Testing Websites on Different Servers: Modifying Host Files on Windows and Mac

The following article will guide you through the different methods you can modify your computers host file to test a website on a different server than it’s domain name is pointed to.

Windows

Windows with PowerToys

Microsoft PowerToys is a set of utilities for power users to tune and streamline their Windows experience for greater productivity. One of its features includes the ability to edit the host file easily.

Step-by-Step Guide for Windows:

1. Install Microsoft PowerToys:
   • Download the latest version of Microsoft PowerToys from the official GitHub repository here.
   • Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
2. Open PowerToys:
   • Once installed, open PowerToys from the Start menu or system tray.
3. Navigate to the Hosts File Editor:
   • In the PowerToys settings, find and click on the “Hosts File Editor” from the sidebar.
4. Edit the Hosts File:
   • Click the “Add” button to create a new entry.
   • Enter the IP address and the corresponding domain name you want to redirect.
   • For example, to redirect example.com to a different IP, you would enter:yamlCopy codeIP Address: 192.168.1.100 Hostname: example.com
5. Save Your Changes:
   • After entering the desired mappings, click “Save” to apply the changes.
   • Your host file is now updated, and the specified domain will resolve to the new IP address.

Modifying Host Files on Mac with Gas Mask

Gas Mask is a free and open-source application for macOS that allows users to edit their host files easily.

Step-by-Step Guide for Mac:

1. Install Gas Mask:
   • Download Gas Mask from the official website here.
   • Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the Gas Mask application to your Applications folder.
2. Open Gas Mask:
   • Launch Gas Mask from your Applications folder.
3. Create a New Hosts File Entry:
   • Click on the “File” menu and select “New” to create a new host file entry.
   • Alternatively, you can edit the existing hosts file by selecting it from the list.
4. Edit the Hosts File:
   • Add a new line for the IP address and the corresponding domain name you want to redirect.
   • For example, to redirect example.com to a different IP, you would add:Copy code192.168.1.100 example.com
5. Save Your Changes:
   • Click “Save” to apply the changes.
   • Gas Mask will prompt you for your macOS password to authorize the changes.
   • Once saved, the specified domain will resolve to the new IP address.

By following these steps, you can easily modify your host files on both Windows and Mac to test sites on different servers.