{"slug":"machine-names","title":"Machine names","tags":["tailscale"],"agent_summary":"Last validated: Jan 5, 2026","trigger_phrases":[],"runnable":false,"markdown":"\r\n# Machine names\r\n\r\nLast validated: Jan 5, 2026\r\n\r\nOn Tailscale, machines are distinguishable by a [100.x.y.z](https://tailscale.com/docs/concepts/tailscale-ip-addresses)\r\nIP address, and by a **machine name**.\r\n\r\nThe machine name, shown throughout the admin console and the native Tailscale\r\napps, is the canonical name for your machine on your Tailscale network. If you\r\nuse [MagicDNS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/magicdns), the machine name also determines the URL your machine\r\nis accessible at.\r\n\r\n## [How machine names are determined](https://tailscale.com/docs/concepts/machine-names\\#how-machine-names-are-determined)\r\n\r\nWhen a new machine is added to a Tailscale network, we automatically generate\r\nits machine name from its OS hostname. The OS hostname is the machine's operating\r\nsystem name for the device. This field gets reported to Tailscale on startup.\r\n\r\nOften, the name ends up being exactly the hostname. But sometimes if a device\r\nalready on the network has the same name, the new machine will get a name like\r\n`-1`. If the conflicting machine's name is later changed, this machine\r\nwill still maintain the `-1` machine name.\r\n\r\nOS hostnames can also have characters that we don't allow in machine names, so\r\nwe derive the names following a number of rules that aim to produce sensible\r\nresults.\r\n\r\nFor example:\r\n\r\n| OS Hostname | Machine Name |\r\n| --- | --- |\r\n| monitoring | monitoring |\r\n| John's-iPhone-6S.local | johns-iphone-6s |\r\n| 🎊 free form 🎊 | free-form |\r\n\r\nAs corner cases in these rules are found, they will change, so they are not\r\nlisted here. We enforce unique machine names across a Tailscale network so they\r\nmay be used as part of the [MagicDNS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/magicdns) domain name for a machine.\r\n\r\n## [Renaming a machine](https://tailscale.com/docs/concepts/machine-names\\#renaming-a-machine)\r\n\r\nSometimes the default machine name for a device can be pretty messy and unclear,\r\nsuch as `laptop-a4og4947`. Because of this, we've added the ability to edit the machine\r\nname for a device from the admin console.\r\n\r\nYou can edit the machine name through the UI in the admin console, or through the Tailscale CLI.\r\n\r\nIf [MagicDNS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/magicdns) is enabled for your network, editing the machine name also edits\r\nthe MagicDNS domain name. Once renamed, your machine will be accessible over MagicDNS using its new name.\r\n\r\n### [Renaming a machine in the admin console](https://tailscale.com/docs/concepts/machine-names\\#renaming-a-machine-in-the-admin-console)\r\n\r\nIn either the [Machines](https://login.tailscale.com/admin/machines)\r\npage of the admin console or the **Machine Details** page, select the ![ellipsis icon](https://tailscale.com/files/images/icons/fa-ellipsis-h.svg)\r\nmenu to the right of the page and select **Edit machine name**. This will open\r\nup the machine name editor.\r\n\r\n![Machine name editing view](https://tailscale.com/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fautogenerate-device-name-checkbox.8841a8b4.png&w=1080&q=75)\r\n\r\nWhen the **Auto-generate from OS hostname** box is checked, as it is by default,\r\nthe machine name is generated from the OS hostname as described above. If the\r\nOS updates the hostname, the machine name will also get updated the next time\r\nTailscale is started up. To avoid these automatic name changes, uncheck this box.\r\n\r\n![Machine name editing view](https://tailscale.com/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fdevice-name-modal.a40b120d.png&w=1080&q=75)\r\n\r\nOnce you've made your update, you'll find the new name across the admin console and the\r\nTailscale apps.\r\n\r\n![Updated machine page](https://tailscale.com/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fdevice-name-details.c9fd7de6.png&w=1080&q=75)\r\n\r\n### [Renaming a machine in the CLI](https://tailscale.com/docs/concepts/machine-names\\#renaming-a-machine-in-the-cli)\r\n\r\nIn the Tailscale CLI, set the machine name as part of `tailscale set`:\r\n\r\n```shell\r\ntailscale set --hostname=\r\n```\r\n\r\n![Project Logo](https://cdn.brandfetch.io/tailscale.com/fallback/lettermark/theme/dark/h/256/w/256/icon?c=1bfwsmEH20zzEfSNTed)\r\n\r\nAsk AI\r\n\r\nreCAPTCHA\r\n\r\nRecaptcha requires verification.\r\n\r\nprotected by **reCAPTCHA**\r\n","html":"

Machine names

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Last validated: Jan 5, 2026

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On Tailscale, machines are distinguishable by a 100.x.y.z\r\nIP address, and by a machine name.

\n

The machine name, shown throughout the admin console and the native Tailscale\r\napps, is the canonical name for your machine on your Tailscale network. If you\r\nuse MagicDNS, the machine name also determines the URL your machine\r\nis accessible at.

\n

How machine names are determined

\n

When a new machine is added to a Tailscale network, we automatically generate\r\nits machine name from its OS hostname. The OS hostname is the machine's operating\r\nsystem name for the device. This field gets reported to Tailscale on startup.

\n

Often, the name ends up being exactly the hostname. But sometimes if a device\r\nalready on the network has the same name, the new machine will get a name like\r\n<hostname>-1. If the conflicting machine's name is later changed, this machine\r\nwill still maintain the <hostname>-1 machine name.

\n

OS hostnames can also have characters that we don't allow in machine names, so\r\nwe derive the names following a number of rules that aim to produce sensible\r\nresults.

\n

For example:

\n

| OS Hostname | Machine Name |\r\n| --- | --- |\r\n| monitoring | monitoring |\r\n| John's-iPhone-6S.local | johns-iphone-6s |\r\n| 🎊 free form 🎊 | free-form |

\n

As corner cases in these rules are found, they will change, so they are not\r\nlisted here. We enforce unique machine names across a Tailscale network so they\r\nmay be used as part of the MagicDNS domain name for a machine.

\n

Renaming a machine

\n

Sometimes the default machine name for a device can be pretty messy and unclear,\r\nsuch as laptop-a4og4947. Because of this, we've added the ability to edit the machine\r\nname for a device from the admin console.

\n

You can edit the machine name through the UI in the admin console, or through the Tailscale CLI.

\n

If MagicDNS is enabled for your network, editing the machine name also edits\r\nthe MagicDNS domain name. Once renamed, your machine will be accessible over MagicDNS using its new name.

\n

Renaming a machine in the admin console

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In either the Machines\r\npage of the admin console or the Machine Details page, select the \"ellipsis\r\nmenu to the right of the page and select Edit machine name. This will open\r\nup the machine name editor.

\n

\"Machine

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When the Auto-generate from OS hostname box is checked, as it is by default,\r\nthe machine name is generated from the OS hostname as described above. If the\r\nOS updates the hostname, the machine name will also get updated the next time\r\nTailscale is started up. To avoid these automatic name changes, uncheck this box.

\n

\"Machine

\n

Once you've made your update, you'll find the new name across the admin console and the\r\nTailscale apps.

\n

\"Updated

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Renaming a machine in the CLI

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In the Tailscale CLI, set the machine name as part of tailscale set:

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tailscale set --hostname=<name>\n
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