This tutorial here explains how to edit Hosts file in Windows 11 using Microsoft PowerToys. If you don’t know about PowerToys for Windows yet then you should. It has a set of useful utilities that you can use in your daily life. Now, in the recent update, Microsoft added 2 new options in it and one of those is a Hosts file editor.
On Windows 10 and Windows 11, you can now easily edit Hosts file without needing a text editor. Also, this new utility in PowerToys lets you enable or disable host entry in a click. You can add new entries and remove any of the existing ones as well with ease.
How to Edit Hosts File in Windows 11 using Microsoft PowerToys?
Getting started with the Hosts file editor of MS PowerToys is very simple. The option is available as in the latest version of the app in the sidebar. The latest version of the software which is in preview can be downloaded from here. Or, you can also get it from Google Play Store.
Now, you just go to the Hosts File Editor section and from here, you simply launch it. Click on “Launch Hosts File Editor” and then it’s interface will open up in a popup like window. You can see it in the screenshot below.
You can now see all the entries from the Hosts file. All the IP addresses and hostnames are listed there. You can just click on any entry and then it will help you edit it. You can change any host entry in this way. To add a new one, you simply click on the +New Entry button to do it.
Here in front of each entry, you will see a toggle button. This can help you individually enable or disable a host entry. This is a good option as it will prevent you edit a text file and mark an entry as comment. This hosts file editor gives you a 1 click option to do that.
In this way, you can use this simple and powerful Hosts file editor on Windows 11. It also works on Windows 10 but I didn’t try it myself. Also, we have covered a software to edit hosts file before, you can check that out as well.
Final thoughts:
As a PowerToys user, you will be delight to know that now it includes a Hosts file editor. This is a very useful feature if you work in IT or network engineer like line of work. Now, you can easily add as many entries to the Hosts file and enable /disable an entry in a click. You don’t have to actually edit the Hosts file and this PowerToys tool also helps you make sure that you don’t mess things up.
