How to change your PC name in Windows?

If you need or want to rename your computer, here's our guide on how to change your PC name in Windows.

There are a number of reasons why you might want to change the name of your Windows PC, laptop or tablet. You might have bought a second hand device and what to simply change it to you name. Or you might be setting up a network and need to give each computer an appropriate and unique name. Whatever the reason for wanting to change the name of your PC, here's our step by step guide on how to do it.

For this guide we've used Windows 8 but included notes for other Windows users.

How to change your PC name in Windows

Step One

In Windows 8 open the Charm Bar. This can be done by moving your mouse to the right hand edge of the screen. If you have a touchscreen then you can swipe in from the right.

Step Two

Click the Settings button in the Charms Bar.

Step Three

Click the PC Info option. This will take you to the System section of the control panel.

Note: Windows 7 or earlier users can access the same section by opening the control panel from the start menu and following the same path: System and Security > System.

Step Four

Click the Change Settings link in the Computer name, domain and workgroup settings section.

Step Five

Click the Change button which you can see in the default Computer Name tab.

Step Six

Change the name of the computer in the box and click OK.

Note: If your computer is part of a domain, you will be asked to provide the name and password of an account with permission to rename the computer in the domain.

You've now successfully changed the name of your PC.