Modify your hosts file Print

Modifying your hosts file enables you to override the domain name system (DNS) for a domain on a specific machine. This is useful when you want to test your site prior to going live with your new website and for other DNS-related reasons.

Modifying your hosts file causes your local machine to look directly at the Internet Protocol (IP) address that you specify.

Modifying the hosts file involves adding one or two entries to it. Each entry contains the IP address to which you want the site to resolve and a version of the Internet address. For example, add the following two entries points, www.domain.com and domain.com like so:

209.8.232.80 www.domain.com
209.8.232.80 domain.com

Below are instructions for locating and editing the hosts file on the following operating systems:

• Microsoft® Windows® 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista™
• Microsoft Windows NT™, Windows 2000, and Windows XP
• Linux®
• MacOS® X versions 10.0 through 10.1.5
• MacOS X versions 10.6 through 10.12

After you add the domain information and save the file, your system begins to resolve to the IP address that you specified. When testing is complete, remove these entries from your host file.

Windows

If you are using a Microsoft operating system like Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista you must run Microsoft Notepad as an administrator.

Windows 10 and Windows 8

Use the following instructions if you’re running Windows 10 or Windows 8:

1. Press the Windows key.
2. Type Notepad in the search field.
3. In the search results, right-click Notepad and select Run as administrator.

4. From Notepad, open the following file:

   c:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts

5. Make the necessary changes to the file.
6. Select File > Save to save your changes.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista

Use the following instructions if you’re running Windows 7 or Windows Vista:

1. Select Start > All Programs > Accessories.

2. Right-click Notepad and select Run as administrator.

   The Windows needs your permission UAC window appears.

3. Click Continue to grant permission.

   Notepad opens.

4. In Notepad, select File > Open.

5. In the File name field, enter the following path:

   C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts

6. Select Open.
7. Make the necessary changes to the file.
8. Select File > Save to save your changes.

Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP

Use the following instructions if you’re running Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP:

1. Select Start > All Programs > Accessories > Notepad.
2. Select File > Open.
3. In the File name field, enter C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts.
4. Select Open.
5. Make the necessary changes to the file.
6. Select File > Save to save your changes.

Linux

Use the following instructions if you’re running Linux:

1. Open a Terminal window.

2. Enter the following command to open the hosts file in a text editor:

   sudo nano /etc/hosts
   

3. Enter your domain user password.
4. Make the necessary changes to the file.
5. Press Control-X.
6. When you are asked if you want to save your changes, enter y.

MacOS X versions 10.0 through 10.12

This section provides instructions for modifying your hosts file if you are running MacOS X 10.0 through 10.12.

MacOS X 10.0 through 10.1.5

Use the following instructions if you’re running MacOS X 10.0 through 10.1.5:

1. Open /Applications/Utilities/NetInfo Manager.
2. To enable editing of the Network Information database (NetInfo), click the padlock icon in the lower-left corner of the window.
3. Enter your domain user password and select OK.

4. In the second column of the browser view, select the node named machines.

5. In the third column, select the entry named localhost.

6. From the Edit menu, select Duplicate.

   A confirmation alert appears.

7. Click Duplicate.

   A new entry named localhost copy appears and its properties are displayed below the browser view.

8. Double-click the value of the ip_address property and enter the IP address of the other computer.
9. Double-click the value of the name property and enter the host name that you want use for the other computer.
10. Click the serves property and select Delete from the Edit menu.

11. From the File menu, select Save.

    A confirmation alert appears.

12. Click Update this copy.
13. Repeat steps 6 through 12 for each additional host entry that you want to add.

14. From the NetInfo Manager menu, select Quit.

    You do not need to restart the computer.

MacOS X 10.6 through 10.12

Use the following instructions if you’re running MacOS X 10.6 through 10.12:

1. On your computer, select Applications > Utilities > Terminal to open a Terminal window.

2. Enter the following command in the Terminal window to open the hosts file:

   sudo nano /private/etc/hosts
   

3. When you are prompted, enter your domain user password.

4. Edit the hosts file.

   The file contains comments (lines that begin with the # symbol) and some default host name mappings (for example, 127.0.0.1 – local host). Add your new mappings after the default mappings.

5. To save the hosts file, press Control+X.
6. When you are asked if you want to save your changes, enter y.

7. To force your changes to take effect, flush the DNS cache by entering the following command:

    dscacheutil -flushcache