How to Change Your Windows PC’s Registered Name: A Comprehensive Guide

The registered name of your Windows PC, also sometimes referred to as the computer name, might seem like a minor detail, but it plays a crucial role in network identification. It’s how your computer appears to other devices on your network and how you locate it when accessing shared resources or during remote connections. Whether you’ve inherited a PC with a generic name, want something more descriptive, or simply need to align your naming conventions for better organization, changing the registered name is a straightforward process. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various methods to change your Windows PC’s registered name, ensuring you can do it correctly, safely, and confidently. We’ll cover the traditional Settings app method, the Control Panel option, and even the powerful command line approach. So, let’s dive in!

Why Change Your PC’s Registered Name?

Before we delve into the ‘how,’ let’s briefly discuss the ‘why.’ Here are some common reasons why you might want to change your PC’s registered name:

• Network Clarity: A descriptive name makes it easier to identify your computer on a network, particularly if you have multiple devices. For example, instead of “DESKTOP-RANDOMCHARS,” something like “LivingRoomPC” or “MyWorkLaptop” is much clearer.
• Organization: In a multi-computer household or office environment, consistent naming conventions can help you keep track of each system.
• Remote Access: When using remote desktop software or other remote access tools, having a specific name makes it simpler to connect to the correct computer.
• Personalization: Some users just prefer having a personalized name rather than a default, automatically generated one.
• Domain and Network Requirements: In some corporate or managed environments, specific naming conventions might be mandatory.
• Post-Upgrade or Cloning: Sometimes after an upgrade, PC cloning or OS reinstall, the naming conventions may default back, or the clone may use the original system’s name, creating network identification issues.

Important Considerations Before Changing Your PC’s Name

While changing your PC’s registered name is usually safe and straightforward, it’s essential to be aware of a few considerations before proceeding:

• Administrator Privileges: You’ll need administrator privileges on your PC to change its registered name. Standard user accounts typically won’t have the necessary permissions.
• Network Impact: Changing your PC’s name might temporarily disrupt network connections. If you are using network printers or shared folders, there may be a temporary loss of connection, especially if the name is being accessed through a UNC path (i.e. \\[OldName]\shared_folder) . You may need to re-establish connections using the new name ( \\[NewName]\shared_folder)
• Domain Considerations: If your PC is connected to a domain (typically in business environments), changing its name might have broader implications and could require coordination with your IT department.
• Application Impact: In extremely rare cases, certain older or poorly written applications might rely on the PC’s name and potentially malfunction if the name is altered. However, this is highly uncommon.
• Character Restrictions: The name you choose must adhere to certain character restrictions. Avoid special characters, spaces, and keep the name relatively short. Generally, alphanumeric characters and hyphens are the safest choices. 1-15 characters is best practice.
• Restart Required: After you change the PC’s name, you will need to restart the system for the changes to be applied correctly.

Method 1: Changing the PC Name Using the Settings App

This is the most common and user-friendly method for changing your PC’s registered name. It works on all versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11.

1. Open the Settings App:
   • Click on the Start button (the Windows icon) in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
   • Click on the Settings icon (the gear-shaped icon). Alternatively, press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Navigate to System Settings:
   • In the Settings window, click on System
3. Find the About Section
   • In the System settings, scroll down the left-hand menu until you see About and click on it
4. Rename this PC:
   • In the About section you should see an option called “Rename this PC“. Click on it.
5. Enter the New Name:
   • A pop-up window will appear with a text field where you can enter the new name for your PC.
   • Type in your desired name, making sure it adheres to the guidelines we discussed earlier.
6. Click Next:
   • After entering the new name, click on Next
7. Restart Your PC:
   • You will be prompted to restart your PC. This is crucial for the name change to take full effect.
   • Click on Restart now to restart immediately or on Restart later if you want to restart at a more convenient time.
8. Verify the Name Change:
   • After your PC restarts, you can return to the About section of the Settings app to verify that your computer’s name has been changed.

Method 2: Changing the PC Name Using the Control Panel

The Control Panel is a legacy interface from older versions of Windows, but it’s still accessible and offers another way to change your PC’s registered name. This method is compatible with Windows 10 and earlier versions.

