I was just wondering, with some of the extended trial versions of plugins and the like needing certain hosts blocks to be put in place, is there any way to easily turn the blocks on and off without having to rename/move the modified hosts file every time?

For example, if adding something like MeldaProduction.com or SonicAcademy.com websites to the hosts, is there an easy one-click way to turn off the block so I can access these websites without having to go in and modify/rename/move the hosts file and then modify/move back once I'm done on the website?

 

I love Bluelife Hosts Editor :
https://www.sordum.org/8266/bluelifehosts-editor-v1-5/
With it one can simply uncheck the site and apply to access it, then check it again when done.

Also, If you like the way my Hosts file is organized, here is a copy:

Spoiler

# Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names.
# Each entry should be kept on an individual line.
# The IP address should be placed in the first column followed by at least one space, and then the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one space.
# Comments may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
# For example:
# localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
# 0.0.0.0 localhost
# ::1 localhost

# # Begin Main Listing # #
172.67.174.87 audioz.download
0.0.0.0 www.accentize.com # Accentize
0.0.0.0 wyday.com # Accusonus
0.0.0.0 account.acronis.com # Acronis
0.0.0.0 activation.acronis.com # Acronis
0.0.0.0 download.acronis.com # Acronis
0.0.0.0 gateway.acronis.com # Acronis
0.0.0.0 liveupdate.acronis.com # Acronis
0.0.0.0 orders.acronis.com # Acronis
0.0.0.0 ns1.acronis.com # Acronis
0.0.0.0 ns2.acronis.com # Acronis
0.0.0.0 ns3.acronis.com # Acronis
0.0.0.0 web-api-tih.acronis.com # Acronis
0.0.0.0 activate.adobe.com # Adobe
0.0.0.0 activate.bitsum.com # Adobe
0.0.0.0 assets.adobedtm.com # Adobe
0.0.0.0 cc-api-data.adobe.io # Adobe
0.0.0.0 genuine.adobe.com # Adobe
0.0.0.0 hlrcv.stage.adobe.com # Adobe
0.0.0.0 ic.adobe.io # Adobe
0.0.0.0 lm.licenses.adobe.com # Adobe
0.0.0.0 lmlicenses.wip4.adobe.com # Adobe
0.0.0.0 na1r.services.adobe.com # Adobe
0.0.0.0 practivate.adobe.com # Adobe
0.0.0.0 prod.adobegenuine.com # Adobe
0.0.0.0 alfaebooks.com # Alfa ebooks
0.0.0.0 www.wyday.com # Aurora DSP
0.0.0.0 303clones.com # AudioRealism
0.0.0.0 audiorealism.se # AudioRealism
0.0.0.0 bandicam.com # Bandicam
0.0.0.0 bandisoft.com # Bandicam
0.0.0.0 cert.bandicam.com # Bandicam
0.0.0.0 ssl.bandisoft.com # Bandicam
0.0.0.0 www.bandicam.com # Bandicam
0.0.0.0 www.bandisoft.com # Bandicam
0.0.0.0 foodstamps.blacksaltaudio.com # Black Salt Audio
0.0.0.0 www.bleass.com # BLEASS
0.0.0.0 bogrendigital.com # Bogren Digital
0.0.0.0 services.celemony.com # Celemony
0.0.0.1 software.crumar.it # Crumar
0.0.0.1 cap.cyberlink.com # Cyberlink
0.0.0.1 activation.cyberlink.com # Cyberlink
0.0.0.0 userarea.d16.pl # D16
0.0.0.0 ddmf.eu # DDMF
0.0.0.0 virtualaudiostream.com # DDMF
0.0.0.0 account.deltasoundlabs.com # Delta Sound Labs
0.0.0.0 wyday.com # DJ Swivel, Accusonus
0.0.0.0 activation.easeus.com # EaseUS
0.0.0.0 api.easeus.com # EaseUS
0.0.0.0 buy.easeus.com # EaseUS
0.0.0.0 easeus.com # EaseUS
0.0.0.0 easeus.com.cn # EaseUS
0.0.0.0 easeusinfo.us-east-1.log.aliyuncs.com # EaseUS
0.0.0.0 order.easeus.com # EaseUS
0.0.0.0 track.easeus.com # EaseUS
0.0.0.0 track.easeus.com.cn # EaseUS
0.0.0.0 uompro.easeus.com # EaseUS
0.0.0.0 update.easeus.com # EaseUS
0.0.0.0 v2api-uoss.easeus.com # EaseUS
0.0.0.0 www.easeus.com # EaseUS
0.0.0.0 www.easeus.com.cn # EaseUS
0.0.0.0 api.keyzy.io # Evabeat
0.0.0.0 www.fabfilter.com # FabFilter
0.0.0.0 focusrite.count.ly # Focusrite
0.0.0.0 plugins.futurephonic.co.uk # Futurephonic
0.0.0.0 aaa100cd68bbe03f3.awsglobalaccelerator.com # globalaccelerator.com
0.0.0.0 expatriate.goodhertz.com # Goodhertz
0.0.0.0 goodhertz.com # Goodhertz
0.0.0.0 www.ikstore.com # IK Multimedia
0.0.0.0 txc.ikmultimedia.com # IK Multimedia
0.0.0.0 support.image-line.com # Image-Line
0.0.0.0 www.image-line.com # Image-Line
0.0.0.0 juce.com # Juce
0.0.0.0 www.juce.com # Juce
0.0.0.0 www.lennardigital.com # Lennar Digital
