Renaming a Mac computer

[conamor]

Good day!

Does anyone have the procedure to properly rename a mac?

I know you can rename it from the Sharing option but I think the SMB name or the internal name of the machine keeps the old computer name. There might also be an option to change this one.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Bruno09]

Hi,

the Mac has 3 names :

1. the "HostName"
2. the "ComputerName"
3. the "LocalHostName"

The HostName is the one you see when you open a Terminal window, however, as long as a HostName has not be manually set, it uses the LocalHostName as replacement.

Example : Macbook-Pro:~ conamor$

To know what is what on your Mac, copy-paste in Terminal the following commands :

scutil --get HostName

scutil --get ComputerName

scutil --get LocalHostName

You likely will get the answer "not set" for the HostName : this mean it has never been set.

For the ComputerName you will get the name you set in System Preferences / Sharing / Computer name, example : Macbook Pro

For the LocalHostName you will get the name you can "Edit" : "Computers on your local network can access your computer at : (the LocalHostName)", example : Macbook-Pro

To set a name, use the command : sudo scutil --set

sudo scutil --set HostName "what you want here"

sudo scutil --set ComputerName "what you want here"

sudo scutil --set LocalHostName "what-you-want-here"

(keep the quotes, no spaces in the LocalHostName)

I think what you asked for is setting the HostName.

Hope this helps.

 

[conamor]

Thanks so much, I will try that!!

 

[satcomer]

Changing Your Mac's Computer Name

MacRumors thread: Renaming the Hard Drive

Apple Support: OS X El Captain: Find your computer's name and address

What to do before you sell or giving away your Mac


Need any other help?