How to Rename a Drive in Windows 11

Every drive in Windows 11 has a name, called a volume label, that shows up next to its letter in File Explorer, like “Local Disk (C:)” or “USB Drive (E:).” Giving your drives clear names, such as “Photos Backup” or “Games SSD,” makes it much easier to tell them apart. You can rename a drive in File Explorer in a few seconds, and there are also options in Settings, Disk Management, and the command line. Renaming doesn’t affect any files on the drive.

Quick answer

Open File Explorer, click This PC, select the drive, and press F2. Type a new name and press Enter. Click Yes if Windows asks for administrator permission.

Method 1: File Explorer

1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
2. Click This PC in the left pane.
3. Click the drive once to select it, then press F2. You can also right-click it and choose Show more options > Rename.
4. Type the new name and press Enter.
5. If you’re renaming the C: drive or another internal drive, approve the administrator prompt.

Method 2: Drive Properties

1. In File Explorer, right-click the drive and choose Properties.
2. On the General tab, click in the text box at the top, which shows the current name.
3. Type the new name and click OK.

Method 3: Settings

1. Open Settings > System > Storage.
2. Expand Advanced storage settings and click Disks & volumes.
3. Find the volume, click Properties, then click Change label.
4. Enter the new name and click Apply.

The same page also lets you change the drive letter. If that’s what you need, see our guide on changing a drive letter in Windows 11.

Method 4: Disk Management

1. Right-click the Start button and choose Disk Management.
2. Right-click the partition you want to rename and choose Properties.
3. Type the new name in the box on the General tab and click OK.

Disk Management is handy for drives that don’t show up in File Explorer because they don’t have a letter yet.

Method 5: Command Prompt or PowerShell

Open Terminal as administrator and use one of these commands, replacing D with your drive letter:

• Command Prompt: label D: Photos Backup
• PowerShell: Set-Volume -DriveLetter D -NewFileSystemLabel "Photos Backup"

To remove a name entirely, type label D: and press Enter when asked for a new label, then confirm.

Ideas for drive names

Short, specific names work best, because File Explorer cuts off long names in narrow windows. Some examples:

• Windows or System for the C: drive
• Games or Steam Library for a drive that holds games
• Backup 2026 for an external backup drive
• Work Files or Media for a second internal drive

Adding a year or the drive’s size, such as “Backup 2TB,” helps when you own several similar drives.

Naming rules

• NTFS drives (most internal drives) allow up to 32 characters.
• FAT32 drives (many older USB flash drives) allow up to 11 characters, and Windows shows the name in capital letters.
• exFAT drives allow up to 15 characters.
• Avoid characters such as * ? / \ | : < > and quotation marks, which aren’t allowed.

If Windows rejects a name, it’s usually too long for the drive’s file system. Check the file system on the drive’s Properties page. Formatting a drive also lets you set a new name, as covered in our guide on formatting a USB drive in Windows 11, but that erases everything on it.

Why can’t I rename my drive?

• You don’t have admin rights. Internal drives need an administrator account.
• The drive is in use or write-protected. Close open files, and check that a USB drive or SD card doesn’t have a lock switch turned on.
• It’s a network drive. Mapped network drives take their name from the shared folder. Rename them on the server, or right-click and choose Rename to change only how it appears on your PC.
• It’s an optical disc. CDs and DVDs can’t be renamed after they’re burned.

Tips

• Name external drives by what’s on them, so you can find backups quickly.
• A drive’s name travels with it, so a renamed USB drive shows the same name on another PC.
• Renaming the C: drive is safe. It doesn’t affect Windows or your programs.

Related: How to hide a drive in Windows 11.

Frequently asked questions

Does renaming a drive delete my files?

No. The name is just a label. Everything on the drive stays the same.

Is renaming the same as changing the drive letter?

No. The letter (C:, D:, E:) is how Windows and programs find the drive. Changing it can break shortcuts and installed programs, while changing the name is purely cosmetic.

Summary

1. Open This PC in File Explorer.
2. Select the drive and press F2.
3. Type a new name and press Enter.
4. Use Settings, Disk Management, or the label command as alternatives.