Windows 10: Reset Hosts file back to default in Windows

How to: Reset Hosts file back to default in Windows

How to reset Hosts file back to default in Windows


The Hosts file is used by the operating system to map human-friendly hostnames to numerical Internet Protocol (IP) addresses which identify and locate a host in an IP network. The hosts file is one of several system resources that address network nodes in a computer network and is a common part of an operating system's IP implementation.

The Hosts file contains lines of text consisting of an IP address in the first text field followed by one or more host names. Each field is separated by white space (Tabs are often preferred for historical reasons, but spaces are also used). Comment lines may be included, and they are indicated by a hash character (#) in the first position of such lines. Entirely blank lines in the file are ignored.

If the Hosts file is changed from default, resetting it can help resolve some connectivity issues.

See also: How to reset the Hosts file back to the default | Windows Support

This tutorial will show you how to reset the Hosts file back to default in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to reset the Hosts file.





Here's How:

1 Open Notepad ("C:\Windows\notepad.exe").

2 Copy the following text below, and paste the text into Notepad. (see screenshot below)
Code:

3 Click/tap on File Alt + F in the menu bar of Notepad, and click/tap on Save As Ctrl + Shift + S. (see screenshot below)



4 Select your Desktop as the location to save the file to, type "hosts" (with quotes) for the file name, and click/tap on Save. (see screenshot below)



5 Close Notepad.

6 Press the Win + E keys to open File Explorer (Windows 8 or 10) or Windows Explorer (Windows 7).

7 Open the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc folder in File Explorer (Windows 8 or 10) or Windows Explorer (Windows 7).

8 Right click or press and hold on the hosts file in the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc folder, and click/tap on Rename. (see screenshot below)



9 Rename hosts to hosts.old in the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc folder, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

This will be a backup of the current hosts file. You can rename this file from hosts.old to hosts to restore this backup.




10 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes to approve.

11 Drag and drop (move) the hosts file on your desktop from step 4 into the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc folder. (see screenshot below)



12 If prompted, click/tap on Continue to approve. (see screenshot below)



13 You can now close File Explorer (Windows 8 or 10) or Windows Explorer (Windows 7). (see screenshot below)




That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Block Websites using Hosts File in Windows
• How to Change IPv4 and IPv6 DNS Server Address in Windows
• How to Flush DNS Resolver Cache in Windows 10
• How to Cleanup and Reset Network Adapters in Windows 10

:)

 

Reseting Hosts Files to Default in Windows 10

No it isn't.

 

Hosts file editing

I have to jump in and say I use, and have used the host file for years. It's an easy way to take stress off of old name servers. I don't add everything, but major shares I do add to the host file. I've used the host file for some tunneling as well. I try to optimize my network as much as possible and I have a solid network. But Easy Rhino is right as well, you'll want to have everything he suggested as well. *Toast :toast:

 

think my hosts file got modified

like the title indicate' my AV found a modified host and it makes my internet to work slowly, I read in support forum that there is a solution by resetting the host file by opening notepad and put a text inside it then save the notepad and replace it with
the current host file. I want to know if I do so and resetting the host file, what changes will happen to my PC? I would need to sign in to all my websites again? or it will just reset without changing much?

this is the article that I found, maybe it will help you to understand better. hope it will help.

"

To reset the Hosts file back to the default, follow these steps:

1. Open Notepad. To do this, search for “Notepad” using
   Cortana, and then tap or click the Notepad icon.
   
2. Copy the following text, and then paste the text into the file:
   

1. Close Notepad.
   
2. Search for
   %WinDir%\System32\Drivers\Etc using Cortana, and then select the
   File folder icon.
   
3. Tap and hold or right-click the Hosts file, select
   Rename, and then rename the file as "Hosts.old".
   
4. Copy or move the Hosts file that you created in step 3 from the desktop to the
   %WinDir%\System32\Drivers\Etc folder. If you are prompted to
   enter an administrator password, select
   Continue

 

Editing the hosts file in Windows 7

I recently just upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Edition and I need to edit the hosts file located in C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\. I've done this before on XP and Vista Ultimate 64-bit by opening the hosts file with Notepad. Only this time, when I opened it up with Notepad on Windows 7, it looked like this:

Code: # Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp. # # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows. # # This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each # entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should # be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name. # The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one # space. # # Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual # lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol. # # For example: # # 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server # 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host # localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself. # 127.0.0.1 localhost # ::1 localhost[/quote] Where as on XP and Vista, it would look like this:

Code: Copyright (c) 1993-2008 Microsoft Corp. This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows. This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name. The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one space. Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol. For example: 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself. 127.0.0.1 localhost ::1 localhost[/quote] So if I were to insert a line into the hosts file in Windows 7, would I have to add the # before the line or can I just simply put the line in without adding the # before it?

 

reset system folder (windows) permission back to default / original state

Hi,

Welcome to Microsoft community.

I would suggest you to try the following steps:

• Click "Search" and type File explorer options,Select it from the options
  
• Click on Restore defaults.
• Click Apply and OK.

Thanks,