How to Rename a Network Adapter in Windows


A network adapter is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network known as a network connection.

This tutorial will show you different ways to rename a network adapter (NIC) or network connections in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to rename network adapters.



Contents







OPTION ONE

Rename Network Adapter in Network Connections


1 Do step 2 (Settings) or step 3 (Control Panel) below for how you would like to open Network Connections.


2 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Network & Internet icon.

This step is only available in Windows 10.

A) Click/tap on Status on the left side, click/tap on Change adapter options on the right side, and go to step 4. (see screenshot below)

Rename Network Adapter in Windows-rename_network_connections-2.jpg

3 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Network and Sharing Center icon.

A) Click/tap on the Change adapter settings link on the left side, and go to step 4. (see screenshot below)

Rename Network Adapter in Windows-rename_network_connections-1.jpg

4 Perform either action below. (see screenshot below)

A) Select the network connection (ex: "Wi-Fi") you want to rename, and click/tap on Rename this connection in the toolbar.

OR

B) Right click or press and hold on the network connection (ex: "Wi-Fi") you want to rename, and click/tap on Rename.

Rename Network Adapter in Windows-rename_network_connections-3.jpg

5 Type a new name (ex: "My Wi-Fi") you want for the network connection, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

Rename Network Adapter in Windows-rename_network_connections-4.jpg

6 When finished, you can close Network Connections and Network and Sharing Center if you like.






OPTION TWO

Rename Network Adapter in Command Prompt


1 Open an elevated command prompt.

2 Copy and paste the netsh interface show interface command into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. Make note of the Interface Name (ex: "Wi-Fi") for the network adapter you want to rename. (see screenshot below)


Rename Network Adapter in Windows-netsh_rename_network_adapter-1.png

3 Type the command below into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

netsh interface set interface name="Current Name" newname="New Name"

Substitute Current Name in the command above with the actual Interface Name (ex: "Wi-Fi") from step 2 you want to rename.

Substitute New Name in the command above with the actual new name (ex: "My Wi-Fi") you want for the network adapter.

For example: netsh interface set interface name="Wi-Fi" newname="My Wi-Fi"

Rename Network Adapter in Windows-netsh_rename_network_adapter-2.png

4 When finished, you can close the elevated command prompt if you like.






OPTION THREE

Rename Network Adapter in PowerShell


This option is only available in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.


1 Open an elevated PowerShell.

2 Copy and paste the Get-NetAdapter | format-list command into the elevated Powershell, and press Enter. Make note of the network adapter Name (ex: "Wi-Fi") you want to rename. (see screenshot below)

To see more usage options for the Get-NetAdapter command, see: Get-NetAdapter | Microsoft Docs

Rename Network Adapter in Windows-powershell_rename_network_adapter-1.jpg

3 Type the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter.

To see more usage options for the Rename-NetAdapter command, see: Rename-NetAdapter | Microsoft Docs

Rename-NetAdapter -Name "Current Name" -NewName "New Name"

Substitute Current Name in the command above with the actual Interface Name (ex: "Wi-Fi") from step 2 you want to rename.

Substitute New Name in the command above with the actual new name (ex: "My Wi-Fi") you want for the network adapter.

For example: Rename-NetAdapter -Name "Wi-Fi" -NewName "My Wi-Fi"

Rename Network Adapter in Windows-powershell_rename_network_adapter-2.png

4 When finished, you can close the elevated PowerShell if you like.






OPTION FOUR

Rename Network Adapter in Registry Editor


1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.​

2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)​

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network​

Rename Network Adapter in Windows-rename_network_adapter_regedit-1.png

3 While the Network key selected, press the Ctrl+F keys or click/tap on Edit (menu bar) and click/tap on Find. (see screenshot below)​

Rename Network Adapter in Windows-rename_network_adapter_regedit-2.png

4 Enter the name (ex: "Wi-Fi") of the network adapter you want to rename, and click/tap on Find Next. (see screenshot below)​

Rename Network Adapter in Windows-rename_network_adapter_regedit-3.png

5 In the right pane of the Connection key, double click/tap on the Name string value (REG_SZ) for the network adapter (ex: "Wi-Fi") to modify it. (see screenshot below)​

Rename Network Adapter in Windows-rename_network_adapter_regedit-4.jpg

6 Type a new name (ex: "My Wi-Fi") you want for the network adapter, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Rename Network Adapter in Windows-rename_network_adapter_regedit-5.jpg

7 When finished, you can close Registry Editor if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


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