Read this first. In the current build, OpenFrame shows a friendly display name for each device that's distinct from its raw hostname, but it's derived from what the device reports about itself — there isn't a separate "set a custom nickname" field in the console yet. If you need your own labels (location, user, role), Device Tags are the tool for that today. This guide explains how device naming works now and the practical way to get custom labels. We'll update it if a manual rename field ships.
How device names work
OpenFrame tracks two names for every machine, and it helps to know the difference:
- Display name — the friendly name shown at the top of the device's detail page, e.g. "Pavlo's MacBook Pro." This comes from the device's own reported name (the computer name the OS knows it by).
- Hostname — the technical network name, e.g. "Pavlos-MacBook-Pro.local," shown in the device detail under Hostname and in the Devices list.
So a Mac whose macOS computer name is "Pavlo's MacBook Pro" shows that as its display name, while its .local hostname is what you'll see in network contexts. They're related but not identical.
Because the display name follows what the device reports, the cleanest way to control it is to set a sensible computer name on the device itself (in macOS: System Settings → General → About → Name; in Windows: rename the PC) before or shortly after enrollment. The change flows through as the device checks in.
Finding a device by name
However a device is named, you don't have to scroll:
- Go to Devices.
- Type into Search for Devices — it matches on the device name, so a partial string is enough.
- Switch between the list and grid (card) views with the toggle at the top right, whichever is easier to scan.
Getting custom labels today: use Device Tags
If what you actually want is to label machines your way — by site, by client contact, by role — that's exactly what tags are for, and they're more powerful than a single nickname field because you can filter the whole fleet by them.
Examples:
Purpose: reception-pcType: serverSite: london-office
You can attach these at enrollment (on the Add Device screen) or filter by them anytime with the Device Tags filter on the Devices list. Full walkthrough: Organize Devices with Device Tags.
Rule of thumb: if you'd want to find all devices sharing a label, that's a tag, not a name. Names identify one machine; tags group many.
Quick checklist
- Understand the difference between the friendly display name and the hostname
- Set a clear computer name on the device itself if you want a tidier display name
- Use Search for Devices to find machines by name
- Use Device Tags for custom labels you want to filter on
- Flag to your OpenFrame contact if a manual in-console nickname field would help your workflow
What's next
Naming sorted, lean into the real organizing tool: Organize Devices with Device Tags. After that, Phase 2 is complete and you're ready for Phase 3 — Platform Navigation.
Based on OpenFrame v0.9.19. Device naming behavior is evolving — re-check the console before treating the "no manual nickname field" note as permanent.
