Change Your Mac's Name Through System Settings

You can change your Mac's name by opening System Settings, navigating to General, and editing the computer name field. The name appears when other devices search for your Mac on a network, in file sharing windows, and in your Mac's own menu bar. The process takes about two minutes and requires no restart.

Open System Settings by clicking the Apple menu in the top-left corner and selecting System Settings. In the sidebar, click General. At the top of the main panel, you will see a field labeled "Computer Name" — this is the name visible to other computers and devices on your network. Click the field, delete the current name, type your new name, and press Enter.

Your Mac will update the name when ready. If you are connected to a local network, other computers may take a few seconds to recognize the change. You do not need to restart your Mac or sign out of your account.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Mac's computer name is found in System Settings under General, in the "Computer Name" field at the top of the window.
  • You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens in your Mac's name, but avoid special characters like @ or & which may cause connection problems.
  • The change takes effect when ready and is visible to other devices on your network within a few seconds.
  • Your Mac's name is different from your user account name — changing one does not affect the other.
  • If your Mac is part of a workplace network, check with your IT department before changing the name, as some organizations require specific naming conventions.

What Your Mac's Name Controls

Your Mac's computer name is the identifier that appears when other devices look for your Mac on a network. It shows up in AirDrop windows, file sharing dialogs, and when you browse shared computers on a local network. It is also the name that appears next to your Mac's hostname in network settings.

This is separate from your user account name — the name you use to log in to your Mac. Changing your computer name does not change your login credentials or affect any files or folders on your Mac. Your account name stays the same unless you change it separately in System Settings under General > Users & Groups (or Accounts on older macOS versions).

The computer name also appears in some network utilities and system logs. If you use your Mac for work, your IT department may monitor this name, so check before making changes on a managed device.

Choosing a Name That Works on Networks

Use only letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens when naming your Mac. Names like "Marcus's MacBook" or "Kitchen-iMac" work fine. Avoid special characters such as @, &, !, or periods, which can cause problems when your Mac connects to certain networks or shares files with Windows computers.

Keep the name under 63 characters — most networks handle longer names, but some older devices or printers may not recognize them. If you plan to share files with Windows computers, avoid spaces if possible; use hyphens instead (for example, "Marcus-MacBook" rather than "Marcus MacBook"). Windows systems can read names with spaces, but some older network tools cannot.

If your Mac is part of a workplace network, your organization may have naming rules. Check with your IT department before changing the name — some companies require names that follow a specific format so they can track devices on the network.

Changing Your Mac's Name on Older macOS Versions

On macOS Monterey and earlier, the process is slightly different. Open System Preferences (not System Settings) by clicking the Apple menu and selecting System Preferences. Click Sharing in the sidebar. At the top of the Sharing window, you will see a field labeled "Computer Name" — edit it the same way you would in System Settings.

The Sharing pane also shows your Mac's local hostname, which is a separate technical identifier used by networks. You can edit this too by clicking "Edit" next to the hostname field, but most users do not need to change it. The computer name is what matters for everyday use.

If you are using an even older version of macOS (10.5 or earlier), the computer name setting is in System Preferences under Sharing, but the layout may differ. The principle is the same: find the Sharing pane and look for the computer name field at the top.

What Happens When You Change Your Mac's Name

Other devices on your network will see the new name within a few seconds. If you have AirDrop turned on, your Mac will appear under the new name in AirDrop windows on nearby devices. File sharing will show your Mac's new name in the "Shared" section of Finder windows on other Macs.

If you use your Mac with a printer or smart home device, those devices may continue to show the old name in their settings until you restart them or re-add your Mac. Most modern printers and smart devices will update automatically within a minute or two. If a device does not recognize your Mac after a few minutes, restart the device and it should pick up the new name.

Changing your Mac's name does not affect your internet connection, email, cloud storage, or any of your files. Your Mac will still connect to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices normally. If you are signed in to iCloud, your Mac's name will update there as well, and you will see the new name in your iCloud device list.

Troubleshooting Name Changes That Do Not Appear

If other devices still show your Mac's old name after a few minutes, try restarting your Mac. Open the Apple menu, click Restart, and wait for your Mac to boot back up. Once it restarts, the new name should be visible to other devices on the network.

If a specific device (like a printer or smart speaker) is not picking up the new name, restart that device instead. Unplug it for 10 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully boot. Then check whether it now shows your Mac's new name.

If you changed your Mac's name and now cannot connect to a network drive or shared printer that you used before, the device may be looking for your Mac by its old name. Check the device's settings and remove the old entry for your Mac, then re-add it using the new name. On most printers, this means going to the printer's web interface or settings app and deleting the old Mac entry before scanning for printers again.

Renaming Your Mac for Specific Situations

If you use your Mac at work, include your name or department in the computer name so colleagues can identify it easily — for example, "Marcus-Marketing-iMac". If you have multiple Macs at home, name them by location or use — "Living-Room-Mac", "Home-Office-iMac", or "Kitchen-iPad" (if you are naming an iPad). This makes it much easier to find the right device when using AirDrop or file sharing.

If you are selling or giving away your Mac, change the name to something generic like "Mac" or "iMac" before handing it over. This removes any personal information from the device's network identity. You should also erase the Mac completely using Erase Mac in System Settings under General, which removes all your files and accounts.

If your Mac is part of a managed network (at a school or large company), do not change the name without permission. Your IT department may use the computer name to track the device, explore security updates, or manage access to network resources. Changing it could cause your Mac to lose access to shared files or printers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my Mac's name affect my Apple ID or iCloud?

No. Your Apple ID and iCloud account are tied to your email address, not your Mac's computer name. Changing the name does not log you out or affect your files in iCloud. Your Mac will still sync with iCloud normally, and the new name will straightforward appear in your iCloud device list.

Can I change my Mac's name back to what it was before?

Yes, anytime. Go back to System Settings > General, click the Computer Name field, and type the old name. There is no limit to how many times you can change it. Some users change their Mac's name seasonally or when they move it to a different location.

What if I see two different names for my Mac in different places?

You are likely seeing both the computer name and the hostname. The computer name is what you set in System Settings under General. The hostname is a technical identifier used by networks and terminal commands. For everyday use, only the computer name matters. If you need to change the hostname too, you can do it in System Settings under General by clicking "Edit" next to the hostname field, but this is rarely necessary.

Does my Mac need to be restarted after I change its name?

No. The name change takes effect when ready. However, if other devices on your network are not picking up the new name after a few minutes, restarting your Mac can help. Restarting also ensures that any background services that use the computer name are aware of the change.

Can I use emoji or special characters in my Mac's name?

macOS will let you type emoji, but they may not display correctly on other devices or networks. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens to may support your Mac's name works everywhere. If you have already used special characters and your Mac is not connecting properly, change the name to use only standard characters.