HOTS Hosts Lite Source (GitHub mirror)
Windows hosts editor with domain blocking, hosts lock & app firewall
Brought to you by:
darsono
Menu
▾
▴
# HOTS Hosts Lite
**Block distracting apps and websites, lock down your hosts file, and edit it properly — free, lightweight, no bloat.**
[](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0)
[](https://github.com/)
[](#language-support)
### 📥 [⬇️ Download for Windows — free](https://github.com/darsono6/HOTS-Hosts-Lite/releases/latest/download/HOTS_Hosts_Lite_setup.exe)
*No account, no subscription, no ads. Just download and run.*
> Run the launcher, not `python -m hosts_editor` directly — `hosts_editor_launcher.pyw` is what handles the single-instance guard and requests Administrator rights via UAC. The hosts file is write-protected by Windows, so the app won't work correctly without that elevation step.
### Project structure
Tree [79e92b] main v1.0 / History
Darsono
Read Me
# HOTS Hosts Lite
**Block distracting apps and websites, lock down your hosts file, and edit it properly — free, lightweight, no bloat.**
[](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0)
[](https://github.com/)
[](#language-support)
### 📥 [⬇️ Download for Windows — free](https://github.com/darsono6/HOTS-Hosts-Lite/releases/latest/download/HOTS_Hosts_Lite_setup.exe)
*No account, no subscription, no ads. Just download and run.*
What does it actually do?
Three things, in plain terms:
- 🚫 Block domains & apps — keep a simple list of your own domains to block, and stop specific programs from reaching the network with the built-in firewall.
- 🔒 Lock the hosts file — one click protects it from being edited by other programs (or a curious kid) outside the app.
- ✏️ Hosts file editor — a proper table editor instead of fighting Notepad and admin permissions, with 3 switchable profiles so you can keep separate setups and flip between them.
You don't need to understand how any of this works to use it — the app walks you through it.
Getting started
- Download the installer
- Double-click it — Windows will ask for Administrator permission (that's normal, the app needs it to edit system files)
- Follow the setup wizard — done
Requires: Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit.
About the Windows warning you might see
Since this is a small independent project without a paid certificate, Windows may show a "Windows protected your PC" warning the first time you run it. This is normal for any new app that hasn't built up a download history yet — it does not mean anything is wrong with the file.
To continue: click More info → Run anyway.
If you'd rather double-check the app yourself first, the full source code is right here in this repository — see Running from source below.
Everything it can do
🚫 Domain & App Blocking — click to expand
- **Block your own domains** — a free-text list, applied directly to the hosts file - **Hosts file lock** — ACL deny-write protection so your blocklist can't be edited or removed from outside the app - **Application firewall blocking** — stop specific programs from reaching the network, outbound and inbound independently - **3 switchable profiles** — keep separate block configurations and swap between them instantly
✏️ Hosts File Editor — click to expand
- Table view of all entries, live search, bulk paste, sorting - Add / edit / delete / enable-disable entries without touching Notepad - Auto-backup before every save — rotating archive (15 kept on the default profile, 10 each on profiles 2 and 3), with a diff preview before writing - Import/export `.txt` or `.csv` - Domain checker — flags entries pointing at domains that no longer exist - Malware scanner — heuristics for hijacked/suspicious entries (homoglyphs, zero-width characters, punycode, typosquatting, DGA-style entropy, and more) - Raw text view for anyone who wants to edit the file directly
🎨 Other features — click to expand
- Light and dark themes, 4 accent colors - 7 languages: English, Polski, Français, Deutsch, Español, Português, Русский - Optional password protection - Built-in update checker - Auto-elevation, single-instance guard, window geometry memoryNeed more? The full HOTS Hosts adds Cloudflare Family DNS, DNS-over-HTTPS blocking, VPN client blocking, System Restore protection, and a full tiered Windows privacy module.
Running from source
For developers — click to expand
**Requirements:** Python 3.10+, `PySide6`, `PySide6-Fluent-Widgets`pip install PySide6 "PySide6-Fluent-Widgets[full]"
git clone https://github.com/darsono6/HOTS-Hosts-Lite.git
cd HOTS-Hosts-Lite
pythonw hosts_editor_launcher.pyw
hosts_editor_launcher.pyw # Single-instance guard + admin elevation entry point (build target)
hosts_editor/
├── __main__.py # Entry point — app startup, password prompt, language init
├── app.py # Main window (Fluent navigation shell)
├── core.py # Data logic — parse, save, import/export, profiles, custom domain blocking
├── core_hosts_lock.py # Hosts file lock (ACL deny-write protection)
├── core_firewall.py # Application firewall blocking (netsh rules)
├── core_profiles.py # 3-slot hosts profile switching
├── core_installed_apps.py # Installed-app lookup (registry) for the firewall block picker
├── bg_tasks.py # Background worker thread registry — joined on app quit
├── constants.py # Theme colors, accent presets, paths, settings load/save
├── widgets_qt.py # Reusable Qt/Fluent UI components — buttons, dialogs, pages
├── resource_utils.py # Base-path resolution (dev / frozen / Nuitka builds)
├── i18n.py # Multilingual string system (EN / PL / FR / DE / ES / PT / RU)
├── graphic/
│ ├── logo.png # About page logo
│ ├── logo.ico # Window/taskbar icon
│ ├── logo1.png # Splash screen shown while the app starts
│ ├── logoS.png # Small logo — title bar + Support page watermark
│ ├── support_me_on_kofi_dark.png # Ko-fi donate button on the Support page
│ └── paypal_donate_button.png # PayPal donate button on the Support page
└── dialogs/
├── entry_dialog.py # Add / Edit entry form
├── diff_dialog.py # Diff preview before save
├── backup_page.py # Backup Manager
├── diagnostics_page.py # Domain check & malware scan
├── features_page.py # Domain blocking + hosts lock + firewall + profiles panel
├── custom_domains_dialog.py # Editor for the "Block your own domains" list
├── export_dialog.py # Export to .txt / .csv
├── language_dialog.py # Language selection
├── accent_dialog.py # Accent color picker
├── support_page.py # Support / donate window
├── about_page.py # About & update checker
├── password_dialog.py # Set / verify startup password
└── _*.py # Shared/internal helpers for the pages above
Language support
The interface language can be changed in Options → Language. All UI strings, dialogs, and system comments are fully translated.
| Code | Language |
|---|---|
en |
English (default) |
pl |
Polski |
fr |
Français |
de |
Deutsch |
es |
Español |
pt |
Português |
ru |
Русский |
Disclaimer
HOTS Hosts Lite is provided in good faith but without any warranty. The author is not responsible for any damage, data loss, system issues, or other consequences resulting from the use of this application. Modifying the hosts file affects system-level network resolution — use with care. You use this software at your own risk.
Support
If HOTS Hosts Lite saves you time or you simply want to say thanks:
Website: hotstools.com
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/darsono
PayPal: paypal.me/darsonodark
Support: hots.support@gmail.com
No registration required. Any amount is appreciated.
License
GNU General Public License v3.0
© 2026 Darsono
