You can rechristen your Windows computer with a more appropriate name.

Is your Windows computer stuck with a name you don't particularly like? A new PC sports a name courtesy of the vendor, but you can change it. Whatever version of Windows you're running—Windows 10, 8.1, or 7—you can modify the computer name to something of your own liking.

However, there are some best practices to follow, especially for networked PCs. The name shouldn't be longer than 15 characters. And certain types of characters are off limits. But if you stick with any combination of letters, numbers, and/or hyphens, you'll be fine.

First, why bother renaming your computer? Is there any downside to just keeping the existing name? Well, the name identifies your computer not just to you but to other people who may be viewing it over a network. Remotely accessing your computer from another computer or a mobile device is easier if the name more accurately describes and identifies it. That's especially true if you have other computers running on a home or small business network and want to give each one a unique name to distinguish it from the other devices.

And what should you name your computer? You want to cook up a distinctive name so you immediately know which computer it is when you view it on a network or need to access it remotely. A good rule of thumb is to include the name of the manufacturer, the brand or model number, and perhaps the type of PC in the name. You might give an HP Pavilion desktop a name of HPPavilionDesk. You may give a Lenovo T460 laptop a name of LenovoT460Lap. And you might give a Microsoft Surface tablet a name of MicroSurfaceTab.

Okay, let's go through the steps for renaming your Windows computer.

https://assets.pcmag.com/media/image...t=740&boxFit=y

Windows 10

If you run Windows 10, you can rename your computer through the Settings screen. Click on Start > Settings > System > About. Click on the button to "Rename this PC."

https://assets.pcmag.com/media/image...t=740&boxFit=y

Choose a New Name

At the "Rename your PC" window, type the new name of your computer in the text field. Click Next.

The next window tells you that your PC will be renamed after it's restarted. Click on the "Restart now" button to reboot your PC.

Log back into Windows. Click on Start > Settings > System > About to confirm that your PC is sporting its new moniker.

https://assets.pcmag.com/media/image...t=740&boxFit=y

Windows 8.1

To change your computer name in Windows 8.1, launch the Charms bar and click on the Settings icon.

https://assets.pcmag.com/media/image...t=740&boxFit=y

Change PC Settings

Click on the link to "Change PC settings."

https://assets.pcmag.com/media/image...t=740&boxFit=y

PC and Devices

In the left pane for PC settings, click on the category for "PC and devices."

https://assets.pcmag.com/media/image...t=740&boxFit=y

Rename PC

Click on "PC info." Then click on the button to "Rename PC."

https://assets.pcmag.com/media/image...t=740&boxFit=y

Select a New Name

Type the new name and click Next. Windows tells you that you must restart your computer. Click on the "Restart now" button to reboot. Sign back into Windows and return to the PC info screen to view the new computer name.

https://assets.pcmag.com/media/image...t=740&boxFit=y

Windows 7 or Vista

To change your computer name in any version of Windows, open Control Panel in icon view. Click on the System icon to view your System settings.

https://assets.pcmag.com/media/image...t=740&boxFit=y

Change Settings

In the section for Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings, click on the link to "Change Settings."

https://assets.pcmag.com/media/image...t=740&boxFit=y

New Name

At the System Properties window, click on the "Change" button. In the Computer name field, type the new name for your computer. Click OK. Windows tells you that you must restart your computer to apply these changes. Click OK.

Reboot your computer to relaunch Windows. Return to the System settings screen to confirm that the new name is now in effect.