Where is Windows 10 Host File Location and How to Edit / Format

There could be times when you’ll need to edit your host file on your PC. It could be due to a malware attack or any other reasons. But editing this can give extra control over the access to websites or network traffic.

Host files are there since ages, helping us to resolve hostnames before DNS. Not only Windows but this data varies very little in macOS or even Linux. The overall syntax is the same on all platforms.

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Almost every host file has several entries for loopback. And you can use that for basic example for the standard language.

But first, let me tell you the location of the host file and how you can edit it for your benefit.

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Location of the Host File

In Windows operating systems, the location of the host file is at the following address:

C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc

Host File Location

What Type of File is the Host File?

The Host file is a text file, but it doesn’t have a file extension. It contains lines of text with IP addresses followed by one or more hostnames or fully qualified domain names (FQDNs).

All the fields are separated by white space mainly blanks. The Host files can translate Fully Qualified Domain Names (or FQDNs) of computers, such as ones used on the Internet.

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How to Edit the Host File?

Editing the host file is quite easy. Just follow the steps below, and it should be okay.

Step-1: Firstly, you have to go to the Start menu. And then type Notepad in the search field (you’ll be using Notepad for editing the file). After that right-click Notepad and select Run as administrator. You need to have administrative access for editing this file.

Host File Location and How to Edit 2

Step-2: After opening Notepad, open the following file: C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts

How to Edit Hosts File 3

Step-3: Now you can make the necessary changes you want.

Host File Location and How to Edit 4

Step-4: After you are all done, you need to save the file. For that just click File and then Save as. But there is a tiny problem here. The file cannot be modified directly. So, you need to save it to any other location and name it hosts.

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Step-5: Now you just have to simply copy or cut the file and paste it at the correct location, C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc

Step-6: After you paste it, Windows will ask for Administrator permissions. Click Continue.

How to Edit Hosts File in Windows 6

Important Note: There could be some problem regarding modifying the file. The Antivirus software can prevent you from modifying the file or not allow you to edit the file at all. So, you need to disable the Antivirus software temporarily or just exclude the host file from protection.

Do this only if you face any issues modifying the file.

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Third-Party Editor – HostsMan

Though I would suggest you edit the file manually, you can also use third-party tools like HostsMan to edit it for you.

HostsMan is a one of a kind tool that will let you add, remove, edit entries in the Host file. It will also help you in adding third-party hosts list that can contribute to blocking viruses.

It has a host file updater and an editor. So that, you can scan the files for any errors or duplicates or some malware. One thing that I liked was that it has a backup manager. So, you can back up the host files in case of an emergency.

HostsMan also lets you Flush DNS cache, open Hosts with a text editor, count the number of hosts, find duplicates, replace IP, scan hosts for malicious entries, rearrange hosts, manage DNS Client Service and more.

In simple words, it’s an all in one tool. So you can use it to modify the file in any way you want.

There is also a similar tool such as SysMate Hosts File Manager. You can also check out this one.

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Modifying the file can be easy or even hard according to you. But the steps I gave here are quite easy to follow. So, you shouldn’t have a problem.

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