Server Fault is a question and answer site for system and network administrators. It only takes a minute to sign up. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured windows 10 hosts file does not exist free download easy to search. The hosts file on Windows computers is used to bind certain name strings to specific IP addresses to override other name resolution methods. Often, one decides to change the hosts file, and discovers that the changes refuse to take effect, or that even old entries of the hosts file are ignored thereafter.
A number of "gotcha" mistakes can cause this, and it can be frustrating to figure out which one. When faced with the problem of Windows ignoring a hosts file, what is a comprehensive troubleshoot protocol that may be followed? However, these tend to deal with a specific case, and once whatever mistake the OP made is found out, the discussion is over. If you don't happen to have made the same error, such a discussion isn't very useful. So I thought it would be more helpful to have a general protocol for resolving all hosts-related issues that would cover all cases.
Changes to hosts should take effect immediately, but Windows caches name resolution data so for some time the old records may be used.
To drop the old data. To check if it works, use assuming you have an ipv4 entry in your hosts for www. Sample entries, using Unicode control pictures to indicate control characters.
Don't copy and paste these into your hosts file! If you copied and pasted hosts entries from somewhere, you may end up with multiple spaces. In theory hosts supports multiple spaces windows 10 hosts file does not exist free download the two columns, but it's another thing to try if nothing else works. To be on the safe side, make sure all lines in your hosts file either use tabs or spaces, not both.
There is a registry key specifying the location of the hosts file. Supposedly, Windows doesn't actually support putting the hosts file in other locations, but you might want to check. The key is:. Sometimes there are issues with permissions on the file, the file attributes, and similar things.
To recreate the file with default permissions:. The local Users account must be able windows 10 hosts file does not exist free download read the hosts file. To make sure in Windows 7 :. If you have a proxy configured, it may bypass the hosts file. The solution is to not use the proxy, or configure it to not do this. If everything is blank and "Automatically detect settings" is checked, you aren't using a proxy. Then add your exceptions to the Exceptions text box.
This is not necessary for the hosts file to workbut it may help in your case if something is configured strangely. If you are using a. Windows somehow does not append its workgroup or localdomain. Windows hosts file seems to have a line or host limit. If you have more than characters on a line or more than 8 hosts entries for an IP create a new line.
Please add checking file permissions. I found that even though I had Local Admin rights to the computer and thus to hosts. I was experiencing the same issue, hosts file entries being ignored. I tried everything in this and many other threads with no luck. I figured I'd post what worked for me in case someone else comes across this. Note: simply opening the hosts file and deleting the content, verifying that it was 0kb and re-adding it did not work.
I suspect a permissions issue on the file. I think as part of its security it prevents malware or viruses diverting you to alternative sites. Took mysite of the list of trusted sites and it no longer checks and "corrects" my hosts file diversion. This can happen if there is, say, only one entry in the file, and when you ignore the comment-out text. One problem missed in the discussion above is unqualified names names that do not include a period in the hosts file.
Your network settings might kick in at that point and automatically add your own domain to the end of an unqualified domain.
Consequently the name might not resolve, or worse yet, resolve to a completely different machine. I had to look at properties and windows 10 hosts file does not exist free download the "encrypt file" checkbox.
My hosts file is ignored until I have a network connection on my Windows 7 laptop. Once I connect to a network, everything works as expected. Obviously, without a network I can't ping hosts etc. It doesn't. Even after disconnecting it still looks up addresses OK, but between restarting the computer and first connecting to a network, it ignores the hosts file.
Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. Ask Question. Asked 8 years, 7 months ago. Active 4 months ago. Viewed k times. This question has duplicates on SO, such as HOSTS file being ignored However, these tend to deal with a specific case, and once whatever mistake the OP made is found out, the discussion is over.
Improve this question. Superbest Superbest 4, 3 3 gold badges 13 13 silver badges 11 11 bronze badges. Also, as someone posted elsewhere, don't use "nslookup" to test this because that command ignores the hosts file. Rather use "ping". I found solution at last. But I need to repeat it, or else restart Chrome, every time I change the hosts file. Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Based on my own experience and what I encountered while Googling, here are some things to try: 1.
Did you check that it works correctly? If yes, your hosts file is fine and the problem is elsewhere. Basics Is your hosts file named correctly? It should be hosts and not hostetc. Is the extension correct? It should have no extension hosts not hosts. Did you follow the correct syntax?
Did you accidentally prefix windows 10 hosts file does not exist free download with a hash which indicates comments? Did you take care of all variants www. Lastly, terminate the file with a blank line. Registry Key There is a registry key specifying the location of the hosts file. Permissions Sometimes there are issues with permissions on the file, the file attributes, and similar things.
To recreate the file with default permissions: Create a new text file on your desktop. Copy and paste the contents of your current hosts file into this windows 10 hosts file does not exist free download in Notepad. Save the new text file and rename it to hosts. Last point is important: Copying works, moving doesn't. If you can't see the hosts file, ensure you can see hidden and system files. Right-click on the hosts file and select Properties from the context menu.
In the hosts Properties window, click on the Security tab. Examine the list of names in the Group or user names: box. If Users is not present, or is present but does not have Read permission, click Edit If Users is not present, click Add Click OK.
If a Windows Security alert box pops up, choose Yes to continue. Click OK to close the hosts Properties window. Go up to section 1 of this answer and follow the directions to check if it's working now.
Proxies If you have a proxy configured, it may bypass the hosts file.
