HOSTS Converter

Convert HOSTS files online for free


Drop or upload your .HOSTS file

How to convert your HOSTS file

  1. Click the "Select File" button above, and choose your HOSTS file.
  2. You'll see a preview.
  3. Click the "Convert file to..." button to save your file in the format you want.

Convert HOSTS to another file type

To convert your HOSTS file to another format, you need Microsoft Notepad or another System software.

Convert a file to HOSTS

To convert other file formats to the HOSTS System file type, you need Microsoft Notepad or similar software.


About HOSTS files

The HOSTS file, a simple text file used by operating systems to map hostnames to IP addresses, plays a crucial role in network configuration. It is typically located in C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\ on Windows or /etc/hosts on Unix-based systems. Despite its simplicity, converting HOSTS files to other formats can pose challenges due to the specific syntax and configuration requirements.

Common formats to which a HOSTS file can be converted include .txt for plain text editing, .csv for spreadsheet or database applications, and .xml or .json for integration with web-based applications. While manual conversion is possible using text editors like Notepad++ or Visual Studio Code, it can be time-consuming and error-prone.

For automated conversion, software tools such as LibreOffice can handle .csv conversion, while Python scripts using libraries like Pandas can facilitate more complex conversions to formats like .xml or .json. However, understanding the appropriate syntax for each format is essential to avoid configuration errors and maintain data integrity.

Despite the flexibility of HOSTS files, they come with drawbacks, such as the risk of accidental misconfiguration which can lead to network failures. This makes conversion a delicate task that should be approached with care. For a hassle-free experience, consider using Convert.Guru. Simply drag-n-drop your HOSTS files onto their platform to effortlessly convert them into the desired format, ensuring safety and reliability.

Use Convert.Guru to analyze your HOSTS file and see the formats you can convert it to.

Users also converted BIN, SKS, ZONE and RTS files.



The HOSTS Converter Story

The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our HOSTS converter.