How to Rename Drive Labels in Windows 11

Windows gives every drive on your computer a name. This helps you tell your hard drive apart from a USB flash drive. You can change these names to make them easier to recognize.

Why rename your drives?

Renaming drives helps you stay organized. It makes it easier to find the right storage device when you have many plugged in at once.

What happens when done?

Once you rename a drive, the new name will appear everywhere in Windows, including File Explorer and the Settings app. This change does not affect your files.

Note: You must have administrator privileges to perform these steps.

We showed you how to mount a folder as a drive in Windows. You can use this method to rename the drive label.

Renaming a drive using File Explorer

This is the fastest way to change a name.

1. Open File Explorer by pressing the Win+E keys on your keyboard.
2. Find the drive you want to rename.
3. Right-click the drive and select Rename, or press F2.

4. Type your new name and press Enter.

5. If a window pops up asking for permission, click Continue.

Alternatively, right-click the drive and select Properties. Type a new name under the General tab and click OK.

Renaming a drive using Settings

You can also use the Windows Settings app app to change drive names.

1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.

2. Click System on the left, then click Storage on the right.

3. Click Advanced storage settings to see more options.

4. Select Disks & volumes.

5. Click on the drive you want to change, then click the Properties button.

6. Click the Change label button.

7. Type your new name in the box and click Apply.

Summary

Renaming your drives in Windows 11 is a simple way to keep your files organized. You can change names using File Explorer or the Windows Settings app. Remember that NTFS drives allow 32 characters, while FAT32 drives are limited to 11 characters. You cannot rename CD or DVD drives.