If you're setting up a new web server or another device that's going to be connected to the Internet and you want to put it through its paces before it's live, or if you're having trouble with spyware and adware networks, there's an invisible file on your Mac that can help. It's called the Hosts file, and this is how to use it.
The Domain Name System
When you type in the domain name of a web site you want to visit there's a lot happening behind the scenes. Every web site, every service, almost every device connected to the Internet has a unique numeric address that tells all the other devices where it is — its TCP/IP address. The Domain Name System (DNS) translates those numeric addresses into something a bit more recognizable and memorable to humans, like, "www.imore.com" for example.
The first time you type in a web address, your Mac pings a DNS server — typically one automatically configured for you by your Internet Service Provider — to find out the TCP/IP address of the server you're trying to connect to. Your Mac builds up a hidden cache file to remember those details later on, when you visit the same site again.
The Hosts file
The Domain Name System and its associated cache is your Mac's standard way of knowing how to get to where it's going on the Internet, but there's another file that can be very useful. It's called the Hosts file, and it can be used to override the default DNS information.
There are some practical reasons for why you'd want to use the Hosts file instead of just letting DNS do its thing. Let's say you're testing a development server you're about to deploy, and you'd like to use its domain name instead of the machine's specific IP address. Before the system's online and accessible to anyone using DNS, you can use the Host file instead: Enter the machine's IP address and when you use that domain name, your Mac will go to that device instead.
You can also use the Hosts file to block or work around spyware and ad networks by "zeroing out" their IP addresses - putting in 0.0.0.0 then the name of the domain you'd like to block.
How to edit the Hosts file
You'll need to know the IP address of the device you'd like to send your Mac to, or the domain names you're trying to keep your Mac away from. The best way to work with the Hosts file is using the Terminal application found in your Mac's Utilities folder. You can search for Terminal using Spotlight or by selecting it in Finder.
- Open a Finder window.
Select Applications from the sidebar.
- Double-click on Utilities.
Double-click Terminal.
In the Terminal window, you will need to enter a command to open the Nano text editor. You will need your administrator password, as well.
- type sudo nano /etc/hosts and then hit return.
Enter your administrator password and then hit return.
You're now in the Nano text editor. You should see something that looks like this:
If you want to add a new device or domain, move the cursor using the arrow keys and position it after the text in the window. Then, begin typing.
If you're mapping a particular IP address on your local network to a domain, you can type the IP address, hit tab, then type the domain name.
Conversely, if you'd like to make sure a web URL doesn't go to its intended site — if you're trying to keep your Mac away from certain sites, use "127.0.0.1." That'll map it back to your Mac. Even if your Mac is assigned a different IP address by its router, 127.0.0.1 defaults to the local machine thanks to the default settings in that hose file.
Once you're done, hold down the control and O keys to save the file, then control and X to exit.
One last step
Back at the command line, type sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder then type return. That will flush your Mac's DNS cache, so it doesn't get confused by any changes you've made to the Hosts file.
Don't forget you've modified the Hosts file, because at some point you may need to undo the changes you've made in order to keep your Mac working right.
Have any questions? Let me know.
Note: Originally published September 2014. Updated November 2016.
Reader comments
How to edit your Mac's Hosts file, and why you would want to
Nice to see host file is present in etc folder in Mac as well just like Windows!
127.0.0.1 is a loop back IP - just in case for those people what it is called.
Thanks, Peter for this article!
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Yep, don't forget that underneath the slick veneer of OS X's UI is a pretty robust Unix operating system. I don't know what Windows' excuse is. ;)
Lol.. In Windows , you gotta dig into C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc!! Long path :)
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For those of you who don't want to use VIM or Nano in the command line, there is a GUI for your hosts file that sits in your System Preferences. It works pretty well, aptly named "Hosts".
Apparently I can't post links here, so just google "osx hosts system pref" and it's the link on macupdate.com
Total necropost, or more accurately, a necroply. Thanks for this since I'm no CL geek and I needed to figure out how to install a less-then-legitimate copy of some old-version Adobe software on an older Mac - and doing so required editing the hosts file. Now the software is running, my buddy will be thrilled, and I even learned a few things in the process.
"Don't believe everything you think"
I'm very much a commandline/vi person. However, if one needs a graphical interface for editing the hosts file, check out GasMask.
http://www.clockwise.ee/gasmask/
One thing it can do is sync a hosts file from a URL such as http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/hosts which keeps track of bad sites.
On top of that it can combine it with another hosts file you might have for assigning other things to 127.0.01, etc
+1 for Gas Mask
http://www.clockwise.ee/gasmask/
Easier on Windows,,, at least coming from a Windows background i just need to know the sudo command better on a Mac.
Great How To! The screenshots however have a spelling mistake, ect instead of etc.
Hi Lory and Peter,
Want to thank you both for sharing such a wonderful article, I just have a doubt on GasMask, please comment and let me know if there is a solution to it.
As you must be aware that a lot of Mac users use a tool called GasMask to modify the hosts file just to avoid writing sudo nano command every time to edit the hosts file. They prefer using Gas Mask hence, and I am one of them.
But every time I modify the hosts file through GasMask, I am forced to enter the administration password for the changes to take effect, is there a way we can save the administration password in GasMask once and for all and avoid entering it every time we modify the hosts file through GasMask?