1. Open the Control Panel:
   • Click on the Start button.
   • Type “Control Panel” and click on the Control Panel app from the search results.
2. Navigate to System and Security:
   • In Control Panel, click on System and Security.
3. Open System Settings
   • Under System, click on the System again.
4. Change Settings:
   • In the System window, you will see “Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings”. Next to it, it should say your current computer name. Click on “Change settings“.
5. Rename Your Computer:
   • A new System Properties window will open. Click the Change button at the bottom of this window.
   • In the Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box, you will see a Computer Name text field. Enter your desired new name in this field.
6. Click OK:
   • Once the new name is entered click OK to save the changes.
7. Restart Your PC:
   • You will be prompted to restart your PC. This is essential for the changes to be applied correctly.
   • Click OK to restart immediately, or close the windows and restart at a more convenient time.
8. Verify the Name Change:
   • After your PC restarts, you can return to the System settings (Control Panel -> System and Security -> System) to confirm that your computer’s name has been successfully changed.

Method 3: Changing the PC Name Using Command Prompt or PowerShell

For those who prefer the command line, you can also change your PC’s registered name using Command Prompt or PowerShell. This method is slightly more technical but can be convenient for advanced users.

Using Command Prompt:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
   • Click on the Start button.
   • Type “cmd” and right-click on the Command Prompt app from the search results.
   • Select “Run as administrator”.
   • Click on Yes if prompted.
2. Execute the Rename Command:
   • In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter:

      wmic computersystem where caption='YOUR_CURRENT_NAME' rename NAME_YOU_WANT_TO_USE
     

   • Replace YOUR_CURRENT_NAME with the current name of your PC as it shows in settings and replace NAME_YOU_WANT_TO_USE with your desired new name. For example if the current computer name was “DESKTOP-12345” and you want to change it to “MyWorkPC”, you will type

     wmic computersystem where caption='DESKTOP-12345' rename MyWorkPC

3. Restart Your PC:
   • The changes are not applied until the PC is restarted, do it now.
4. Verify the Name Change:
   • After your PC restarts, you can go to the About section of the Settings app to confirm the name was changed correctly.

Using PowerShell:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator:
   • Click on the Start button.
   • Type “PowerShell” and right-click on the PowerShell app from the search results.
   • Select “Run as administrator”.
   • Click on Yes if prompted.
2. Execute the Rename Command:
   • In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter:

     Rename-Computer -NewName "NAME_YOU_WANT_TO_USE"

   • Replace NAME_YOU_WANT_TO_USE with your desired new name. For example, if you want to rename the PC to “MyPersonalLaptop”, you will type

     Rename-Computer -NewName "MyPersonalLaptop"

3. Restart Your PC:
   • The changes are not applied until the PC is restarted, do it now.
4. Verify the Name Change:
   • After your PC restarts, you can go to the About section of the Settings app to confirm the name was changed correctly.

Troubleshooting Tips

While changing your PC’s name is generally straightforward, you might encounter some issues. Here are some common troubleshooting tips:

• Administrator Rights: Ensure you are logged in with an administrator account. If not, the options to rename your PC will be greyed out.
• Restart Issues: If the new name doesn’t appear after restarting, try restarting again. If the issue persists, check your system event logs for potential error messages.
• Network Problems: If your network connections become unreliable after changing the name, try restarting your router and modem as well. Also ensure that the new name is correct on other network devices. Sometimes clearing your device cache on other machines will help.
• Incorrect Name: If you typed the name incorrectly, you’ll need to go through the renaming process again.
• Domain Issues: If your PC is on a domain and you are having trouble, contact your IT administrator. They may need to make changes on the domain controller.
• Special Characters: The system may not like the use of special characters. Make sure you are only using alphanumeric characters and hyphens for your PC name.

Best Practices for Naming Your PC

Choosing the right name for your PC can significantly improve its discoverability and manageability. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

• Be Descriptive: Use a name that reflects the PC’s purpose or location, like “OfficePC”, “FamilyDesktop”, or “GamingRig”.
• Keep it Short and Simple: Avoid excessively long names, which can become unwieldy. Aim for something between 5 and 15 characters.
• Use Consistency: In a multi-device environment, use consistent naming conventions to make management and troubleshooting easier. For example, use the same naming scheme for similar devices.
• Avoid Spaces and Special Characters: Stick to alphanumeric characters (A-Z, 0-9) and hyphens. Avoid using spaces and special characters like %, $, #, or &.
• Unique Names: Ensure every computer on your network has a unique name to prevent conflicts and confusion.

Conclusion

Changing your Windows PC’s registered name is a simple yet useful task that can improve your network’s organization, your computer’s manageability, and even the way you connect remotely. Whether you prefer the graphical user interface of the Settings app or Control Panel, or the command-line power of Command Prompt or PowerShell, the process is straightforward. By following the steps in this comprehensive guide, you can confidently change your PC’s name and enjoy a more organized, personalized, and efficient computing experience. Remember to always restart your PC after changing its name for the changes to take effect and double-check your newly modified name. If you encounter any issues, the troubleshooting tips we discussed should help you quickly resolve them. Happy renaming!