3 Quick Ways to Change Your Windows 10 PC Name + Fixes

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Learn how to change the name of a computer running Windows

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: March 5, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Using the Settings Menu
|
• Using the Control Panel
|
• Using Windows 11
|
• Troubleshooting
|
• Video

|Show more |Show less

Do you want to rename your Windows computer? Setting up a PC name helps you to identify traffic on your network and know where content, like videos, are streaming from. This wikiHow guide will show you how to rename your PC in Windows 10, Windows 10 Pro, and Windows 11.

Quick Steps

1. Open Windows Settings.
2. Click System.
3. Click About.
4. Click Rename this PC.
5. Enter a new name and click Next.
6. Restart your computer.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Using the Settings Menu

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1. 
   1
   Open the Settings menu. You can find this by clicking the Start menu and selecting the cog icon.
2. 
   2
   Click System. This is the first option on the menu.
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3. 
   3
   Click About, and then Rename this PC. You can find this on the left panel at the very bottom. From there, you should see the option to rename your PC.

   • A new window will open.
4. 
   4
   Enter a new name and click Next. You can use any combination of letters, hyphens, and numbers.

   • If the PC you are renaming is being used to stream media, like movies and music, to other devices in your home, something like Home-Media or Media-Server may be a good name. The name that you choose will also be the name discovered in Bluetooth.
5. 
   5
   Click Restart now. Once you restart your computer, the new name will take effect.

   • If needed, click Restart later to close any programs first.
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Section 2 of 4:

Using the Control Panel

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1. 
   1
   Open the Control Panel. Press CTRL + R. Type "control" and hit Enter.
2. 
   2
   Click System and Security. This is the first option.
3. 
   3
   Click Allow remote access under "System". This is the third option from the top. A new page will open.
4. 
   4
   Click Computer Name. You can find this tab at the top, next to Hardware.
5. 
   5
   Click Change…. This option is at the bottom of the menu.
6. 
   6
   Enter a new name and click OK. The new name will go in the Computer name field and replace the existing name.
7. 
   7
   Click Restart Now.Once you restart your computer, the new name will take effect.

   • If needed, click Restart later to close any programs first.
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Section 3 of 4:

Using Windows 11

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1. 
   1
   Open the Settings menu. You can find this by clicking the Start menu; it's the cog icon.
2. 
   2
   Click System. This is in the left panel, underneath Home.
3. 
   3
   Click Rename. You can find this near the top of the System page, underneath your current device name and device type.

   • A pop-up window will open.
4. 
   4
   Enter a new name and click Next. You can use any combination of letters, hyphens, and numbers.
5. 
   5
   Click Restart now. Once you restart your computer, the new name will take effect.

   • If needed, click Restart later to close any programs first.
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Section 4 of 4:

Troubleshooting

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1. 
   1
   Make sure you're logged in as an administrator. If you don't have access to the administrator account, you won't be able to change the name of the PC.

   • To see if you have an administrator account, open your Windows Settings, go to Family & other users, and look for the word "Administrator" under your account.
   • If you're using a company computer, you may not have permission to do this. Contact your administrator.
2. 
   2
   Check for and install available updates. If you have the necessary permissions to rename your computer but it's not working, a software bug may be preventing you from renaming your PC. Check for updates in the Windows Update area of your Settings to see if any updates are ready to be installed.
3. 
   3
   Restart your computer. If you don't have any updates pending, a quick restart can fix minor software bugs, including those making it difficult to rename your PC. Once your computer has restarted, try changing its name again.
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