0.0.0.0 rhea.exsilia.net # Lennar Digital
0.0.0.0 line6.com # Line6
0.0.0.0 www.meldaproduction.com # MeldaProduction
0.0.0.0 apidev.odesimusic.com # Mixed In Key
0.0.0.0 odesimusic.com # Mixed In Key
0.0.0.0 secure.nch.com.au # NCH Software
0.0.0.0 apidev.odesimusic.com # Odesi Music
0.0.0.0 odesimusic.com # Odesi Music
0.0.0.0 api.output.com # Output
0.0.0.0 api.rollbar.com # Output
0.0.0.0 arcade-events-api.output.com # Output
0.0.0.0 looper-events-api.herokuapp.com # Output
0.0.0.0 output-looper-json-api.herokuapp.com # Output
0.0.0.0 www.overloud.com # Overloud
0.0.0.0 overloud.com # Overloud
0.0.0.0 philspeiser.com # Phil Speiser
0.0.0.0 cloud.kuvo.com # Pioneer
0.0.0.0 rb-share.kuvo.com # Pioneer
0.0.0.0 accounts.us1.gigya.com # Pioneer
0.0.0.0 us1.gigya.com # Pioneer
0.0.0.0 www.pitchinnovations.com # Pitch Innovations
0.0.0.0 defraggler.piriform.com # Piriform
0.0.0.0 license.piriform.com # Piriform
0.0.0.0 ccleaner.piriform.com # Piriform
0.0.0.0 license-api.ccleaner.com # Piriform
0.0.0.0 www.ccleaner.piriform.com # Piriform
0.0.0.0 www.defraggler.piriform.com # Piriform
0.0.0.0 www.recuva.piriform.com # Piriform
0.0.0.0 www.speccy.piriform.com # Piriform
0.0.0.0 polyversemusic.com # Polyverse Music
0.0.0.0 account.positivegrid.com # positivegrid
0.0.0.0 api.positivegrid.com # positivegrid
0.0.0.0 api.positivegrid.com.cn # positivegrid
0.0.0.0 assets.positivegrid.com # positivegrid
0.0.0.0 bias1.positivegrid.com # positivegrid
0.0.0.0 dlcf.positivegrid.com # positivegrid
0.0.0.0 pg-api-staging.herokuapp.com # positivegrid
0.0.0.0 pg-tonecloud-webapp.herokuapp.com # positivegrid
0.0.0.0 store.positivegrid.com # positivegrid
0.0.0.0 tonecloud-staging.herokuapp.com # positivegrid
0.0.0.0 tonecloud.positivegrid.com # positivegrid
0.0.0.0 tonecloud.positivegrid.com.cn # positivegrid
0.0.0.0 registration.presonus.com # Presonus
0.0.0.0 updates.presonus.com # Presonus
0.0.0.0 pulsarmodular.com # Pulsar Modular
0.0.0.0 www.quikquak.com # QuikQuak
0.0.0.0 www.elephantafiles.com # R2R fakers
0.0.0.0 www.elephantafiles.net # R2R fakers
0.0.0.0 www.elephantafiles.org # R2R fakers
0.0.0.0 www.r2rdownload.com # R2R fakers
0.0.0.0 www.r2rdownload.net # R2R fakers
0.0.0.0 www.r2rdownload.org # R2R fakers
0.0.0.0 web.refx.com # ReFX
0.0.0.0 crs.rvslabs.io # Roland
0.0.0.0 ids.rvslabs.io # Roland
0.0.0.0 id.serato.com # Serato
0.0.0.0 accounts.sonarworks.com # Sonarworks
0.0.0.0 activation.sonarworks.com # Sonarworks
0.0.0.0 analytics.sonarworks.com # Sonarworks
0.0.0.0 updates.sonarworks.com # Sonarworks
0.0.0.0 license01.sonible.com # Sonible
0.0.0.0 license02.sonible.com # Sonible
0.0.0.0 vox1b.nuedge.net # Sonic Charge
0.0.0.0 www.sononym.net # Sononym
0.0.0.0 www.soundradix.com # SoundRadix
0.0.0.0 entitlements.steinberg.net # Steinberg
0.0.0.0 entitlements.steinberg.net # Steinberg
0.0.0.0 userarea.stltones.com # STL Tones
0.0.0.0 www.userarea.stltones.com # STL Tones
0.0.0.0 www.syntorial.com # Syntorial
0.0.0.0 api.keygen.sh # Techivation
0.0.0.0 api.techivation.com # Techivation
0.0.0.0 apiv2.techivation.com # Techivation
0.0.0.0 Tone2.co.uk # Tone2
0.0.0.0 Tone2.com # Tone2
0.0.0.0 Tone2.net # Tone2
0.0.0.0 www.Tone2.co.uk # Tone2
0.0.0.0 www.Tone2.com # Tone2
0.0.0.0 www.Tone2.net # Tone2
0.0.0.0 www.toneboosters.com # ToneBoosters
0.0.0.0 www.toneprojects.com # Toneprojects
0.0.0.0 www.u-he.com # u-he
0.0.0.0 www.u-he.de # u-he
0.0.0.0 217.160.0.45 # Vengeance
0.0.0.0 217.160.0.171 # Vengeance
0.0.0.0 support.vengeance-sound.com # Vengeance
0.0.0.0 www.vengeance-sound.com # Vengeance
0.0.0.0 www.vps-avenger.com # Vengeance
0.0.0.0 www.support.vengeance-sound.com # Vengeance
0.0.0.0 virtualaudiostream.com # VirtualAudioStream
0.0.0.0 licenses.waproduction.com # WaProduction
0.0.0.0 register.waves.com # Waves
0.0.0.0 www.xferrecords.com # XferRecords
0.0.0.0 www.xferrecordz.com # XferRecords
0.0.0.0 support.xfer.com # XferRecords
0.0.0.0 support.xferrecords.com # XferRecords
0.0.0.0 splice.com # XferRecords
0.0.0.0 support.splice.com # XferRecords
0.0.0.0 foodstamps.yum-audio.com # Yum Audio
# # END Main Listing # #

