Your MacBook name is the label that appears when other devices search for it on a network

The name your MacBook displays to other computers, printers, and phones is called the computer name or host name. When you first set up your Mac, it usually defaults to something like "John's MacBook Pro" or a string of numbers and letters. You can change this to anything you want — a shorter name, a project name, or just something easier to remember when you're connecting devices.

The change takes effect when ready, but any devices already connected to your Mac may need to reconnect to see the new name. The process itself takes less than a minute and requires no restart.

Key Takeaways

  • Your MacBook name is found in System Settings under General, then About, and is the field labeled "Computer Name".
  • You can change it to any name you want, including spaces and special characters, though shorter names work better on networks.
  • The change happens right away, but devices already connected may need to disconnect and reconnect to see the new name.
  • If you cannot edit the computer name field, your account may not have administrator permissions — ask the account holder to make the change.

Finding the computer name field on your Mac

Open System Settings by clicking the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings. On the left sidebar, click General. At the top of the main panel, you will see a section labeled About. The first field in that section is Computer Name — this is what other devices see when they look for your Mac.

If you are running an older version of macOS (before Ventura), the path is slightly different: open System Preferences instead of System Settings, click Sharing, and you will see Computer Name at the top of that window. The steps to change it are the same.

Changing the name step by step

Click on the Computer Name field to select it. The current name will highlight. Delete the existing text and type your new name. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks, though hyphens and underscores are more reliable on networks than other symbols.

Once you have typed the new name, press Enter or click outside the field. The change saves automatically — you do not need to click a separate Save button or restart your Mac. The new name will appear when ready in the About section and will show up on your network within a few seconds.

What happens when you change your MacBook name

Your Mac's name is primarily used when connecting to networks, sharing files, or pairing with other devices like AirPods, printers, or external hard drives. When you change it, devices that are already connected will still work, but they may show the old name in their list of available devices until they refresh. Unplugging and reconnecting the device usually forces that refresh.

If you use your Mac for file sharing or screen sharing with other computers on your home or office network, those other computers will see the new name the next time they browse available devices. If you have bookmarked your Mac's address in a web browser or saved it in any process, that bookmark or saved address will still work — the change only affects the display name, not the underlying network address.

Why you might want to change your MacBook name

A shorter, simpler name makes it easier to spot your Mac in a list of devices when you are connecting a printer, speaker, or phone. If you share your home or office network with others, a descriptive name like "Kitchen Mac" or "Studio iMac" helps everyone identify which device is which. Some people change their name when they get a new Mac to match their workflow — for example, renaming it from the default to "Design Work" or "Client Files".

You might also change it if you are troubleshooting network problems and want to rule out naming conflicts, or if you are setting up a new device and want to match a naming scheme you use for other computers.

If you cannot change the computer name

The Computer Name field will be grayed out and uneditable if your user account does not have administrator permissions. Only an administrator account can change the computer name. If you are not the administrator, ask whoever set up the Mac to make the change for you, or ask them to give your account administrator status.

If you are the administrator and the field is still grayed out, try clicking the lock icon in the bottom-left corner of the System Settings window (if one appears), then enter your password. This unlocks the settings and should allow you to edit the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use emoji or special characters in my MacBook name?

You can use most special characters, but they may not display correctly on all devices or networks. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens for the most reliable results across all your devices.

Will changing my MacBook name affect my iCloud or Apple ID?

No. Your computer name and your Apple ID are separate. Changing one does not affect the other, and you will still be signed into iCloud with the same account.

Do I need to restart my Mac after changing the name?

No restart is required. The change takes effect when ready. However, devices that are already connected to your Mac may need to disconnect and reconnect to see the new name.

What is the difference between computer name and local hostname?

The computer name is what you see in System Settings and what appears in most places. The local hostname is a technical version used on networks, usually the computer name with ".local" added to it. You do not need to change the hostname separately — it updates automatically when you change the computer name.

Can I change my MacBook name back to the original?

Yes, anytime. Go back to System Settings, General, About, and type in whatever name you want. There is no limit to how many times you can change it.