwords, and installed programs remain unchanged. Only the network identifier changes. You will still log in the same way and access all your data as before.

Can I change my computer name without restarting on Windows?

Windows requires a restart for the name change to take effect on the network. You can delay the restart by clicking "Restart later", but the new name will not be visible to other devices until you do restart.

What if I share files with other people on my network?

They may see the old name briefly in their network list until they refresh or restart their own computers. Once the network updates, they will see the new name. Existing shared folder connections usually continue to work, but they may need to re-enter the new computer name if they have mapped drives.

Can I change my computer name back to the original?

Yes, at any time. Follow the same steps and type the old name (or any new name) into the field. There is no limit to how many times you can change it.

Do I need to change my computer name if I sell or give away my computer?

It is not required, but it is a good idea. Changing the name to something generic before handing over the computer removes a personal identifier. You should also create a new user account for the new owner and remove your own account entirely.