OS X keeps appending "(2)" to computer name

[BriMercer]

Does anyone know how to fix this? A while back OS X started adding a "(2)" to my computer name. (See below.) I've tried deleting the "(2)", I've tried changing the computer's name various times, but the "(2)" always comes back.

Since this computer is the only with this name on my network, I don't understand why it insists on adding a "2".

Does anyone know why it's doing this and how to get rid of it for good?


.

 

[Intell]

This is caused by your computer seeing a ghost of itself on your network. You can make it stop by turning off Wake for Network Access in the Energy Saver pref pane. Once off, rename your machine to finish.

 

[RooneySC]

Does your network have simultaneous 2.4ghz and 5ghz bands?

 

[atki81]

This is caused by your computer seeing a ghost of itself on your network. You can make it stop by turning off Wake for Network Access in the Energy Saver pref pane. Once off, rename your machine to finish.

I've tried this but it puts an error next to Find My Mac and Back To Mac in the iCloud Preferences, there's got to be another way to fix this?

 

[RooneySC]

If your router is dual band and both bands share the same ssid then each device on your network exists twice, one for each band. You are seeing the second version of the device. If you disable the 5ghz band I guarantee the (2) will go away....my Apple TV does the same thing. Nothing to worry about. If it bothers you that much, disable the 5ghz band or change its name so it operates as a separate network.

 

[Intell]

I've tried this but it puts an error next to Find My Mac and Back To Mac in the iCloud Preferences, there's got to be another way to fix this?

Nope, that's the only way. That or never allow your machine to sleep or shut down.

 

[venividivigor]

Mine goes all the way to MacBook (5)?!

 

[ajcgn]

Mine goes all the way to MacBook (5)?!

I've only gone up to MacBook (4), so far.

 

[chrfr]

If your router is dual band and both bands share the same ssid then each device on your network exists twice, one for each band. You are seeing the second version of the device. If you disable the 5ghz band I guarantee the (2) will go away....my Apple TV does the same thing. Nothing to worry about. If it bothers you that much, disable the 5ghz band or change its name so it operates as a separate network.

I have separate 5 and 2.4GHz networks and my Apple TVs and one Mac append numbers to the name, so it's not purely related to that. In fact, one Apple TV is wired.

 

[RooneySC]

Well count me wrong then. I dunno.

 

[chrfr]

Well count me wrong then. I dunno.

Me neither. It's frustrating and I can't find any correlation to when it happens. I'm hoping tomorrow's 8.1 updates fix it.

 

[ThirtyNine]

Had the same problem with my iMac which was connected to the router via an ethernet cable and by wifi. I turned off wifi and the problem seems to have resolved itself.

 

[netnothing]

Had this issue with my MBA.....but.....I believe it's because I was troubleshooting a network issue and plugged it in via Thunderbolt Ethernet. I think the 2nd network connection caused the name to change.

-Kevin

 

[izzle22]

Me neither. It's frustrating and I can't find any correlation to when it happens. I'm hoping tomorrow's 8.1 updates fix it.

Hopefully you're kidding because IOS will have nothing at all to do with your MacBook adding a number to it's name.

 

[n-evo]

Hopefully you're kidding because IOS will have nothing at all to do with your MacBook adding a number to it's name.

One can always hope though.

 

[chrfr]

Hopefully you're kidding because IOS will have nothing at all to do with your MacBook adding a number to it's name.

Not necessarily true. Apple TVs run a Bonjour sleep proxy, which may be the cause of the problem. The ATV should not be running the proxy if there's an Airport or Time Capsule already doing it, but there's definitely a bug somewhere in the network naming, and it seems related to wake/sleep.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3774

 

[Martin29]

I had this issue too. Resolved by killing the power to my Airport Express and then rebooting..

 

[x34]

This is caused by your computer seeing a ghost of itself on your network. You can make it stop by turning off Wake for Network Access in the Energy Saver pref pane. Once off, rename your machine to finish.

thanks. this seems to solve it.

 

[iLog.Genius]

I'm at 9! WOO!!!

 

[houssein31]

This is caused by your computer seeing a ghost of itself on your network. You can make it stop by turning off Wake for Network Access in the Energy Saver pref pane. Once off, rename your machine to finish.

THANK YOU!!!!! been happening for me 2 and now it fixed

 

[mikecwest]

Does anyone know how to fix this? A while back OS X started adding a "(2)" to my computer name. (See below.) I've tried deleting the "(2)", I've tried changing the computer's name various times, but the "(2)" always comes back.

Since this computer is the only with this name on my network, I don't understand why it insists on adding a "2".

Does anyone know why it's doing this and how to get rid of it for good?


.

I fixed this by going into NETWORK PREFERENCES and changing the name of my Location to the name of my computer.

I found the fix on an Apple Forum.

 

[netnothing]

Had this issue with my MBA.....but.....I believe it's because I was troubleshooting a network issue and plugged it in via Thunderbolt Ethernet. I think the 2nd network connection caused the name to change.

-Kevin

Take back what I said.....I'm up to #4 on my MBA with no rhyme or reason!

-Kevin

 

[casperghst42]

I fixed this by going into NETWORK PREFERENCES and changing the name of my Location to the name of my computer.

I found the fix on an Apple Forum.

Works for me, looks like a bug in Yosemite.

 

[fisherking]

This is caused by your computer seeing a ghost of itself on your network. You can make it stop by turning off Wake for Network Access in the Energy Saver pref pane. Once off, rename your machine to finish.

this worked for me (or has, so far...)

 

[AlanShutko]

Not necessarily true. Apple TVs run a Bonjour sleep proxy, which may be the cause of the problem. The ATV should not be running the proxy if there's an Airport or Time Capsule already doing it, but there's definitely a bug somewhere in the network naming, and it seems related to wake/sleep.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3774

The sleep proxy protocol allows multiple sleep proxies on the network. In fact, most recent Macs also run their own built-in sleep proxy (dependent on something in the wifi chipset, I believe). I'm pretty sure this is a Yosemite bug.

My temp fix is a keyboard maestro action on wake that resets my computer name.