How to Rename your PC in Windows 10
PCs on a network need unique names so they can identify and communicate with each other. If two PCs have the same name on the same network, it creates a conflict for network communications. Most PCs come with default names, but you can usually change them. It's best to keep PC names short (fifteen characters or less) and easily recognizable.
It is recommend that you use only Internet-standard characters in the PC name. The standard characters are the numbers 0 through 9, uppercase and lowercase letters from A through Z, and the hyphen (-) character. PC names cannot consist entirely of numbers, nor can they contain spaces. The name also cannot contain special characters, such as the following:
` ~ @ # $ % ^ & ( ) = + [ ] { } | ; : , ‘ “ . < > / ?
This tutorial will show you how to change the computer name of your Windows 10 PC to any name you like.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to change the PC name.
Some Internet service providers (ISPs) require you to use a specific PC name so they can identify your PC and validate your account. If your ISP requires a specific PC name, then do not change the PC name they give you.
If you set Windows to automatically sign in to a user account at startup and ever change the computer name afterwards, then you will see a Other User at sign in that fails to sign in, and you must manually select your account and sign in instead. You will then need to set Windows to automatically sign in to the user account that you want at startup again to fix it.
Contents
- Option One: To Change Computer Name in Settings
- Option Two: To Change Computer Name in System Properties
- Option Three: To Change Computer Name in Command Prompt
- Option Four: To Change Computer Name in PowerShell
1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the System icon.
2 Click/tap on About on the left side, and click/tap on Rename this PC on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Type in a new name you want for your PC, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
4 Click/tap on Restart now to restart your PC and apply the new PC name. (see screenshot below)
This will restart your PC immediately. Be sure that you save and close anything you have open first.
1 Do step 2 or step 3 for how you want to open System Properties (SystemPropertiesComputerName.exe).
2 Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the System icon, and go to step 4 below.
Starting with Windows 10 build 20161, you will need to open Settings instead, click/tap on the System icon, and click/tap on About on the left side.
3 Open the (Win+X) Quick Link menu, click/tap on System, and go to step 4 below.
4 Click/tap on the Advanced system settings link on the left side, or click/tap on the Change settings link on the right side. (see screenshots below)
5 If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.
6 Click/tap on the Computer Name tab, and click/tap on the Change button. (see screenshot below)
7 Type in a new name you want for your PC at the top, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
8 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
This will not restart the computer yet.
9 Click/tap on Close. Notice your new "Full computer name". (see screenshot below)
10 Click/tap on Restart now to restart your PC and apply the new PC name. (see screenshot below)
This will restart your PC immediately. Be sure that you save and close anything you have open first.
1 Open an elevated command prompt.
2 Type the command below into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
wmic computersystem where name="%computername%" call rename name="Computer-Name"
Substitute Computer-Name in the command above with the actual name you want for your PC within quotes.
3 When successfully finished, close the elevated command prompt, and restart the computer to apply.
1 Open an elevated PowerShell.
2 Type the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
Rename-Computer -NewName "Computer-Name"
Substitute Computer-Name in the command above with the actual name you want for your PC within quotes.
For example:Rename-Computer -NewName "Brink-Laptop"
3 When successfully finished, close the elevated PowerShell, and restart the computer to apply.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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