You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

computer name keeps changing

Hello, I am having what I think is a fairly common problem but for which I have found no satisfactory solution. I am baffled that OS-X has such a problem.


Basically I work at an office where, while sitting at my desk I have a wired ethernet-connection (through a USB-C docking station, to which I also connect my displays and other stuff), but when I get up to go to meetings etc I wanna use WiFi.

The problem is that, if I keep my WiFi on, while I am connected to the wired network my computer's name keeps changing. I have verified 100% this only happens when both wired and WiFi are connected.


I suspect this happens because my machine has two valid connections and probably sees another machine (which is really the same machine through the other network) with the same name, I even get a pop-up saying so every once in a while. Here is a screenshot of my computer-name from Settings->Sharing the red part is my last name, I am sure it is unique within my network



Why do I care? well, this is what I get when I try to resolve my hostname from another machine (Ubuntu 22.04) in that same network:


me@ubuntu-machine:~$ nslookup <my-last-name>-mac.<company-domain>
Server:		127.0.0.53
Address:	127.0.0.53#53

** server can't find <my-last-name>-mac.<company-domain>: NXDOMAIN

me@ubuntu-machine:~$ nslookup <my-last-name>-mac-571.<company-domain>
Server:		127.0.0.53
Address:	127.0.0.53#53

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:	<my-last-name>-mac-571.<company-domain>
Address: 10.34.24.93


So as you can see, this is not just some weird computer name used for apple-only stuff, it is the actual hostname which is advertised...


The obvious solution is to turn wifi on/off each time I plug/unplug my machine, but I refuse to accept that there is no better option, specially since having WiFi on can be necessary even when connected to the wired network to use AirDrop from my phone or to/from other machines.


I have tried turning off all sharing options (as you can see in the screenshot), turning off "Find my Mac" (suggested by some threads) but still no luck. Also arranged the "Service Order" of my connections under Settings->Network to try and have WiFi only used when it's the only option but it made no difference:


Is there really no way to have OS-X be smart enough to realize that other machine it is seeing is really the same machine?

MacBook Pro Apple Silicon

Posted on Oct 27, 2022 12:55 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 27, 2022 1:03 PM

albert-mcfly wrote:

Hello, I am having what I think is a fairly common problem but for which I have found no satisfactory solution. I am baffled that OS-X has such a problem.

Basically I work at an office where, while sitting at my desk I have a wired ethernet-connection (through a USB-C docking station, to which I also connect my displays and other stuff), but when I get up to go to meetings etc I wanna use WiFi.
The problem is that, if I keep my WiFi on, while I am connected to the wired network my computer's name keeps changing. I have verified 100% this only happens when both wired and WiFi are connected.

<snip>

Is there really no way to have OS-X be smart enough to realize that other machine it is seeing is really the same machine?


You can talk to your "office" IT person and see if there is a local resolve to your issue...


The Network is always needing a unique identifer to keep things in working order.



or Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

or on line Apple Support


Outside the USA—Contact Apple for support and service by phone

See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support



Similar questions

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 27, 2022 1:03 PM in response to albert-mcfly

albert-mcfly wrote:

Hello, I am having what I think is a fairly common problem but for which I have found no satisfactory solution. I am baffled that OS-X has such a problem.

Basically I work at an office where, while sitting at my desk I have a wired ethernet-connection (through a USB-C docking station, to which I also connect my displays and other stuff), but when I get up to go to meetings etc I wanna use WiFi.
The problem is that, if I keep my WiFi on, while I am connected to the wired network my computer's name keeps changing. I have verified 100% this only happens when both wired and WiFi are connected.

<snip>

Is there really no way to have OS-X be smart enough to realize that other machine it is seeing is really the same machine?


You can talk to your "office" IT person and see if there is a local resolve to your issue...


The Network is always needing a unique identifer to keep things in working order.



or Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

or on line Apple Support


Outside the USA—Contact Apple for support and service by phone

See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support



computer name keeps changing

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.