Written by
Sherry Song
Renaming a flash drive or hard drive on Mac is a simple yet common task for Mac users. Whether you are working with external hard drives or your Mac's internal hard drive, this guide will walk through different methods to rename a drive on Mac.
How can I rename a flash drive in Finder? -discussion.apple.com
How to rename a USB drive on Mac? I open up Disk Utility but don't see how to do it. -forums.macrumors.com
Below, it's a quick comparison table for an overview of the available methods to change the flash drive name on Mac.
| Method | Best for | Key requirements | Pros | Cons |
| Use Finder | Quick renaming via interface | Drive must be writable | Easy to use | May not work for read-only drives |
| Use Desktop | Renaming directly from desktop icon | Drive must be visible on the desktop | Fast and intuitive | Not ideal if desktop icons are hidden |
| Use Disk Utility | Managing system and external drives | Admin privileges for some operations | Useful for detailed drive management | Potential data loss when using Erase |
| Use Terminal | Advanced users needing precision | Knowledge of Terminal commands | Works even when Finder fails | Requires familiarity with commands |
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How to rename a flash drive or hard drive on Mac?
Here we summarize four methods to rename a drive's name on macOS.
Rename a drive via Finder
This is the easiest way to rename flash drives on Mac.
- Plug in your flash drive or ensure the hard drive is mounted.
- Locate your drive under the Devices or Locations section in the Finder sidebar.
- Right-click the drive and choose Rename...
- Enter the desired name and press the Enter key to save it.
Rename a drive via Desktop
This method works if your drive appears on the desktop, especially for the external hard drives.
- If the drive's icon is visible on your desktop, click its name once to highlight it.
- Type a new name directly and press the Enter key.
- The name will update instantly.
If your desktop doesn't display the drive, enable it by going to Finder > Settings > General, and check the option External disks is toggled on.
Rename a drive via Disk Utility
Disk Utility is a powerful tool for managing and renaming drives, especially for system volumes or advanced configurations.
- Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
- In the sidebar, click on the drive you want to rename.
- Click the name at the top and edit it directly.
Alternatively, use the Erase option to rename while reformatting the drive. (Be cautious as this will delete data.)
Rename a drive via Terminal
For users comfortable with command-line tools, Mac Terminal provides a reliable way to rename drives.
- Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
- Type diskutil list and press the Enter key. (Find the drive you need to rename.)
- Type diskutil renameVolume /Volumes/OldName NewName and press the Enter key.
(Replace OldName with the current name of the drive and NewName with the desired name.) - Check Finder or Terminal to confirm the new name.
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Additional tips
Before renaming the drive or ensuring the whole process works well, you'd better prepare these:
- Ensure write permissions: If the drive is read-only, you won't be able to rename it without reformatting or adjusting permissions.
- Are desktop Icons missing?: Enable drive visibility by going to Finder > Settings > General.
- APFS drives: When renaming APFS volumes, note that the visible name changes, but the underlying container remains unaffected.
- Reformatting caution: Using Disk Utility's Erase function will delete all data, so ensure you back up important files beforehand.
By following these methods, you can rename flash drive or hard drive on a Mac quickly and efficiently. Choose the method that suits your needs best, and keep your storage devices organized for easier access.
Also read: Can't Rename External Hard Drive on Mac
