How to Change Your Computer's Name on a Mac - Changing the Name of your Mac Click the menu. Click System Preferences. Click Sharing. Type a new computer name into the blank. Press ⏎ Return.
The device name comes from it's 'NetBios' name. It's yes another way that the network see you on the net and, you're riight, will confuse things like time machine from knowing 'whos who'.
Go in to System Preferences, and open the 'NETWORK' options icon. On the first screen, near the lower right, will be an 'ADVANCED' button. Click that. The next screen offers several tabs across the top used to manually configure your NETWORK settings. MOST of these you should be getting through DHCP from your Modem ... so you rarely have to change anything here. But, click on the WINS tab.
THERE IT IS! You should see the current name (you're wife's) in the top box. Simply click in the box and give it what ever name you want, say 'johnsnet', for example. The 'workgroup' name doesn't need to change, although, I ususaly have named my internal WIFI network something personal -- my nick name since I was like 4 y/ohas been Jimmer, so my wifi network name is 'jimmernet'. Depending on your mode, you MAY be able to create a second WIFI network as well (a friend turned me on to this -- he set his second up as 'guest', with a separate password, so when his friends (like me) go over I connect to his 'guest' network, and then it seqgregates me from his personal stuff. Those are all settings done in the modem. BUT, let me use th internet through WIFI when I'm there. I mention this only becuae YOU might want to set up a 'wifenet', or a 'marysnet' ... and so on. That way, again through the setting in the modem, she would only have access to things (printers, servers, NAS drives, whatever) on the 'wifenet' network.
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Sorry -- more than you asked for --- but got on a roll! LOL
It's really easy -- make it happen!
Jim
Jan 14, 2015 11:13 PM
It’s important to know how to change your username on a Mac, especially if multiple people use your computer. You can change your username on your account any time you want, as long as you have the right administrator password. Here’s how to change your username on a Mac without creating any problems!
Before you begin, please take the time to back up any important information that you may need from this user account. If something goes wrong, you could accidentally lock the account or create other problems that may leave you without access, so prepare accordingly.
Step 1: Log into a different administrator account
You cannot rename an account that you are currently using. So, your first step is logging out and then logging into your administrator account (the one that provides the authorization to change things like usernames, etc.). You can log out at any time by selecting the Apple logo in the upper left corner of your Mac, and choosing Log Out [name you want to change].
If the account that you are using has administrator privileges, then you’ll need to find a workaround. The easiest way is to log out and then create an alternative administrator account for these steps. You can delete this temporary account when you are finished with the other steps.
Step 2: Rename the home folder
For a complete name change, you will need to start with your home folder. Your home folders are located in the Users folder. You should be able to find the Users folder by going to the Finder menu, selecting Go, choosing Go to Folder, and then typing in Users.
Here, look for the folder that has the “short name” of the username you want to change. For example, if the full name is “John Mac” then the short name may just be “John” (or it may be identical to the full name). Jot this name down, because you’ll need it later, and then change the short name folder to the name that you want. Don’t bother shortening it. You’ll have to put in the administrator password again at this point.
Step 3: Log into Users & Groups to find your user profile
Head over to System Preferences, which you can find in the menu bar. Here, select Users & Groups and click the padlock button so that you can start making changes — you will probably have to enter the administrator password yet again at this stage.
Look for the username that you want to change, and right click on it (or control click, double-tap, whatever opens the shortcut menu on your computer). From the shortcut menu, choose Advanced Options. This should take you to a new window.
Step 4: Rename the proper fields and restart
In Advanced Options, look for two fields called Account name and Home directory. In the Account name field, you will want to change the name to the exact same name that you gave the home folder in step 3. Make sure the names match exactly and that there are no spaces, otherwise this won’t work.
In the Home directory field, do the exact same thing. Input the precise new username that you want for your Mac.
Now select the Ok button in Advanced options. Log out of this administrator account, and log into the account whose name you have changed (the new name should now be visible). Check to make sure that all your files and apps are visible, and that everything appears to be working properly. Perform a few basic actions and open some documents. If everything looks good, then your new username is ready to be used!
Note: This method works with the latest MacOS updates, including High Sierra, El Capitan, and Yosemite. Some of the icons or names may be a little different, but the basic steps are the same. If you don’t have one of the latest updates, then your operating system is already a few years out of date, and we suggest you update it before you try changing usernames.
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