How to edit your hosts file

How to edit your hosts file

Your hosts file lets your computer use a specific IP address for a domain, ignoring public DNS. It's useful for testing a site on our server before changing your nameservers.

Add a line like this (using your server's IP, shown in cPanel's General Information panel):

185.12.34.56 yourdomain.co.uk www.yourdomain.co.uk

Windows

  1. Search for Notepad, right-click it and choose Run as administrator.
  2. Open C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts (set the file type to All files).
  3. Add your line at the bottom and save.

macOS and Linux

sudo nano /etc/hosts

Add your line, press Ctrl+O to save and Ctrl+X to exit.

Flush your DNS cache afterwards. Remember to remove the line when you've finished testing, or you'll keep seeing the server you pointed to even after DNS changes.

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