Edit C:/windows/system32/drivers/etc/hosts in Windows 10

Question

I tried to edit the file C:/windows/system32/drivers/etc/hosts in Windows 10 using a (the only one created) administrative user account ("john") but not able to save the file. I note from various websites that although the Administrators group has Modify permission of the folder C:/windows/system32/drivers/etc, this only applies to the disabled built-in "administrator" account (even though john is in the Administrators group, as shown in lusrmgr.msc). So I added john to the permission. I also found that the owner of the folder is TrustedInstaller, so I changed it to john. I checked that the effective permissions of john for the folder and the hosts file do include read/write/modify. However when I try to save the hosts file, Windows still say access is denied. Please help. Thanks.

Open Notepad elevated, then open and edit the hosts file. – joeqwerty Aug 10 '22 at 22:12 — joeqwerty, Aug 10 '22 at 22:12

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 10 '22 at 14:29

3

The simplest way to work with hosts file is to run your editor as Administrator and then open hosts file for edit.

answered Aug 10 '22 at 14:29

Romeo Ninov

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This is correct - it's a UAC issue. – mfinni Aug 10 '22 at 17:00

Edit C:/windows/system32/drivers/etc/hosts in Windows 10

1 Answers1