Micro Hosts Editor

While most of internet-based services are now handled by the Domain Name System, its precursor, known as a hosts file, was the main link between complex IP addresses and easy-to-memorize hostnames. Despite its increasingly reduced usage rate, Windows’ hosts file may still be useful for quickly blocking unwanted websites, redirecting them or creating local domains for web server testing purposes, all of which are made easier through a purpose-built app such as Micro Hosts Editor.

The hosts file itself can be found within the “Drivers” folder of Windows’ “System32” directory, and while no particular program is set to open it by default, this also prompts users to pick their preferred text processor for editing it. As such, while the operating system’s built-in Notepad can suffice for adding a couple of domains at an infrequent rate, having to tackle it on the daily can feel uncomfortable at times, which is where the app at hand comes into play.

Since the utility needs to alter a core system component, it is important for users to note that running it as administrator is a must if they wish to do more than just view the hosts file. One advantage that Micro Hosts Editor has over the quintessential Notepad is that users do not have to manually navigate to the file’s path, given the fact that the program automatically opens it when initialized.

Users are greeted to a straightforward, tabular layout that lets them easily paste addresses and domains into their dedicated columns, with the added benefit of sorting them in alphabetical order to find items in longer lists. Those with keyboard-focused workflows can reload the file from disk once the progress is saved to ensure the changes were picked by the operating system using the F5 hotkey, while holding the Control key, clicking on the preferred rows and then combining the Shift and Delete shortcut lets you eliminate multiple domains at once.

Whether you need to change the address of one of your local file servers, or you simply wish to block malware-filled websites from redirecting you while browsing a webpage filled with intrusive advertisements, Micro Hosts Editor may be the right tool for the job, given its fast-paced interaction pattern that makes adding addresses to your hosts file a breeze.