How to Speed Up GitHub Access on Windows 10 by Editing the Hosts File
This guide explains why GitHub access can be slow due to CDN blocking and provides step‑by‑step instructions for Windows 10 users to download a custom hosts file, modify the system hosts entry, flush DNS, and refresh the browser to improve connection speed.
GitHub access can be slow when its CDN is blocked by network firewalls, causing high ping (≈300 ms) and slow downloads. Binding the domain directly to IP addresses via the local hosts file bypasses DNS resolution and speeds up access; the same method works for other CDN‑blocked sites.
Procedure for Windows 10
Obtain the latest hosts file from the repository https://github.com/racaljk/hosts. Alternative mirrors (e.g., Baidu Cloud) also provide hosts, tools.exe, and choose.exe.
Open the system hosts file with a text editor: %SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.
Replace the entire content of the existing file with the downloaded hosts content and save. If saving fails, right‑click the hosts file → Properties → Security, select your user account, click Edit, and grant Write permission.
Flush the DNS cache: ipconfig /flushdns Restart the web browser to apply the changes.
After these steps, GitHub should resolve more quickly, reducing latency and download times.
Signed-in readers can open the original source through BestHub's protected redirect.
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