Solidworks Host File Block Fix -

To fix SolidWorks licensing issues related to host file blocks, you typically need to remove specific entries that prevent the software from communicating with its license server. This often occurs when the host file has been modified to block Adobe or SolidWorks activation domains. 1. Open the Hosts File as Administrator

Because the hosts file is a protected system file, you must open your text editor with administrative privileges. Click the Start menu and type Notepad. Right-click Notepad and select Run as Administrator. In Notepad, go to File > Open. Navigate to: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

Change the file type filter (bottom right) from "Text Documents (*.txt)" to All Files. Select the file named hosts and click Open. 2. Identify and Remove Blocked Lines

Look for lines at the bottom of the document that include solidworks, 3ds, or flexnet. Common entries to delete: 127.0.0.1 ://solidworks.com 127.0.0.1 ://solidworks.com 0.0.0.0 ://solidworks.com

Action: Highlight these lines and delete them. Ensure there are no leading # symbols on lines you want the system to read (though in this case, you want the system to reach these servers, so the lines shouldn't exist at all). 3. Save and Flush DNS Go to File > Save in Notepad. Open the Command Prompt (type cmd in the Start menu).

Type the following command and press Enter:ipconfig /flushdnsThis ensures Windows clears its cache and looks for the "unblocked" addresses immediately. 4. Verify Firewall Settings

If the hosts file is clear but you still face blocks, check your Windows Firewall: Open the Windows Firewall via the Control Panel.

Check Outbound Rules for any entries named "SolidWorks" or "SLDWORKS.exe" that are set to "Block".

Right-click and select Disable Rule or Delete if you need to restore the connection. 5. Restart SolidWorks Licensing Service Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.

Find SolidWorks Licensing Service or FlexNet Licensing Service. Right-click it and select Restart.

SolidWorks Host File Block Fix Report

Introduction: The SolidWorks host file block fix is a solution to resolve issues related to SolidWorks being blocked by the Windows host file. This report provides a step-by-step guide on how to fix the issue. solidworks host file block fix

Symptoms: Users may experience the following symptoms:

Cause: The issue is usually caused by the Windows host file (C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts) blocking the connection to the SolidWorks license server.

Solution: To fix the issue, follow these steps:

  1. Locate the Host File: Open the Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc.
  2. Open the Host File: Right-click on the hosts file and select "Open with" > Notepad (or any other text editor).
  3. Identify the Blocking Entry: Look for any entries related to the SolidWorks license server IP address or hostname. Typically, these entries are in the format 127.0.0.1 <license_server_name> or <license_server_ip> <license_server_name>.
  4. Remove or Comment Out the Blocking Entry: Delete or comment out (add a # at the beginning of the line) the entry that is blocking the connection to the license server.
  5. Save the Changes: Save the changes to the host file.

Example:

Before:

127.0.0.1 license-server

After:

#127.0.0.1 license-server (commented out)

or

(no entry)

Verification: After making the changes, restart SolidWorks and verify that it launches successfully and connects to the license server. To fix SolidWorks licensing issues related to host

Troubleshooting Tips:

Conclusion: The SolidWorks host file block fix is a simple and effective solution to resolve issues related to SolidWorks being blocked by the Windows host file. By following the steps outlined in this report, users should be able to resolve the issue and successfully launch SolidWorks.

Important Notes

Windows protects the Hosts file by default. You must be an administrator to modify it.

Locate the File: Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc. Modify Security: Right-click the hosts file and select Properties. Go to the Security tab and click Edit.

Select your user account and check the box for Full Control or Modify under the Microsoft Learn guide. Click Apply and OK. 2. Edit the Hosts File to Fix Blocks

Once permissions are granted, you can remove lines that might be blocking SOLIDWORKS communication.

Open Notepad as an Administrator (Search for Notepad, right-click, and select "Run as Administrator").

In Notepad, go to File > Open and browse to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc. Change the file type filter to All Files (.). Open the hosts file.

Look for any entries related to solidworks.com or your internal license server IP (e.g., 127.0.0.1 license.solidworks.com).

Fix: Delete these lines or add a # at the beginning of the line to comment them out. Save the file and restart SOLIDWORKS. 3. Check Firewall Outbound Rules

If the Hosts file is clear but you still face blocks, your firewall may be preventing the connection. SolidWorks fails to launch or crashes immediately after

Verify Rules: Ensure there isn't an Outbound Rule blocking the SOLIDWORKS executable (SLDWORKS.exe).

Configuration: As detailed in community guides, you can manage these settings via the Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security menu by checking the "Outbound Rules" section. 4. Quick SOLIDWORKS Fixes

If the issue is related to file corruption rather than connectivity:

Repair Function: Use the built-in SOLIDWORKS Repair Tool when prompted by a corruption dialog box.

Force Rebuild: Use Ctrl + Q to perform a deep rebuild of the entire document from the ground up.

Are you experiencing a specific License Error code (like -15 or -8) that led you to the hosts file? 11 SOLIDWORKS CTRL Key Shortcuts to Start Using Today

Note: This draft assumes the "fix" refers to attempting to block SolidWorks license verification servers via the Windows hosts file to bypass licensing (piracy). I have framed this as a warning against that practice.

1. Legal & Professional Consequences

Using a cracked license or bypassing activation violates Dassault’s End User License Agreement (EULA). If you are a business, a single audit (which Dassault actively performs) can result in fines of up to 10x the retail license cost. For individuals, you risk a permanent ban from the ecosystem.

3) Locate and back up the hosts file

  1. Open File Explorer and go to: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
  2. Copy the file named hosts to a safe backup location (e.g., Desktop\hosts-backup).

9. Legal & Ethical Note

Blocking activation servers is only legal if you:

Part 6: The Permanent Prevention Strategy

Don't just fix the problem; ensure it never returns.

1) Symptoms this will fix

7) Additional checks if problems persist