How to change Mac name
It’s worth changing the Mac name if only because everyone sees it: devices on your network, nearby Apple devices in AirDrop and your Apple Account’s device list, and the default name often contains your first name. Renaming breaks nothing: files, accounts and settings stay as they were. This guide also covers the second name, the local hostname, which is set separately.
How to change the name of your Mac
- Choose Apple menu › System Settings and click General in the sidebar.
- Click About.
- Click the current name at the top of the list, type a new one and press Return.
The new name works at once, without a restart. Nothing else on the Mac changes: your files, accounts and settings stay as they were.
How to change the local hostname
The local hostname is the computer name with .local added and spaces replaced with hyphens, like Annas-MacBook-Air.local. Apps and services that find devices on the local network use it. By default it is made from the computer name, but you can set it by hand:
- Choose Apple menu › System Settings, click General in the sidebar, then Sharing.
- At the bottom of the window, click Edit in the Local hostname section.
- Enter a new local hostname and click OK.
Where the Mac’s name shows up
- On your local network: other computers see your Mac by this name, for example when you share files or a screen.
- On nearby Apple devices, for example in AirDrop when someone sends you a file.
- In the list of your devices on your Apple Account.
The default name often contains your first name, like “Anna’s MacBook Air”. If you use public Wi-Fi or lend your Mac, a neutral name tells strangers less.
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Questions and answers
How do I change Mac name for AirDrop?
AirDrop shows the computer name, so change it in System Settings › General › About. There is no separate AirDrop name.
What is the difference between the computer name and the local hostname?
The computer name is for people and may contain spaces and any letters. The local hostname is its network form: the same name with hyphens instead of spaces and .local at the end.
Will renaming my Mac break anything?
No. Files, apps, accounts and backups stay as they were. Other devices on the network show the new name.