Incorrect Mac OS Computer Device Names

Our Mac Studio has the name “Name1” on the Desktop [1]: 


Under Apple Menu > System Settings > General > Local hostname it is named “Name1.local” [2]: 


Yet under Apple Menu > System Settings > Apple Account > Devices it is named “Name2” (but with the correct computer model, a Mac Studio, listed directly under the incorrect name) [3]: 


How do I change the Devices name from Name2 to Name1?


Sorry for what is likely an ignorant question, but we had a major crash/restore on our MacBook Pro 14” and I’m into a week of trying to dig out from that :(


OS Sequoia 15.2


Thank you!


PS I Photoshopped the actual names to Name1 and Name2 for privacy, but you get the idea.


PPS I searched Perplexity for an answer [4]: 

But this doesn’t seem correct cuz there is no Apple Menu > System Settings > Sharing menu that I can find [5]: 


PPPS: Interestingly, under Apple Menu > System Settings > Apple Account I also see listed under the Mac Studio our now normally functioning MBP computer (a MacBook Pro 14”) with the text “(3)” appended to the otherwise correct name [6]: 


So, in other words, I’m asking how I can change names so that (in the last screen image) Name2 changes to Name1 for the Mac Studio, and Name2 (3) changes to Name2 for the MacBook Pro 14”



Mac Studio, macOS 13.2

Posted on Jan 24, 2025 12:25 PM

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Jan 24, 2025 4:23 PM in response to CharPatton

CharPatton wrote:

Our Mac Studio has the name “Name1” on the Desktop [1]: 

Under Apple Menu > System Settings > General > Local hostname it is named “Name1.local” [2]: 


Yet under Apple Menu > System Settings > Apple Account > Devices it is named “Name2” (but with the correct computer model, a Mac Studio, listed directly under the incorrect name) [3]: 


How do I change the Devices name from Name2 to Name1?



You can change the name on the Desktop icon like any file or folder(?)


the default to keep the confusion to a minimum... Really this icon is not needed on the Desktop except to take up valuable screen real estate ;)




A unique and different name may differentiate more appropriately the way it is recognized on the Network...?


See Sharing




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Jan 27, 2025 11:19 AM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks for your time, and sharing your expertise!


Problem solved: I changed the device names as detailed above but that didn't change the names globally (at least over 24 hours). It took the old tried and true system restart of all the misnamed devices (MBP, iPad, iPhone, & Mac Studio) to get all the name changes to be reflected correctly everywhere :)

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Incorrect Mac OS Computer Device Names

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