Access Hosts File Mac OS X Lion

[.Neo]

On Mac OS X Snow Leopard and below I used to be able to access the Hosts file using this command:

sudo /Applications/TextEdit.app/Contents/MacOS/TextEdit /etc/hosts

However, after installing Mac OS X Lion today I can't anymore. Any suggestions how to open and edit the file? Thanks in advance.

[Unrealistic]

On Mac OS X Snow Leopard and below I used to be able to access the Hosts file using this command:

sudo /Applications/TextEdit.app/Contents/MacOS/TextEdit /etc/hosts

However, after installing Mac OS X Lion today I can't anymore. Any suggestions how to open and edit the file? Thanks in advance.

I always just use TextWrangler to edit it. Sudo worked for me though (not using TextEdit.app).

[AlexMagik]

sudo nano /etc/hosts

[iuerg87yerg879e0rg9erugjer]

sudo nano /etc/hosts

once your done

ctrl+o then crtl+x

[rajputwarrior]

VI/VIM FTW!

[KoL Veteran]

Terminal

sudo nano /private/etc/hosts

[.Neo]

Thanks The Protagonist and Kol! That did the trick!

[PurpleHaze420]

I didn't know how to achieve this through Terminal, will come in handy. Thanks. :)

[chrispinto]

Terminal all the way for quick hosts file editing

Then a quick reboot or could just flush the cache for 'instant' updating

[PNWDweller]

Looks as ifGasmask for Macwill work on Lion and that also lets you edit your hosts files in a Gui.

[Elliott]

Then a quick reboot or could just flush the cache for 'instant' updating

Does OS X really cache entries from the hosts file? Seems weird to me.

[Xtreme $niper]

Still doesn't really explain why he can't use TextMate to edit the file anymore...?

[Elliott]

Still doesn't really explain why he can't use TextMate to edit the file anymore...?

TextEdit, not TextMate. You can still use TextMate just fine. The problem probably has something to do with sandboxing in Lion.

[giga Veteran]

It's the sandbox.

[offroadaaron]

Terminal all the way for quick hosts file editing

Then a quick reboot or could just flush the cache for 'instant' updating

You don't need to reboot LOL's

[Xtreme $niper]

TextEdit, not TextMate. You can still use TextMate just fine. The problem probably has something to do with sandboxing in Lion.

Ahhh crap, I misread. Thanks.

[allannyholm]

There's an application called Gas Mask that can edit the Hosts file on the Mac quiet easily - even allow for subscriptions to anti-malware and adblock Hosts files from this site: http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm.

Gas Mask is available here http://www.clockwise.ee/gasmask - it also has a Google Code page here: http://code.google.com/p/gmask/

[allannyholm]

There's an application called Gas Mask that can edit the Hosts file on the Mac quiet easily - even allow for subscriptions to anti-malware and adblock Hosts files from this site: http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm.

Gas Mask is available here http://www.clockwise.ee/gasmask - it also has a Google Code page here: http://code.google.com/p/gmask/

I've just realized that I 'double recommended' the Gas Mask application. An oversight on my part.