Buzz
The Host file is a file used in operating systems to store the IP information of servers and domain names. In a previous article, we introduced how to open the Host file on operating systems like Windows XP/7/8/8.1. With the improvements in Windows 10, there are additional methods for opening the Host file on Windows 10.
Guide to opening and editing the host file on Windows 10
How to Open the Host File on Windows 10
Method 1: Opening the Host File on Windows 10 from This PC
Step 1: Double-click on the icon for This PC and choose the C drive.
Step 2: Within the C drive, click on the Windows directory.
Step 3: In the Windows
Step 4: The System 32 file is displayed; click on the folder named driver
Step 5: Within the driver folder, find and click on the etc directory. This is where the host file is located
Step 6: To open the Host file, right-click on the file and choose Open With. A window will display various applications for opening the file. Since this is a text file, choose to open it with Notepad (Alternatively, you can also open it with MS Word or Wordpad)
Method 2: Accessing the Host file on Windows 10 via Run Command
In this approach, knowing the path to the Host file is crucial: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc. To streamline the process, utilize the Run dialog. Initiate it by pressing the Windows + R key combination.
The Run window emerges; input the path: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc, then press Enter.
After hitting Enter, the window for the etc folder, containing the Host file, will open. Here, follow the previously mentioned instructions to open the Host file.
Method 3: Opening the Host file using SearchWindows
Similar to the Run dialog method, open the Host file on Windows 10 by entering the path: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc in Search Windows.
Click on the Search Windows icon (magnifying glass) on the Taskbar, or press the Windows + S key combination.
The Search Windows window appears; input the path: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc. Now, the etc folder with the corresponding path will be displayed. Simply click to open the etc folder; the steps to open the Host file are the same as mentioned above.
With these three methods, you can easily open the Host file on Windows 10. From here, you can customize the Host file for various work purposes. However, editing the host file sometimes encounters challenges, such as the inability to save the file after editing. If you face this issue, refer to the troubleshooting article on fixing Host file not saving that Mytour shared earlier.
- Explore more: How to edit hosts file on Windows 11
