How to Edit Host File? [Android/iPhone/iOS]

How to Edit Host File in Android iPhone/iOS? The computer file hosts is an operating system file that maps hostnames to IP addresses. It is a plain text file. Originally a file named HOSTS.TXT was manually maintained and made available via file sharing by Stanford Research Institute for the ARPANET membership, containing the hostnames and address of hosts as contributed for inclusion by member organizations. The Domain Name System, first described in 1983 and implemented in 1984, automated the publication process and provided instantaneous and dynamic hostname resolution in the rapidly growing network. In modern operating systems, the hosts file remains an alternative name resolution mechanism, configurable often as part of facilities such as the Name Service Switch as either the primary method or as a fallback method.

Edit Host File in Android using Host Editor [Root]

This is the most simplest method to edit Host file in Android devices, however this method require root access because Host file located in the secure section of the OS and restricted to general users. There are plenty of application available on Google Play just to edit Host file. Here I have listed few applications with good users rating. You can use any of the below application to edit Host file easily.

Prerequisite

• A Rooted Android Device (How to Root?)
• Back up device for Safety (Read Full System Backup Guide)

List of Android Apps to Edit Hosts File

Edit Host File in Android using ES File Manager [Root]

ES File Explorer (File Manager) helps you handle all your files whether they are stored in your device’s memory, microSD card, local area network, and cloud storage accounts.By default, ES File Explorer (File Manager) allows you to copy, move, rename, delete or share files to and from any of your storages. It also lets you browse and access your files by category. Make sure that your Android device have Root acsess to edit Host File with ES File Explorer (File Manager).

Prerequisites

• A Rooted Android Device (How to Root?)
• ES File Manager
• Turbo Editor
• Back up device for Safety (Read Full System Backup Guide)

How to Edit Host File Android?

1. Open ES File Manager and Navigate to /system/etc.

2. Locate and long-press the hosts file.

3. Tap on  More and Select Properties to change in the Permissions section.

4. Tap on Change button for permissions.

5. Now, set the permission according to below image. (If already these permissions are enabled then skip to step 8)

7. Again, open up ES File Manager and Navigate to /system/etc.

8. Locate and long-press the hosts file.

9. Tap on  More and Select Open as.

10. Select Text and open with Turbo Editor.

11. Make necessary changes in the Hosts file and Save the file.

Edit Host File in Android using ADB [No Root]

ndroid Debug Bridge (ADB) is a versatile command-line tool that lets you communicate with a device (an emulator or a connected Android device). The adb command facilitates a variety of device actions, such as installing and debugging apps, and it provides access to a Unix shell that you can use to run a variety of commands on a device.

Prerequisities

• Android Device for sure
• Any Computer System
• USB Cable
• Install ADB Drivers
• Back up device for Safety (Read Full System Backup Guide)

Download

You need to download Cygwin and ADB Drivers to Edit Host File in your Android device. Hit the below link to download it.

How to Edit Host File Android without Root?

1. Connect the phone to the computer via USB.

2. Open up Terminal or Windows PowerShell.

3. Enter the following below command carefully.

adb devices

4. Now, download Host file from Android device to your system with below command.

adb pull /system/etc/hosts C:\hosts

5. Open up Notepad with Administrator rights and click on File > Open. Navigate to C:\ Drive.

6. Open Hosts File and make necessary changes in it.

7. To push Hosts File back to Android device, enter below command.

adb push C:\hosts /system/etc/

8. That’s it.

Edit Host File in iOS, iPhone or iPad

Well, not tested by me, but it is a working method to edit Hosts file in iOS device. Just follow the below guide step to step.

Prerequisities

• A Jailbroken iOS device (How to Jailbreak)
• Install OpenSSH via Cydia in your iOS device
• Any SFTP client, such as FileZilla

How to Edit Host File in iOS, iPhone or iPad?

1. Connect your device to computer and open up SFTP Client.

2. Enter following below details into SFTP Client.

• Address: [use your phone’s IP address or hostname]
• Username: root
• Password: alpine

3. Locate in /etc/hosts.

4. Pull it to your system and make a copy as a Backup.

5. Make necessary changes in Hosts file.

6. After finish editing, upload it back with overwriting the exsiting hosts file.

Please Like, Share and Comment your valuable thoughts  🙂 

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