# Others
0.0.0.0 147.75.71.186 # ????
0.0.0.0 52.42.114.201 # ????
0.0.0.0 52.70.136.170 # ????
0.0.0.0 54.70.136.156 # ????
0.0.0.0 173.231.151.131 # ????
0.0.0.0 212.227.140.66 # ????
0.0.0.0 curl.haxx.se # curl.haxx ?
0.0.0.0 map2.hwcdn.net # Hwcdn.net?
0.0.0.0 *.nuedge.net # nuedge.net (Sonic Charge association)
0.0.0.0 *nuedge* # nuedge.net (Sonic Charge association)
0.0.0.0 vox1b.nuedge.net # nuedge.net (Sonic Charge association)

# Ads
0.0.0.0 msmarketintel.com # Advertisment
0.0.0.0 adriver.ru # Advertisiment - Russian
0.0.0.0 adwolf.ru # Advertisiment - Russian
0.0.0.0 am10.ru # Advertisiment - Russian
0.0.0.0 begun.ru # Advertisiment - Russian
0.0.0.0 ellipse.relax.ru # Advertisiment - Russian
0.0.0.0 imho.ru # Advertisiment - Russian
0.0.0.0 mc.yandex.ru # Advertisiment - Russian
0.0.0.0 tns-counter.ru # Advertisiment - Russian
0.0.0.0 youdo.ru # Advertisiment - Russian

