Renaming macOS Machine from Command Line

Here is the summary of the items to update and the generic commands to rename your macOS machine thoroughly from the command line.

1. /etc/hosts entry

Purpose: This file maps IP addresses to hostnames. Update this if you have a custom entry for your old hostname. This is for local DNS resolution/self-identification.

Command: (Replace old-hostname and new-machine-name. You will need sudo privileges to edit this file.)

sudo vi /etc/hosts

Instructions: Inside vi, find the line containing your old-hostname (e.g., 192.168.1.100 old-hostname) and change old-hostname to new-machine-name. Save and exit (:wq!).

Verify: Check that your new hostname is present in the file:

cat /etc/hosts

2. HostName

Purpose: The primary name the system identifies itself with (kernel hostname, used by hostname -s).

Command:

sudo scutil --set HostName "new-machine-name"

Verify:

scutil --get HostName
# or simply
hostname

3. LocalHostName

Purpose: The name other devices on your local network see (e.g., in Finder sidebar). This is the Bonjour/mDNS name.

Command:

sudo scutil --set LocalHostName "new-machine-name"

Verify:

scutil --get LocalHostName

4. ComputerName

Purpose: The user-friendly name displayed in System Settings (or System Preferences) and in Finder.

Command:

sudo scutil --set ComputerName "new-machine-name"

Verify:

scutil --get ComputerName