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Edit Hosts file in Windows 10

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What is the hosts file?
How can I edit the hosts file?
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
quick start Guide

Want to find out more about the hosts file in Windows? Here you will find the most important information..

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In the depths of the important Windows files is the "hosts file". Even if it has lost its importance in the meantime, it doesn't hurt to take a look at it. We have put together a few important details for you.

What is the hosts file?

The hosts file is responsible for ensuring that a host name is assigned to each IP address. Every website is also conditionally linked to an IP address. The IP address belongs to the server on which the website is running. This server is also known as the host. The IP addresses that you call up via the websites you have visited are stored in the hosts file. The host name provided then indicates which IP address belongs to which server or server name.

Due to the constant growth of the Internet, this process was transferred to DNS servers some time ago. Even if the hosts file was even more important in the past, it is still important today as a local configuration file. For example, it can be used as a blacklist. Unpleasant websites, but also advertising servers, tracking pages and virus launchers are entered in the list. If the browser tries to access one of these entries, the website will be blocked instead.

How can I edit the hosts file?

The hosts file can be edited directly using a text editor. But there are also specific editors for this file type. Many are available for free. However, certain anti-virus programs can cause problems. The editor is completely harmless. The anti-virus system only recognizes that an executable program wants to access an important file in the heart of Windows and then classifies this as potentially dangerous. So if you only want to make small changes, editing with the editor under Windows is sufficient. Within the file you will always find a few example lines and the entry for "localhost". All entries are structured according to the following syntax:

192.168.0.XX Beispielseite.com #Name der Beispielseite

Anything after the # symbol is not relevant to your computer. It is only used so that you can make notes for the individual entries yourself. Here you can now insert websites as you wish.

Now we are going to show you how to open and edit the file. Follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the brief instructions ..

1st step:

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Under Windows 10 you will find the file in the path " % windir% \ system32 \ drivers \ etc ". Simply copy the path you just specified into the Explorer bar above, without quotation marks.

2nd step:

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There are several files in this folder. You need to right click on hosts . Then select " Open With " and then the " Editor ". You can only open the file if you have the necessary admin rights. You usually have this on a private computer - rarely on a company computer. However, you should not change anything in the Windows files there.

3rd step:

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You can now edit the file. Finally, don't forget to click on " Save " under " File " .

quick start Guide

  1. Enter the path " % windir% \ system32 \ drivers \ etc " in Windows Explorer .
  2. Right-click on the " hosts " file and select the editor via " Open with ".
  3. Now you can edit the file as you like.

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