# Microsoft
0.0.0.0 activity.windows.com # Microsoft
0.0.0.0 assets.msn.com # Microsoft
0.0.0.0 azureedge.net # Microsoft
0.0.0.0 bingapis.com # Microsoft
0.0.0.0 data.microsoft.com # Microsoft
0.0.0.0 data.msn.com # Microsoft
0.0.0.0 edge.microsoft.com # Microsoft
0.0.0.0 msedge.net # Microsoft
0.0.0.0 msftconnecttest.com # Microsoft
0.0.0.0 scorecardresearch.com # Microsoft

# # BEGIN Win10 privacy settings # #
0.0.0.0 a-0001.a-msedge.net # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 bingads.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 choice.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 choice.microsoft.com.nsatc.net # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 compatexchange.cloudapp.net # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 corp.sts.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 corpext.msitadfs.glbdns2.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 cs1.wpc.v0cdn.net # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 df.telemetry.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 diagnostics.support.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 i1.services.social.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 i1.services.social.microsoft.com.nsatc.net # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 oca.telemetry.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 oca.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 pre.footprintpredict.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 redir.metaservices.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 reports.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 services.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 settings-sandbox.data.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 sqm.df.telemetry.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 statsfe1.ws.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 statsfe2.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 statsfe2.ws.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 survey.watson.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 telemetry.appex.bing.net # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 telemetry.appex.bing.net:443 # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 telemetry.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 telemetry.urs.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 vortex-sandbox.data.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 vortex-win.data.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 vortex.data.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 watson.live.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 watson.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 watson.ppe.telemetry.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 watson.telemetry.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 watson.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
0.0.0.0 www.bingads.microsoft.com # Win10 privacy
# # END Windows 10 privacy settings # #

I also love their Easy Context Menu, which can be configured with many options for almost any program and Shift+Right Click to keep the context menu clean and efficient.

 

Last edited: Jun 7, 2024

I'm still using https://github.com/scottlerch/HostsFileEditor (because it's very fast)

Otherwise, there's also Microsoft's own GUI editor in PowerToys - but a quarter of a gig for a bunch of toy programs is rather outrageous.

 

on this website the file downloads without you asking for it. 8$

not sure if i want to give such an app admin rights...

 

The link was to the download itself rather than the overview page. It says so in the link too.

 

Thanks for that- I have changed the link.

 

I agree with @DoubleTake. In general the tools at the sordum site are extremely useful and productive.
- disable windows defender
- disable windows updates
- amazing DNS utils

among others. All free, small and portable

 

"disable updates" as well as the little host editor with its list view is more or less what i was looking for, too (part time windows user with high exspectations but no patience and experience)

 

The "toy" part just means they're not covered officially by Windows support, apart from their forums. I couldn't live without them on Windows anymore, and to me that size is absolutely not outrageous since the collection covers a lot of tools that would be separate installs and updaters, so it's a no hassle choice for me.

Apart from the Hosts file editor, Advanced paste (paste history, including non-text entries), Fancyzones (quickly arrange windows), Locksmith (file in use? by what and want to kill that process and release the file lock? done), Keyboard manager (map your keys to whatever you want), Shortcut guide (show all configured Win key commands and quickly switch apps), Run (closest to macos Spotlight, and a built in calculator etc. there as well), and Text extractor (OCR screen captures).

So the size? Pfft. Not a problem for me.

I think PowerToys is a must, and should be absolutely part of Windows (at least pro and enterprise), add the Sysinternals tools to the bunch and... that I can live with it.

 

but dont changes to host file require a restart to take efect`?
not ecactly a fast and easy way

 

Not really, but clearing the DNS cache it's always good method to make sure. No restart required here.

For windows it's a simple ipconfig /flushdns away.

 

Even without flushing the cache, most of the times you only need click and the "ok/v"-like button (talking about Sordum/Bluelife Hosts editor here)

EDITED: just checked and I have the option "auto-flush" cache activated. These Sordum tools besides the basic usage they give you the most useful options in the menus