If you want to edit your hosts file in Windows 7, you might face the error “access denied”. This is very normal, because it’s a protected system file. A great freeware utility called HostsMan allows you to edit hosts file in Windows 7 through a comfortable editor.

Edit Hosts file via App/GUI

1. Download HostsMan (Hosts File Editor)

HostsMan includes a handy editor for editing the Windows hosts file.

2. After installing HostsMan start the tool and click on “Tools” and then on “HostsMan Editor”, that’s the editor you can use to modify your hosts file in Windows XP, Vista, 7.

3. As host name enter the domain you want to assign to a certain IP, e.g. localhost for 127.0.0.1 or add the google DNS domain and their IP. There are loads of hostnames you could add here.

Other Features

The shortcut CTRL + R allows you to see if the the hostnames resolve properly, handy!

But HostsMan can do much more, it can not only help you to edit your hosts in Windows 7, it can also flush your DNS cache, scan your hosts file for certain entries, open your hosts file via CMD, Explorer or Notepad, count your hosts name, optimize your hosts file or exclude items from it. So, it’s definitely a very cool tool to tweak your hosts file.

Windows 7 Hosts File Location

If you want to edit your hosts file manually, you need to know the location:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

Hosts File Location

Windows 7 Hosts File: Access Denied

Should you receive the error access denied and you don’t want to use HostsMan to edit it via a GUI, you should read this tutorial that will show you how to edit the hosts file properly:

Edit Hosts File: Access Denied

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