HOSTS file: Where is the HOSTS file Located in Windows 10? How to edit Hosts File?

Hosts files are a text file that doesn’t comes with an extension. Hosts files are used in operating systems like windows to translate the computer names to numerical IP address. Hosts file takes precedence over DNS if it is used as a local name resolution method. You may be noticed some guys are recommending editing host files to add name and ip address of servers and websites which they frequently login or access.

Where is the Hosts file located in Windows 10 and Edit it?

In Windows operating systems, the HOSTS file is located in the below location. You can access it by just typing the below location in the windows 10 search window.

C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc

Now just open the folder and you will see file files inside that folder including SAM file. You can copy the host file to any other place like documents or desktop.

Open the Hosts file with notepad and make the required changes, finally save the file.

Now go back to C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc and copy paste the edited hosts file to the default folder. Windows will ask you for a confirmation. Choose Replace the file in the destination. Now give the administrator rights and you are done.

What is the use of Hosts file?

If you wanted to use the HOSTS file to translate a host name of a computer or server in your network called “AttendanceServer” into the IP address of 172.108.8.1, you would add same as below.

172.108.8.1 AttendanceServer

This means your computer will resolve the name of your server to the correct IP address

Why we should monitor the Hosts file?

As you are aware these days there are many attackers trying to seal our personal information via some adware’s or Trojan horses etc. If you are not using any antivirus you should better monitor changes to the HOSTS file, preventing malicious software from modifying it.