Surely you already know that the different computers in a network have a unique name, just like people, because that allows them to identify each other and establish connections in a much easier way in a network. Now, in general, that is not something that affects us too much, but if for some reason you want another name for your computer, you can change your computer name in Windows 11 update.
Indeed, most retail PCs come with generic names, which may be unique or at least try to be, but you definitely have to. unlikely to reflect its owner’s personalization.
That said, Microsoft’s operating system allows us and even proposes to make the changes that we consider appropriate, and that is why we are going to see how to modify the name of your computer in Windows 11.
What to keep in mind before changing the name of your PC?
As we said, you can easily change the name, but there are some things you should know before:
- You have to log in from an Administrator account
- You can only use standard characters, including letters A to Z (both uppercase and lowercase), numbers 0 to 9, and the ‘dash’ symbol (-)
- The new name cannot exceed 15 characters in any case
- The new name cannot consist solely of numbers
- The new name can only consist of letters
All this being said, for the new name to appear on the scene, you will have to restart your PC.
3 ways to change the name of your computer in Windows 11
The first method that we can recommend in these cases is through Windows Settings.
Rename from Settings
- Open Settings using Win + I keyboard shortcut
- In Settings, look for the System tab, as in the image
- Now click on «Rename» below the one that appears
- A pop-up window will open for you to type there
- When the name is ready, click on «Next»
The name should be changed, but you have to restart your computer to check for these changes.
Rename from About …
A second solution is the one offered by the About … section, and it is no more difficult than the previous one.
- Open Settings using Win + I keyboard shortcut
- In Settings, look for the System tab, as in the image
- Scroll down until you see the “About …”
- On this page, go to “Rename this PC”
- The pop-up window will open for you to type
- When you are ready, click on «Next»
Again, the name should be changed, but you have to restart your computer to check for those changes.
Rename from System Properties
Lastly, the System Properties also provides its own possibility to modify the name of the PC. We can even say that this was the oldest name change mechanism in Windows and, although obviously there are now simpler ones, you can still take advantage of it.
- Open Settings using Win + R keyboard shortcut
- Type “sysdm.cpl” and press Enter to go to the next window
- In Computer name, click on the button «Change»
- The pop-up window will open for you to type
- When you are ready, click on «Next»
A message will appear warning you what we already know, that you must restart your computer to apply these changes and that the new name of your PC will be seen. Otherwise, if you’re not in a rush, you can wait to restart naturally.