Windows7 will not let me edit the hosts file and save it

Question

Windows7 will not let me edit the hosts file and save it. What must I do in order to save the edited host file?

Answer 1

It's a built-in safety feature.  There is an easy workaround.  ClickStart ->All Programs -> Accessories.  Right-clickNotepad, and then click Run as administrator.  If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or clickAllow or Yes.

Open the Hosts file (from the notepad you just opened) , make your changes, and then click File ->Save. 

Barbara

Answer 2

You need to either take ownership of the file (Right click the hosts file, Security tab, and give yourself full rights), or open Notepad as Administrator and open, edit and save your hosts file from there. It's designed that way so some rogue malware can't come in and change that.

Answer 3

thanx alot

Answer 4

Thanks a lot for your help. It worked.

Answer 5

For those who have windows 10 or aren't able to save properly, where the "Save As" keeps popping up instead of "Save," here is how I was able to get it to work.

• Drag the "hosts" file to the desktop (Click accept when prompted)
• Look for Notepad and run as admin
• Open the "hosts" file
• Make the changes to the file you wish
• Click File >Save  (If this works great, if not proceed to the next step)

Here is the trick to get around it only letting you do "Save As"

• Select "All Files" instead of "txt file"
• Change the name as "host." (COPY EXACTLY including the period and the missing "s")
• After you save drag it back to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\
• After you click accept, now you can right click and rename
• Done