{"id":2207,"date":"2021-06-25T10:57:55","date_gmt":"2021-06-25T07:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/kb\/?p=2207"},"modified":"2022-05-11T16:56:18","modified_gmt":"2022-05-11T13:56:18","slug":"how-do-i-change-my-hosts-file","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/kb\/how-do-i-change-my-hosts-file\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do I Change My Hosts File?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The hosts file is a system file that helps<\/span> map hostnames to their IP addresses<\/b>. It lets people connect to websites with easy-to-remember domain names instead of their IP addresses. The file resolves domain names locally without querying <\/span>DNS nameservers<\/b><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It lets users<\/span> set IP addresses for domains on their computers for a faster name resolution<\/b>. You can also block ads, malicious websites, and tracking sites in the hosts files to prevent your computer from connecting to them. The file also <\/span>lets users preview or test their website before pointing it to a new server.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can edit entries in your host file in a couple of steps, and here\u2019s how.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Windows 8 and 10<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can find your system\u2019s hosts file on <\/span>Notepad<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you use a Windows computer, take these steps to open the file and make your changes:<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n