Portable WinHosts

Just like a city is spread into multiple streets, each with its own name to give individuals an address, so is the Internet organized in places to easily recognize or remember. At a core level, the Windows Hosts file is responsible for making website associacions with IP addresses, and applications like Portable WinHosts let you add new entries with minimum effort.

As the name suggests, this edition of WinHosts can also be used on the go by simply installing it on a USB Flash drive. It doesn’t need administrator privileges to run, keeps its hands off the target system registries, while uses only a few system resources, not to put pressure on any configuration.

Once you run it, half of the accommodation is already done. This is because all functions are stored in a pretty compact main window, fitted with a few buttons here and there, and two text fields so you can write down IP Address and Host Name.

If you know why you’re using this type of application, then you most likely are aware that it’s recommended to make a backup of the original Hosts file, just in case anything unexpected occurs. On the other hand, there’s a built-in button to Restore Defaults.

Simply writing down the target IP address, its corresponding host name, and pressing Add is all it takes to create a new entry. All existing ones are displayed in a disturbingly small space, and can be removed at the press of a button.

Sadly, this is about all the application has to offer, with no possibility to simply save a different instance of the Hosts file, open the containing folder, or make a backup for that matter.

Network administrators are sure to handle these kind of issues more than Portable WinHosts does. Although its simplicity make the whole process take around several seconds, it feels rough overall, with shallow set of features, no backup options, and possibility to mess things up at any moment.