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# How to find and edit host files on Windows?

**The Hosts file is an essential tool to change the way your computer sees a particular website. **

**While most users will never need to edit their hosts file, a web developer or user may need to edit the file to view a new site under development. **

**In order for your computer to display your test site rather than the live site, you must add the test site IP address and domain name to the Hosts file.**

**As long as this information is contained in your Hosts file, your browser will redirect the request to display the site to the specified IP address. **

**This allows us to test the functionality without changing the DNS of our production site. **

**### To edit the file, follow the steps below. **

Look for the tool **Notepad** or **Notepad ++** in the **Start** menu. 

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/52421894134f0400/winhostchange1_ddxjuf.jpg)

Right-click the tool to access the options menu. Select **Run as administrator**.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/52421894134f0400/winhostchange2_1g6l6jz.jpg)

Once in Notepad, click “Open” in “File”.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/52421894134f0400/winhostchange3_x9ffpr.jpg)

Open the «host» file in Windows Explorer via the path: C: Windows System32 drivers etc hosts.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/52421894134f0400/winhostchange4_17rz969.jpg)

You can now edit the host file.

On a new line, enter the IP address of the test server and the domain name you want to use for that IP address (for example: '123.123.123.123 VOTREDOMAINE.FR`. Of course: **123.123.123.123** will have to be replaced by the IP address of the server and **votredomaine.fr** will have to be replaced by your own domain name). 

In addition, if your site was using the **www.** , you will also need to put the following line: `123.123.123.123 WWW.VOTREDOMAINE. This saves the changes made to the file.


![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/52421894134f0400/winhsotingdns5_128fkpt.jpg)