ComputerName

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ComputerName specifies the computer name used to access the computer from the network.

Note   In Windows 10, users can no longer enter a computer name during OOBE as the name is auto-generated. To set a default computer name pre-OOBE, OEMs can configure ComputerName in the Unattend.xml file and specify a name for the computer. After OOBE, end users can change this default computer name after OOBE by changing it in the System Properties page.

Values

If ComputerName is not specified, a random computer name is generated.

If ComputerName set to an asterisk (*) or is included but empty (""), Windows creates a random 15-character name using up to 7 characters from FullName and Organization, then a dash, then more random characters.

ComputerName is a string with a maximum length of 15 bytes of content:

  • ComputerName can use ASCII characters (1 byte each) and/or multi-byte characters such as Kanji, so long as you do not exceed 15 bytes of content.

  • ComputerName cannot use spaces or any of the following characters: { | } ~ [ \ ] ^ ' : ; < = > ? @ ! " # $ % ` ( ) + / . , * &, or contain any spaces.

  • ComputerName cannot use some non-standard characters, such as emoji.

Computer names that cannot be validated through the DnsValidateName function cannot be used, for example, computer names that only contain numbers (0-9). For more information, see the DnsValidateName function.

Valid configuration passes

offlineServicing

specialize

Parent hierarchy

Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup | ComputerName

Applies To

For a list of the Windows editions and architectures that this component supports, see Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup.

XML example

The following XML output shows how to set the computer name.

<ComputerName>MyComputer</ComputerName>

Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup