In this article, we will learn how to change the computer name in the Windows operating system by using various methods.
When you purchase a new Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer, it already has a unique name from the manufacturer, something like DESKTOP-OI5NHV8, but these can be changed.
The reason to rename the computer is for easy identification, especially when using it on a network. You can name your computer with a combination of letters, numbers, and hyphens. There are four methods to change the name of the computer, and we will see all of them one by one.
How to Change the Computer Name Using Windows Settings
The first method to change the computer name is by using the Windows settings. Follow the below steps to achieve the task.
1. On your Windows 10 or Windows 11 desktop or laptop computer, click on the Start menu, type “rename” in the search option, and then click “View your PC name.” Alternatively, you can go to the Start menu, go to Settings, then Systems, and then About.
2. Under about, click “Rename this PC.”
3. Specify the new name of your computer and click “Next.”
4. You will get a message to restart your computer to take the changes into effect. Click “Restart now,” or you can restart later as well. If you are restarting now, then make sure you have closed all the open applications and documents.
How to Change the Computer Name Using Advanced System Settings
The second method to change the computer name is by using advanced system settings. Follow the below steps to rename the computer.
1. Click Start menu > Settings > Systems > About > and then click on “Advanced system settings“
2. After clicking on advanced system settings, the system properties window will open; click on the “Computer Name” tab, and then click “Change” to change the computer name.
3. Type the new name of your computer and click “OK.”
4. To apply the changes, you need to restart your computer. Before restarting, close all your open applications and files, and then click “Restart now.” But if you want to restart later, you can do that as well.
How to Change the Computer Name Using Command Prompt
The third method to change the computer name is by using the command prompt. Follow the below steps to rename the computer using command lines.
1. Click the Start button, then type “cmd,” then right-click the “Command Prompt” app and select “Run as administrator.”
2. Use the following command to rename the computer.
WMIC computersystem where caption=”current_pc_name” rename new_pc_name
Make sure to enter your current computer name next to caption and also specify a new name next to rename. Follow the example below.
WMIC computersystem where caption=”MSW10″ rename Windows_10
3. Restart your computer after running the above command, and your computer name will be changed.
How to Change the Computer Name Using PowerShell
You can also use PowerShell to change the name of your computer. Just like Command Prompt, PowerShell is also a command-line program, but it is more advanced and provides granular control.
1. Click Start menu and in search type PowerShell, and then click Run as administrator.
2. Click Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt open.
3. Type the following command in PowerShell.
Rename-Computer -NewName “NewName”
Replace “NewName” in the above command with the computer name that you want to use.
For example, Rename-Computer -NewName “Win11”
4. Run the below command to restart the computer and apply the changes.
Restart-Computer
Follow the steps in the article below to install Windows 10.
https://easytechhub.com/how-to-install-windows-10/
Conclusion
Windows operating systems provide various methods to change your computer’s name. In this blog post, we learned how to change the computer name by using four methods.