Network Name and Icon - Change

How to Change the Network Name and Icon in Windows 7​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to change the network name and icon in the Network and Sharing Center.

OPTION ONE

Change Network Name and Icon in Network and Sharing Center

1. Click or right click on the Network icon in the notification area, then click on Open Network and Sharing Center. (See screenshot below)

OR

2. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on the Network and Sharing Center icon.


3. Click on an active network icon. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will not work with a unidentified network.

4. This will open the Set Network Properties window. (See screenshot below)

5. To Change the Network Name
A) In the Network name field, type the new name you want for your network. (See screenshot above)
6. To Change the Network Icon
A) Click on the Change button. (See screenshot below step 4)

B) Select a icon, or browse to the location of a icon, for your network and click on OK.

7. Click on OK to apply your settings. (See screenshot below)

8. The network name and/or icon are now changed. (See screenshot below)

OPTION TWO

To Change Network Name in Registry Editor

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

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

3. In Registry Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles

4. Double click/tap on the Profiles key to expand it. Click/tap on each long GUID number subkey, and look at it's PofileName string value in the right pane to see if it has the current network name (ex: Network) until found. (see screenshot below)

5. When found, double click/tap on the PofileName string value to modify it. (see screenshot above)

6. Type in a new name for the network you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

   Note

A network name cannot contain tabs or any of the following characters:

\ / : * ? < > |

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

8. Sometimes you may need to sign out and in of your user account to fully apply the new network name.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Set the Windows 7 Network Location Type
• How to Set Unidentified Networks to be a Private or Public Network Location
• How to Create a Network and Sharing Center Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Changing a Network Icon in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Changing a Network Name in Windows 7
• How to View and Change the Computer Name in Windows 7
• How to View and Change the Workgroup Name in Windows 7

 

[andygo]

Thats it Shawn. I've been faffing round with that for ages!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Andy.

 

[amandamaciel]

Thank you very much! You're the man! =D haha

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Amanda, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[Khrann]

I can't do that, no button to press... :s

 

[Brink]

Hello Khrann, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Could you be a bit more specifc, and give more details on your issue please?

 

[MrsLady3]

Thanks a million! I have been searching for this name change thing for months. Wish they would have had that option available in the category view!!!!!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome MrsLady3, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[dismas]

When I click in the Network name field, I am unable to type anything in or change the current name. There is also no button to change the icon. However I am able to change the network name for all of the other networks. I think this is because this network has an access type of "no network access" whereas the others have "Internet" or "No Internet access". How can I change this network name?

Screenshot:

 

[Brink]

When I click in the Network name field, I am unable to type anything in or change the current name. There is also no button to change the icon. However I am able to change the network name for all of the other networks. I think this is because this network has an access type of "no network access" whereas the others have "Internet" or "No Internet access". How can I change this network name?

Screenshot:

Hello Dismas,

You will only be able to do this with an active network instead of a "Unidentified network". You might see if using the tutorial below may be able to help make the "Unidentified network" active. If not, then you should go ahead and post about the "Unidentified network" in the Network & Sharing forum to see if you may be able to get a solution for it.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71408-unidentified-networks-set-private-public.html

Hope this helps some,
Shawn

 

[Hogtowner]

Thanks Shawn. I don't know how many times I right-clicked on that icon to no avail. Silly of me not to notice the pointer change and try a regular (left) click. Alas, I blame in on age. :drool:

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Hogtowner. Good to see you over from Vista Forums.

 

[WinElf]

Just to be thorough

I did as you suggested and it worked fine. Thanks for the tip.

I would like to add that once you rename the network to what you want, then you can select either home or work for the network, and it will keep the name that you chose for the public network, which should avoid some other types of hassles with restrictions and trusting devices.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome WinElf, and welcome to Seven Forums. Thank you for the addition.

 

[Silvergirl]

One daft question. If I change the name of the network on one machine, do I have to change it on all running machines? (I have three laptops running from this network). The reason I wanted to change the name is that it has a space in the name and I understand some netbooks have problems finding networks with spaces. Thanks for all the good advice.

 

[Brink]

Hello Silvergirl, and welcome to Seven Forums.

No. The network name is only a name used as a reference for the current computer's network connection. That's all.

If you were to change the workgroup name or computer name, then you would have to change it on the other computers on the same network as well.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Silvergirl]

Many thanks Shawn. And thanks for coming back so quickly, much appreciated.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[CJW]

What, if any, consequences will this have on the comfuser?
Also, when I open the 'Network and Sharing Center' I see: Home Network; but when I open System Properties, I see: WORKGROUP; why?