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Naming Windows Workgroups and Domains

Avoid peer-to-peer networking issues

By Bradley Mitchell Bradley Mitchell Writer Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Illinois An MIT graduate who brings years of technical experience to articles on SEO, computers, and wireless networking. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on July 14, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide Each Windows computer belongs either to a workgroup or a domain. Home networks and other small LANs use workgroups, whereas larger business networks operate with domains. Choosing the proper workgroup or domain name is essential to avoid technical problems when networking Windows computers. Instructions in this article apply to Windows 10.

How to Choose a Workgroup or Domain Name

Ensure your workgroups or domains are named appropriately according to the following rules: Ensure each workgroup and domain name is no longer than 15 characters. Ensure no workgroup or domain name contains spaces. Windows ME and earlier versions of Windows do not support workgroups or domains with spaces in the name. Whenever possible, ensure all computers on the LAN use the same workgroup or domain name. Using common workgroups and domains makes it easier to browse the network and avoids security complications when sharing files. The default workgroup name in Windows 10 is WORKGROUP, but the default varies in older versions of Windows. Ensure the name of the workgroup or domain is different from the name of any computer on the network. Avoid special characters in workgroup and domain names. Do not use these characters when naming Windows workgroups and domains: / \ * , . " @ : ? < > For simplicity, avoid using lower-case letters in workgroup or domain names. The workgroup name doesn't need to match the network name (SSID) on a Wi-Fi LAN.

How to Create a Workgroup or Domain in Windows

To set or change workgroup and domain names in Windows 10: Go to the Windows Start menu and select Settings. In the Find a setting text box, enter System settings and select View advanced system settings. In the System Properties dialog box, select the Computer Name tab. Select Change. In the Workgroup text box, enter a name for the new Workgroup and select OK. In the Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box, select OK. When prompted to restart the computer to apply changes, select OK. Select Close. Choose to Restart Now or Restart Later. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Using Workgroups in Computer Networking How to Whitelist a Domain in Mac OS X Mail App DNS Servers: What Are They and Why Are They Used? Definition of FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) How to Clean Install Windows XP How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install How to Change a Computer Name in Windows Net Send Command (Examples, Switches, and More) What Is a Top-Level Domain? (TLD Definition) How to Fix an IPv6 No Network Access Error How to Play Music in TeamSpeak 3 on a Computer How to Add a Printer to Windows 10 Sharing OS X 10.5 Files With Windows XP How to Fix It When Windows 10 Is Stuck in Airplane Mode What Is a Hostname? (Host Name Definition) How to Uninstall or Remove Internet Explorer Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies