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August 25, 2024 11:23
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/etc/hosts
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If changes to the /etc/hosts file on your macOS are not working as expected, here are some common troubleshooting steps to help resolve the issue: | |
1. Check File Format and Syntax | |
Make sure there are no syntax errors in the /etc/hosts file. | |
Each entry should be on a new line with the IP address followed by one or more hostnames, separated by spaces or tabs. For example: | |
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127.0.0.1 localhost | |
192.168.1.1 example.com | |
Avoid using special characters and ensure there is no trailing whitespace after the entries. | |
2. Flush DNS Cache | |
After editing the /etc/hosts file, you need to flush the DNS cache for the changes to take effect. Open Terminal and run: | |
bash | |
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sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder | |
This command will flush both the DNS and the mDNSResponder caches. | |
3. Check File Permissions | |
Ensure that the /etc/hosts file has the correct permissions. The file should be writable by the root user. You can check the permissions by running: | |
bash | |
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ls -l /etc/hosts | |
The output should look something like this: | |
bash | |
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-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 312 Sep 15 12:34 /etc/hosts | |
If the file permissions are incorrect, you can fix them with: | |
bash | |
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sudo chmod 644 /etc/hosts | |
4. Edit with Proper Privileges | |
Ensure you are editing the /etc/hosts file with the proper privileges. Use sudo with a text editor like nano or vi: | |
bash | |
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sudo nano /etc/hosts | |
After editing, save the changes and exit the editor. | |
5. Disable or Configure VPNs and Proxies | |
Sometimes VPNs or proxy settings can override or bypass the /etc/hosts file. Try disabling the VPN or proxy temporarily to see if the /etc/hosts changes take effect. | |
6. Check for Hostname Conflicts | |
Ensure there are no conflicting entries for the same hostname in the /etc/hosts file. Remove or comment out any duplicate or conflicting entries. | |
7. Restart Network Services | |
Restart your network services to ensure the changes are fully applied. You can do this by turning your Wi-Fi off and on again or by rebooting your computer. | |
8. Test the Changes | |
Test the changes by pinging the hostname you modified or added in the /etc/hosts file. Open Terminal and run: | |
bash | |
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ping example.com | |
Ensure it resolves to the IP address you specified in the /etc/hosts file. | |
9. Verify No Other DNS Overriding | |
Check if other services, such as dnsmasq, are installed and might override DNS settings. | |
If you've tried all these steps and the hosts file is still not working, there could be an application or system-level restriction affecting DNS resolution. Let me know if you need further help! | |
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