--- title: 'How to edit the Hosts file on Windows, MacOS or Linux' url: 'https://www.peaknetworks.com/about-us/blog/how-to-edit-the-hosts-file' markdown: 'https://www.peaknetworks.com/about-us/blog/how-to-edit-the-hosts-file.md' lang: en date: '2022-08-01' description: 'What is the Hosts file? The hosts file is a text file that associates IP addresses with domains. It tells the system with which IP address a domain can be found. If there is an entry of a domain in the Hosts file, it has priority over the global DNS (Domain Naming Service), but is only visible loca…' --- # How to edit the Hosts file on Windows, MacOS or Linux 1659366540 ## What is the Hosts file? The hosts file is a text file that associates IP addresses with domains. It tells the system with which IP address a domain can be found. If there is an entry of a domain in the Hosts file, it has priority over the global DNS (Domain Naming Service), but is only visible locally to your PC. ## Why do I need this file? Such an entry in the hosts file allows you to test a hosting with associated domain name without it being visible to other visitors. Another example is when a hosting exists, but no associated domain is available yet. Another common reason is to test hosting during a migration. Once the tests on the new hosting are satisfactory, the entry in the hosts file can be removed - and set globally valid in DNS. ## Edit Hosts File for Windows 1. press the key on your keyboard and type "notepad". Then click on the editor with the right mouse button and click on "**Run as administrator**" on the left. A window should now pop up, click "Ok" there. ![](https://www.peaknetworks.com/user/pages/10.about-us/06.blog/04.how-to-edit-the-hosts-file/1.webp) 2. after you have opened the editor, click on "File" in the top left menu and then on "Open...". ![](https://www.peaknetworks.com/user/pages/10.about-us/06.blog/04.how-to-edit-the-hosts-file/2.webp) 3. navigate to "**C:\\Windows\\System32\\driver\\etc**" and make sure that "All files (.)" is selected in the bottom left corner ![](https://www.peaknetworks.com/user/pages/10.about-us/06.blog/04.how-to-edit-the-hosts-file/3.webp) 4. now you have the file open and can add your host entry. In this case the IP "127.0.0.1" now points to the domain "[www.meine-domain.net](http://www.meine-domain.net)". ![](https://www.peaknetworks.com/user/pages/10.about-us/06.blog/04.how-to-edit-the-hosts-file/4.webp) 5. Once you have finished editing, click on "File" in the upper left corner and then on "Save". After that you can close the window with the icon ![](https://www.peaknetworks.com/user/pages/10.about-us/06.blog/04.how-to-edit-the-hosts-file/5.webp) Wonderful, you did it! --- ## Edit Hosts file for macOS 1. open the "Finder" with the keyboard combination: ⌘+spacebar and search for "terminal". Then press the Enter key.![](https://www.peaknetworks.com/user/pages/10.about-us/06.blog/04.how-to-edit-the-hosts-file/1-1.webp) 2. now a window should open. In this window type: "sudo nano /etc/hosts" and then press Enter. You will then be prompted to enter your password. ![](https://www.peaknetworks.com/user/pages/10.about-us/06.blog/04.how-to-edit-the-hosts-file/2-1.webp) 3. you are now in the text editor. navigate down with the arrow keys and enter your desired hosts entry. In this case, the IP "127.0.0.1" now points to the domain "[www.meine-domain.net](http://www.meine-domain.net)". After you have added the entry, press the keyboard combination: "Ctrl + X". ![](https://www.peaknetworks.com/user/pages/10.about-us/06.blog/04.how-to-edit-the-hosts-file/3-1.webp) 4. Now you will be asked if you want to save the file. Press the "y" key to do so. ![](https://www.peaknetworks.com/user/pages/10.about-us/06.blog/04.how-to-edit-the-hosts-file/4-1.webp) 5. Last but not least, you will be asked where you want to save the file. Simply press the Enter key here. ![](https://www.peaknetworks.com/user/pages/10.about-us/06.blog/04.how-to-edit-the-hosts-file/5-1.webp) Now you have successfully added the entry. You can now close the window. --- ## Edit hosts file for Linux 1. open your desired terminal in your Linux distribution and type "sudo nano /etc/hosts". Then press Enter and type your user's password. ![](https://www.peaknetworks.com/user/pages/10.about-us/06.blog/04.how-to-edit-the-hosts-file/1-2.webp) 2. you are now in the text editor. navigate down with the arrow keys and enter your desired hosts entry. In this case, the IP "127.0.0.1" now points to the domain "[www.meine-domain.net](http://www.meine-domain.net)". After you have added the entry, press the keyboard combination: "Ctrl + X". ![](https://www.peaknetworks.com/user/pages/10.about-us/06.blog/04.how-to-edit-the-hosts-file/2-2.webp) 3. Now you will be asked if you want to save the file. Press the "y" key to do so. ![](https://www.peaknetworks.com/user/pages/10.about-us/06.blog/04.how-to-edit-the-hosts-file/3-2.webp) 4. Last but not least, you will be asked where you want to save the file. Simply press the Enter key here. ![](https://www.peaknetworks.com/user/pages/10.about-us/06.blog/04.how-to-edit-the-hosts-file/4-2.webp) Now you have successfully added the entry. You can now close the terminal. [back](#) --- ## Navigation - Parent: [peaknetworks Blog](https://www.peaknetworks.com/about-us/blog.md) - Previous: [Lets Encrypt, SSL certificates and encryption for everyone](https://www.peaknetworks.com/about-us/blog/lets-encrypt-ssl-certificates.md) - Next: [WordPress tutorial for beginners: step by step to your own website](https://www.peaknetworks.com/about-us/blog/wordpress-tutorial-for-beginners.md)