The SolidWorks Installation Manager and the SolidWorks Activation Wizard require constant communication with corporate servers. During a standard installation or modification, the software connects to several endpoints to perform critical tasks:
: In Notepad, go to File > Open . Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\ . Make sure to change the file type filter from "Text Documents" to "All Files" to see the hosts file.
Some third-party firewalls, anti-malware tools, or corporate security scripts automatically append domains to the hosts file to prevent what they perceive as unauthorized telemetry or data collection.
Installing SolidWorks should be straightforward, but sometimes security settings or network glitches can bring your progress to a halt. One common culprit is your computer’s , which may be blocking the installer from reaching critical activation servers or local network repositories. Why the Hosts File Matters solidworks host file block install
Check that you are pulling files from a clean download located in Documents\SOLIDWORKS Downloads , as suggested in this guide to retrieving the SolidWorks installer . 3. Use an Offline Activation
Because this is a core system file, standard users cannot save changes to it. Open the Windows . Type Notepad in the search bar. Right-click on Notepad and select Run as administrator . Click Yes if prompted by the User Account Control (UAC). 3. Open the Hosts File in Notepad Inside Notepad, click File > Open .
By default, Notepad only looks for .txt files. In the bottom-right corner of the Open dialog box, change the dropdown menu from to All Files ( . ) . Make sure to change the file type filter
Standard users cannot save changes to system files. You must right-click in the Start menu and select Run as Administrator . 2. Locate the Hosts File
The hosts file is a protected system asset. You cannot save changes to it without administrative privileges. Click the Windows menu. Type Notepad into the search bar. Right-click on Notepad and select Run as administrator . Step 2: Locate the Hosts File
If you are trying to a connection to a specific internal license server (rather than blocking external activation), you can add the server's IP address instead: 192.168.1.50 servername #Example Local License Server Use code with caution. Important Considerations and Risks One common culprit is your computer’s , which
Resolving SolidWorks Installation Errors Caused by Host File Blocks
Right-click on the Notepad app icon and select . Click Yes if the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears. Step 2: Navigate to the Hosts File Path
Click > Save (or press Ctrl + S ). If Windows asks you to save it as a new text document, Notepad was not launched with true administrator permissions. Close Notepad.