Personalizing the computer name becomes more important when you want to access and share network items. Making the computer name easier to remember makes it easier to access. For example, I keep my computer name itechtics-pc which is easier to remember for me. Let us discuss how you can rename your local and remote computer on the network/domain through different ways in Windows 10.
How to change local computer name
Changing your computer name from something complicated to a bit more descriptive is always helpful. Organizations use the naming convention to identify the devices easily. For example, a computer name starting with “CRITICAL” can mean that it is a production server that affords zero downtime, then the employees would know not to tamper with it. Windows 10 gives users several ways through which they can change the name of their computer as they please.
Change computer name using the Control Panel
The Legacy Control Panel still provides vast configurable options for the user to manage, including renaming their PC. Here is how you can assign a new name to your computer using the Control Panel: When you log back in, you will notice that the name of the computer has been changed. To confirm the new name, open Command Prompt and run the following command:
Change computer name using Windows Settings
Since Microsoft has been shifting and duplicating various system settings management in the new Settings app, they have also added an option to change the PC name from the app. When the computer reboots, you can check to see that the new name has been allotted to the computer.
Change computer name using Command Prompt
Command Prompt can also be used to change the computer name. A single-line command can be quicker and easier to use as an alternative for the two methods discussed above. Follow the guide below to change your local computer name via the Command Prompt.
Change computer name using PowerShell
Windows PowerShell is another built-in utility in Windows 10 with a Command Line Interface (CLI). It can run more powerful scripts than the Command Prompt and can also be used to rename the computer. Here is how it is done: Once the computer restarts, you can check that the PC name has been successfully changed.
Change remote computer name using Windows PowerShell
Users with administrative privileges on the network or domain can also change another computer’s name on the same network/domain. This is especially helpful if you are an IT administrator, and you would not need to leave your seat each time you want to assign a unique name to a computer. Follow the steps below to change the remote computer name: Once the remote computer reboots, its new name will be updated as you assigned.
Closing words
It is possible for users to accidentally assign a conflicting name to a computer that was already in use. There is no way to prevent this from happening, as there is currently no technology to differentiate the computer names in the same domain. The confusion might cause users to connect to a different device, or the domain policies might not be properly implemented. Therefore, it is always recommended to assign a unique name to each PC, whether it is on the same network/domain or not. Also see:
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