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

 

[Brink]

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?

Hello CJW,

It has no affect on the comfuser since this tutorial would only allow you to change the name and icon of the network on your computer. It's about like changing the name and avatar of your user account, but for your network instead.

WORKGROUP would be the default workgroup name instead of network name. Home Network would be the type of network location instead of the network name.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[CJW]

In a way, the name WORKGROUP is just the name of a group of computers inside the NETWORK as a whole, correct?

 

[Brink]

Yes, basically.

 

[CJW]

I sucessfully changed the Network Name & replaced the Windows Default Network Icons w/my own, but as I was going through all that, I came across something odd.

When I look at my System Properties, it shows: WORKGROUP & that my NETWORK ID is setup as "...part of a business network..."

This is my home computer & not used for business, but I cannot change the WORKGROUP name nor change from 'business computer' to 'home computer'. Anyone know why this is & if there a way to get this done?

 

[Brink]

That's just the default option in the Network ID wizard. No matter what you set, it will always open with that option selected since the wizard is used to help you to join a domain or workgroup. That's all.

 

[CJW]

So whenever someone tries to change it, the default will just come back?

 

[Brink]

Yes and no.

You're changes are still made. It's just where the wizard starts at by default and is not a indicator of what you have set.

 

[CJW]

Is there a window that shows my changes, just to check?

 

[Brink]

Hello CJW,

It's not a setting, but just a wizard to help walk you through to join a domain or workgroup. That's all.

 

[CJW]

Ok, thanks for the help.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[Conqueror]

Wow. I can't believe this option was right under our noses all this time! This has baffled me for years and always gave up trying to find a solution since I could never find it!

I just came across this topic while doing a search on how to change the network name once again since mine was showing wrong because I connected another router as a repeater bridge to my existing router.

I've been visiting vistax64 and sevenforums for years whenever I got stuck on something. Always enjoyed reading the easy-to-follow and nicely laid-out tutorials whenever I got stuck. Just had to register now to say thanks.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Conqueror. I'm glad it was able to help. Congrats on your first post here.

 

[Wiperman]

Finally the solution to my problem...Thanks Shawn!!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Wiperman. Glad it could help.

 

[rseiler]

If anyone's wondering how to change it in Win8, well, it's hard to believe:
Windows 8 Rename Network - Neowin Forums

Combine that "improvement" with the need to go into the policy editor to change from a public to private network, or vice-versa, something that also used to be a single click in network sharing center before, and the mind boggles.
How to change network location type in Windows 8

 

[Brink]

Hello rseiler,

Thank you.

There's also this method below for changing network type in Windows 8 though.

Network Location - Set to Private or Public in Windows 8

 

[AZBanjoGirl]

Thank you for NOT making it complicated!!!

I registered just to reply with a huge THANK YOU!!!

All I wanted to do was to change the assigned SSID name on my active network settings. Every post I found made it so darn complicated. Then I found your reply of just clicking on the little house (or park bench) in my Network and Sharing Center and lo and behold there it is a box to change the name!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I only wish I would have found your reply 2 hours ago! UGH!!!

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]

Welcome to Seven Forums AZBanjoGirl. I'm glad to hear that it was helpful.

 

[spddemun]

Thank you, again! I can never remember how to do this!