How to Edit Computer Name | Settings for Windows & Mac

To edit a computer name, open your device’s main system settings, find the Name or Rename field in the General or About section, type a new name, and restart to apply the change.

A generic computer name like DESKTOP-ABC123 or “MacBook Pro” doesn’t help much on a busy network. Renaming it takes about thirty seconds once you know where the setting lives. Here’s how to edit a computer name on Windows 11 and macOS, including the exact settings paths and the rules each OS enforces.

Editing Your Computer Name on Windows vs Mac: Rules That Apply

Changing a computer name requires a restart to take effect, no matter which OS you use. Windows caps names at 15 characters with no spaces, while macOS allows up to 63 characters and supports spaces. The table below maps out the main methods for each platform.

How to Find and Rename Your PC on Windows 11

Windows 11 stores the rename option in the About section of System Settings, but power users can also use System Properties, Command Prompt, or PowerShell to change it. The standard path is:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Navigate to System > About.
3. Click Rename this PC.
4. Enter a name using only letters (A–Z), numbers (0–9), and hyphens (-). No spaces.
5. Click Next and then Restart now to finalize the change.

Alternate methods: Press Win + R and type sysdm.cpl to open System Properties. Under the Computer Name tab, click Change to enter a new name. For scripting, open PowerShell as Administrator and run Rename-Computer -NewName "MyPC", or use the wmic command in Command Prompt.

If your PC is joined to a domain, renaming may require re-authentication with Active Directory. Contact your IT admin before making changes on a work-managed device. Editing the registry path HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Hostname works but can break networking if not backed up first.

Changing Your Computer Name on macOS

On modern Macs running Ventura or later, the computer name field is located in the same place as the system version and hardware details. For older systems, the setting lives inside the Sharing panel. The official Apple support document outlines the steps clearly:

1. Open the Apple menu and select System Settings.
2. Click General in the sidebar, then About.
3. Click the Name field and type the new name (up to 63 characters, spaces allowed).
4. Close the window; the change saves automatically after a restart.

Legacy fallback: On macOS Monterey or earlier, go to System Preferences > Sharing and edit the Computer Name field at the top.

Advanced option via Terminal: Run sudo scutil --set ComputerName "New Name" and sudo scutil --set HostName "New Name" to apply the change instantly. This also updates the local hostname used by AirDrop and Bonjour services.

Why Won’t My Computer Name Change? (Common Fixes)

The most common reasons a computer name change fails are skipping the restart, using forbidden characters, or a network service hanging onto the old identity. Use the table below to diagnose and fix the problem quickly.

If you’ve already tried the obvious restart and still see the old name, check whether a domain or network service is overriding your local setting. On domain-joined Windows PCs, the full computer name often appends a suffix automatically — renaming the PC without removing it from the domain first can cause login errors. On macOS, ensure the local hostname in Sharing settings matches your computer name.

A clear, unique computer name saves time whether you’re connecting remotely or sharing files. Pick a name under 15 characters for Windows (no spaces) or up to 63 characters for macOS, apply the change through the Settings app, and reboot to make it stick.