To change the name of your Mac, you can modify the computer name through system settings, without affecting the login user name or system files; the steps are: Open the system settings, click General, edit the computer name and save. If you need to modify the host name used for network commands and remote access, you can use the terminal to execute the command sudo stutil --set HostName NewHostName and restart or refresh the DNS cache. Mac names help identify devices when sharing network, AirDrop, and remote support, avoid confusion.

Changing your Mac's name might not be something you think about often, but it can be useful—especially if you're on a network with multiple devices or using AirDrop. The good news is, it's a simple process. Here's how to do it.

How to rename your Mac in System Settings

The most straightforward way to change your Mac's name is through the System Settings. This method updates the name that appears when other devices try to connect to yours, like via AirDrop or file sharing.

Here's what you do:

• Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
• Click on General , then look for the Computer Name field.
• Click into the field and type your preferred name.
• Close the window—no need to click "Apply" or anything else; it saves automatically.

This new name won't affect your login username or any system files, just the display name others see when interacting with your machine over a local network.

Why your Mac's name matters

You might wonder why this even matters. Well, if you share files, printers, or use screen sharing across multiple Apple devices, having clear names helps avoid confusion. For example, if you have a MacBook Pro and a Mac mini, both named “John's Mac,” it'll be tough to tell which one someone is referring to on the network.

Also, if you're troubleshooting remotely with support teams or showing your device on a shared screen, having a recognized name makes things smoother.

Changing the hostname (for advanced users)

If you're comfortable with Terminal, you can also change the hostname , which is used more for networking commands and remote access. This is different from the Computer Name set in System Settings and is usually only needed if you're doing development work or running servers locally.

To change the hostname:

• Open Terminal .
• Type: sudo scutil --set HostName NewHostNameHere and press Enter.
• You'll need to enter your admin password.
• Then restart your Mac or flush the DNS cache with sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder .

Keep in mind, changing the hostname doesn't always affect what you see in Finder or AirDrop—it's more for behind-the-scenes identification.

That's basically it. It's not complicated, but it's easy to overlook how many places your Mac's name shows up until you need to fix it. So if your current name is something generic or outdated, now you know how to give it a quick update.

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