MacOS – How does one change the share name with file sharing in Mac OS X

file-sharingmacos

In Mac OS X you can create shared folders. Usually the share name is the same as the folder, but it can be different. For example if the is a user with display name "John Doe" and system name "johnd" the system creates a Shared folder named "Public" in the users folder Users/johnd/Public but the share name is "John Doe's Public Folder".

If that Shared folder is removed from the File Sharing folder list and re-added then it just shows as "Public".

How do you change the Share name?

Best Answer

Use Directory Utility.

  1. Open /System/Library/CoreServices/Applications/Directory Utility
  2. Select the Directory Editor tab
  3. In the "Viewing" bar, select SharePoints in node /Local/Default
  4. Authenticate by clicking the little lock button

Shares are listed in the left-hand column. Select one and update the following as needed:

  • RecordName (the name of the listing)
  • dsAttrTypeNative:smb_name
  • dsAttrTypeNative:afp_name

Changes should take effect immediately.

Apple hid this utility for a reason: Be careful, a wrong Directory entry can wreck your Mac.

Renaming sharepoints used to be possible with the Server app, but filesharing is now handled by the normal MacOS System Preference pane.

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