# Local can't write to Hosts file, accessing preferences freezes the application

**URL:** <https://community.localwp.com/t/local-cant-write-to-hosts-file-accessing-preferences-freezes-the-application/28582>\
**Category:** Bugs\
**Tags:** installation, windows-10\
**Created:** [October 30, 2021, 10:34pm UTC](https://community.localwp.com/t/local-cant-write-to-hosts-file-accessing-preferences-freezes-the-application/28582 "2021-10-30T22:34:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jmclain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/45deac/32.png) [@jmclain](https://community.localwp.com/u/jmclain)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 10:34pm UTC](https://community.localwp.com/t/local-cant-write-to-hosts-file-accessing-preferences-freezes-the-application/28582/1 "2021-10-30T22:34:19Z")

</div>

# Bug Summary

Local can’t access Hosts file and accessing Preferences freezes the application.

# Steps to reproduce

Have your windows environment variable “ComSpec” set to something other than “cmd.exe,” I use tcc.exe ([https://jpsoft.com/](https://jpsoft.com/)).

Install local then attempt to create a website. Fails to write to Hosts file.

Workaround: start with batch file that sets “ComSpec” to cmd.exe and then executes local.exe

# Environment Info

see above