A hosts file is a file that maps domain names to IP addresses. This article explains how to edit the hosts file on a Mac.
Editing hosts file on Mac
Follow the steps below to edit the hosts file on Mac:
- Navigate to Applications, then the Utilities folder and then click on the Terminal app to open the Terminal application. Alternatively, type Terminal in the Spotlight to open the Terminal application
- To open the hosts file for editing, copy either one of the command below and paste in the terminal window and press Enter:
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sudo nano /private/etc/hosts
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sudo nano /etc/hosts -- (on newer MacOS)
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Enter the password to edit the host file. (Note: The cursor will not move when the password is typed)
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Move the cursor to the bottom of the file and enter the server IP and domain name
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SERVER_IP_ADDRESS domain.com/ SERVER_IP_ADDRESS www.domain.com
There must be a space between IP and domain name
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Save the changes by pressing control-o on your keyboard then RETURN to accept the filename. Exit the editor by pressing control-x.