In this article, we'll show you the simple process for changing your Mac's name and local hostname. Changing these not only gives your Apple Mac a touch of your own personality, but it also makes it easier to recognise and avoid confusion with other devices. Let’s explain why changing your Mac’s name is such a good thing…
Understanding your Mac's name and local hostname
Your Mac's “computer name” is what you’ll see when you're logged in to your Mac. It’s best to think of it as your Mac’s nickname, so something like “Joe’s iMac” or similar. The local hostname is different and identifies your Mac to Bonjour-compatible services — a networking tech developed by Apple. It’s the more formal name used by other tech on your local network to find and connect to your Mac. You’ll typically see it written as "computer-name.local".
Why rename your Mac?
Renaming your Mac can solve several common problems and make life easier. If you've got multiple devices on your network, giving your Mac a distinct name can help avoid confusion and streamline file sharing. Plus, when you're managing multiple devices, having clear and customised names can make it easier to identify each device and keep things organised
Changing your Mac's name
Here are step-by-step instructions on how to change your Mac's name:
Open System Preferences: Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select ‘System Preferences’ from the drop-down menu.
Choose the ‘About’ option: Select ‘General’ in the sidebar and choose ‘About’.
Change your Mac name: Click on the current computer name, then type in the new name you'd like to use.
Restart your Mac: This isn’t always necessary, but you might need restart your Mac for the name change to take effect.
Verify the change: Once your Mac has restarted, open System Preferences and check that the new name is now showing.
That's it! You've successfully changed your Mac's name.
How to change your Mac's local hostname
Changing your Mac's local hostname helps avoid issues where multiple devices have the same hostname. This will make it easier to identify and connect to your Mac. Here's how to do it:
Launch System Preferences.
Select ‘General’ in the sidebar and choose ‘Sharing’.
Click on ‘Edit’ in the “Local hostname” section and enter a new local hostname.
Select ‘OK’ when your Mac prompts you to apply the changes.
Restart your Mac to finish the process if necessary.
FAQs
How do I change my admin name on my Mac?
Yes, you can change the admin name on your Mac. The admin name refers to the username of the administrator account that was set up during the initial setup of your Mac’s operating system. This username is used to log in and access administrative privileges on your computer. Here's how you can change it:
Go to ‘System Preferences’ from the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
Click on ‘Users & Groups’.
Authenticate by clicking the lock icon and entering your admin password.
Select the admin user whose name you want to change from the list on the left.
Control-click on the admin user and choose ‘Advanced Options’.
In the ‘Full name’ field, go ahead and change the admin name.
Close the window, and your admin name will be updated.
Note: Making changes to user accounts, especially the admin account, can affect system settings and permissions. So please be careful.
How do I delete an administrator name on my Mac?
To delete an administrator account on your Mac, you'll need another administrator account. If you’ve got one, here's what you’ll need to do:
Log in to your Mac with the administrator account.
Go to ‘System Preferences’ from the Apple menu.
Click on ‘Users & Groups’ (or ‘Users & Accounts’).
Authenticate by clicking the lock icon and entering your administrator username and password.
Select the administrator account you want to delete from the list on the left.
Click the "-" (minus) button at the bottom-left corner.
Confirm the deletion when prompted.
Note: Deleting an administrator account will remove all data associated with that account, so make sure to back up any important files beforehand. Also, make sure you don’t delete your only administrator account, as you could end up being locked out of your Mac.
Where is System Preferences on a Mac?
To find ‘System Preferences’ on your Mac, just click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and select it from the drop-down list. Or you can click on the ‘System Preferences’ icon in the Dock (it looks like a set of gears).
Need more help?
Want to learn a few other helpful MacBook and iMac hacks? To take your productivity up a notch, here’s how to split screen on Mac. Or, if you really need it, we’ve got step-by-step instructions on factory resetting a MacBook and how to reset your MacBook password.
