Windows 10: Change Computer Name in Windows 10

How to: Change Computer Name in Windows 10

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.

*Warning 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.

*Warning 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 app
• 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

OPTION ONE [/i] To Change Computer Name in Settings app
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)

*Warning This will restart your PC immediately. Be sure that you save and close anything you have open first.








OPTION TWO [/i] To Change Computer Name in System Properties
1. Do step 2 or step 3 for how you want to open System Properties.

2. Open the step 4 below.

3. Open the 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 screenshot 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)

*note This does 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)

*Warning This will restart your PC immediately. Be sure that you save and close anything you have open first.








OPTION THREE [/i] To Change Computer Name in Command Prompt
1. Open an elevated command prompt.

2. Type the command below into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

*Arrow wmic computersystem where name="%computername%" call rename name="Computer-Name"

*note 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.








OPTION FOUR [/i] To Change Computer Name in PowerShell
1. Open an elevated PowerShell.

2. Type the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

*Arrow Rename-Computer -NewName "Computer-Name"

*note 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


Related Tutorials

• How to Change Workgroup Name in Windows 10
• How to Change Registered Owner and Organization of your Windows 10 PC

:)

 

How to REALLY change computer name in Windows 10?

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I understand your concern regarding the issue that you are facing.

I suggest you to follow the steps below and check if it helps.

1. Press Windows + pause/break.

2. Select system protection on the left pane.

3. Select computer name under system properties.

4. Select To rename this computer or change its domain or workgroup click change.

5. Change the name and follow the instruction.

May be the Software which you are using is taking the default name of the computer.

Hope this information helps. Please let me know if you need further assistance.

 

How to REALLY change computer name in Windows 10?

I get the error message "Invalid Verb Switch" when I run the above command

wmic ComputerSystem where "name='%ComputerName%'" call rename Dell-laptop

What does this mean?

I've changed my computer name to Dell-laptop in all places but it still shows up in the network as DESKTOP-IS67KQ5

I want it to show up as Dell-laptop in the Network too

What else should I do?

 

Caution only, not Warning!

Changing the computer name will immediately affect two important areas.

1. Sync will create a new attached computer in your MS online account. Not really an issue unless you change the name back to what it was. You may get old Sync settings and/or data from the previous attached computer. The new attached computer, or the previous still attached computer, can be deleted through your on-line account.

2. If you are using Windows native backup (System Image) and/or native file backup (File History), they will start fresh. File History will warn you and give you a chance to include previous file history it has found. System Image Backup will create a new folder under existing folder "WindowsImageBackup" named as your new computer name. Both will be available if you do a System Image Restore from Recovery options, but choosing an image from the previous computer name will restore the image and your computer will be renamed to the previous name.

Again, caution only.....

 

I have not found a reason to change it.

 

It depends on:

1) Who set it up in case someone else did it for you by chance and you would rather have it see a different Admin account PC name applied. Or you may decide at some time you want the name changed with one example being you are passing along the now used machine to someone else where being able to change the name without needing to wipe the existing copy of Windows saves a lot of work!

2) For most who are selling an old system the total wipe with a drive cleaner to insure security of total personal data removal would be another matter entirely. You would more then likely remove existing drives to drop in a new one which would be a totally fresh start for the new owner. But if the new owner is someone you know well and most personal stuff is now gone or you never put much on in the first place the rename saves the time and effort.

3) The other 3rd main reason to think of would be the need to change if not simply personal vanity of getting bored you may have other reasons such as displaying things online where you don't want personal information given out such as on any social networks? If you originally gave it your birth name when first new and later realize that for personal security need to make the change the guide is here for it! And if not on your own machine maybe someone else needs it seen to? You never know! *Smile

 

Will those methods there will also change the users name under C:\Users\xxxxx ?

 

Hello sn00ker,

Sorry, but no. This is only to change the name of the computer, and not the name of your user profile folder.

For that, it would be best to switch it to a Microsoft account if you like.

 

Hi Brink,

Yep, just as I thought ... Thanks

 

You're welcome. *Smile

 

One thing to check out if you decide to see a new account created is another one of those great guides you can look over on how to change the type of account since you would want a new admin account to replace the old. Account Type - Change in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums[1]=User%20Accounts

 

Hi Brink

I used Option 1 to change the name and that worked, however when I open up my home network the list contains both the new name as well as the old. If I select the old it is not found and asks to check it is connected. Can I remove this from the list of items?

 

Hello solpuerto, *Smile

If you have a router, you may need to power cycle it.

Did you restart the PC afterwards?

 

That's a good point there! Shawn A lot will depend on how you cnnnect since even a modem may need to resync with the ISP if the connection is lost for some reason other then a hardware problem. There are two ways right to get things to refresh themselves.

1) As mentioned recycling power not only on the router if a separate one is present as many modems are combination modem/WiFi modems being provided by the service provider such as a cable company that offers cable tv, internet, and phone. The modem will either be unplugged or will have a reset button. With three things modem, router and pc you first shut down entirely, unplug the router which typically see a small plug leading to an ac adapter and then reset or unplug the modem.

After a good half to full minute passes by you first replug the modem if not simply having pressed the reset button, wait so long for that to start resyncing with the ISP which will take a couple of minutes on average to be sure. Then replug the router in and allow that to establish the new private IP and Mac addresses. Once all the important leds are blinking showing internet coming and going, sending and receiving you then can start up and should soon see allowing Windows to load fully and freshly detect the refreshed connection the one listing for a home network or be prompted to select Home, Work, or Public where you would select Home.

2) In case you still can't connect the manual typed in commands you would use are entered in at an elevated command prompt you find when scrolling the right click list seen come up or down from the Start button depending on where the task bar is set for bottom by default, top, or one side or the other as some prefer to select command prompt(admin). At the prompt the first command is "ipconfig" to display the present TCP/IP setting and find out what your IP address followed afterwards by "ipconfig /release" without the quotes in order to have Windows release the present network it detects fully. The second command entered would be "ipconfig /renew".

That last one is used when Windows is set to obtain the IP address automatically rather then being configured manually. The three other additional commands you may not even need depending on settings you are set for there would be "ipconfig /all to call up a list of all network adapters. That covers the general information. The next on a manual ocnfiguration would be "ipconfig /displaydns" which shows the current DNS Resolver Cache logs perhaps an IT tech can explain.

The next on the burner would be "ipconfig /flushdns" which works much like the /release command but clears out all of the DNS Resolver Cache logs. The last would be "ipconfig /regiserdns" which updates the DNS setting on a pc by initiating contact with the ISP by getting things going between DNS server and the DHCP server in order to re-register the network address. And the last item to note is the Control Panel being found in the "Control Panel>Network & Sharing>Troubleshoot problems>Network and internet>" where you see connecting to the internet right on top. You also have two other troubleshooting options being Network adapter and the Incoming connections.

 

Hi Brink

Many thanks for your response.

I did restart and that was when I checked and the old name was still showing.

However this morning when I logged in and checked again the old name was no longer on the list. That may be the power of your reply!!!

Thank you*Biggrin