Computer Folder Name - Change in Windows

Brink · May 2, 2013

How to Change "Computer" or "This PC" Folder Name in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8

Information

This tutorial will show you how to change the "Computer" or "This PC" folder name to whatever you like for your user account or all users in Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1.

In Windows 8.1, Computer has been renamed to This PC.

Note

The "Computer" folder name is NOT the same thing as your computer name.

OPTION ONE

To Change "Computer" or "This PC" Folder Name in Explorer

NOTE: This option will override OPTION TWO below.

1. Open File Explorer (Windows 8) or Windows Explorer (Vista/Windows 7).

2. In the navigation pane, right click on Computer/This PC (or current new name), and click on Rename. (see screenshot below)

3. Type in a new name (ex: Brink's PC), and press Enter.

Note

A file name cannot contain any of the following characters:

Note

\ / : * ? < > |

4. If you have an explorer window open, then close and reopen it to fully apply.

5. You will now see this new name in explorer instead of the default name Computer or This PC.

OPTION TWO

To Change "Computer" Folder Name in Registry Editor

NOTE: OPTION ONE above will override the "Computer" folder name set in this option.

1. Press the Windows :winkey: + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.

3. Do step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do.

4. To Rename "Computer" or "This PC" Folder in Only your User Account

NOTE: This option will override step 5 for only your account.

A) In Registry Editor, navigate to the path below. (see screenshot below)

Code:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

B) In the right pane of {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}, double click/tap on (Default) to modify it. (see screenshot above)

C) Type in a new name (ex: Brink's PC), click/tap on OK, and got to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: The default setting is to have this empty/blank to get the Computer name.

Note

A file name cannot contain any of the following characters:

Note

\ / : * ? < > |

5. To Rename "Computer" or "This PC" Folder for All User Accounts

NOTE: You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this step.

A) In Registry Editor, navigate to the path below. (see screenshot below)

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

B) If you have not already, you will need to first take ownership of and set permissions to "Allow" Administrators "Full control" of the {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} registry key to be able to modify it below.

NOTE: For Vista and Windows 7, see also: Computer - Rename in Windows 7 Navigation Pane - Windows 7 Help Forums

C) In the right pane of {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}, double click/tap on LocalizedString to modify it. (see screenshot below)

D) Type in a new name (ex: New Name), click/tap on OK, and got to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: The default setting is @%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-9216 to get the Computer name.

Note

A file name cannot contain any of the following characters:

Note

\ / : * ? < > |

6. When finished, you can now close Registry Editor if you like.

7. If you have an explorer window open, then close and reopen it to fully apply.

8. You will now see this new name in explorer instead of the default name Computer or This PC.

That's it,
Shawn

Computer Folder Name - Change in Windows

To Change "Computer" or "This PC" Folder Name in Explorer

To Change "Computer" Folder Name in Registry Editor

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