Table of Contents
Change Hostname Temporarily (Until Reboot)
Set Hostname Permanently on Linux
Set Hostname Permanently on macOS

How to set the system hostname

Jul 26, 2025 am 12:48 AM

The method of changing the system hostname varies from operating system to operating system, but the overall process is simple and clear. First, check the current host name, which can be viewed through the hostname or hostnamectl command; second, the host name can be temporarily changed, Linux uses sudo hostname new-hostname, and macOS uses sudo scutil --set HostName new-hostname; if you need to change it permanently, Linux needs to edit the /etc/hostname file and update the old hostname in /etc/hosts to the new name, and then run sudo hostname -F /etc/hostname or restart application changes; macOS needs to set HostName, ComputerName and LocalHostName through the scutil command, and keep the shared settings consistent in system preference settings; precautions include avoiding the use of spaces and special characters, cloud servers may restrict hostname modification methods, and checking the /etc/hosts entry after modification to avoid DNS resolution problems.

How to set the system hostname

Changing your system's hostname isn't something you do every day, but it matters for things like network identification, server setups, or even just personal preference. The process varies slightly depending on your operating system, but overall, it's straightforward.


Check Current Hostname

Before changing anything, it's a good idea to check what the current hostname is. This helps avoid confusion, especially if you're working on a remote machine or a shared environment.

  • On most systems, you can simply run:
 hostname

Or use the more modern command:

 hostnamectl

This will show detailed information including the static and transient hostnames (especially useful on Linux systems using systemd).


Change Hostname Temporarily (Until Reboot)

If you only need to change the hostname temporarily — say, for testing or troubleshooting — you can do that without modifying any config files.

  • On Linux, use:
 sudo hostname new-hostname
  • On macOS, use:
 sudo scutil --set HostName new-hostname

This won't survive a reboot, so it's great for quick checks but not for permanent changes.


Set Hostname Permanently on Linux

To make the change stick across reboots, you'll need to edit one or two system files depending on your distro.

  1. Edit /etc/hostname
    Open this file in a text editor:

     sudo nano /etc/hostname

    Replace the existing name with your desired hostname.

  2. Update /etc/hosts
    Some systems also expect the hostname to be listed in this file. Look for lines like:

     127.0.1.1 old-hostname

    Change that to your new hostname.

  3. Apply changes (optional)
    You can apply the new hostname immediately by running:

     sudo hostname -F /etc/hostname

    Or just reboot.


Set Hostname Permanently on macOS

macOS handles hostnames a bit differently, and there are three types: ComputerName, HostName, and LocalHostName.

To set them permanently, use scutil :

 sudo scutil --set HostName my-new-hostname
sudo scutil --set ComputerName my-new-hostname
sudo scutil --set LocalHostName my-new-hostname

You may also want to update sharing settings via System Preferences > Sharing to keep everything consistent.


A Few Things to Keep in Mind

  • Hostnames shouldn't contain spaces or special characters — stick to letters, numbers, hyphens, and periods.
  • If you're on a managed or cloud server, some environments restrict hostname changes unless done through their dashboard or API.
  • Always double-check /etc/hosts after making changes — mismatched entries can cause issues with local DNS resolution.

Basically that's it. It's not complicated, but getting all the pieces right avoids headaches later.

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