Resetting Windows hosts file can help fix connectivity issuesReset Windows Hosts File Back to the DefaultsSteps to reset Windows 7 hosts fileQuickly reset hosts file on Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008Instructions to reset hosts file on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003Reset hosts file back to default on Windows 8 and Windows 8.1Method to reset Windows 10 hosts fileAn alternative way to restore hosts file on Windows
The inside of the hosts file includes lines of specific text — the first line is an IP address followed by a single or multiple hosts names. Every single field is separated by a blank space or a tab (usually preferred for historical reasons). If there is a necessity to include a comment line, they are marked by a hash symbol (#) at the beginning and blank lines in the file are ignored. Here is a very simplistic Windows hosts file example (hosts file format might differ on other OS):127.0.0.1 localhost loopback: :1 localhost Keep in mind that resetting hosts file can be extremely useful if you encounter problems that are related to accessing websites, etc. For example, if you have tried all other alternative methods but you are still unable to open a certain page, you can reset hosts file back to default and there is a strong chance that it will fix the problem. Additionally, it can help you fix VAWE and USAM ransomware damage that prevents accessing security pages. The location where you can find hosts file varies depending on the operating system running on your computer. The hosts file is located in %SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts directory on Windows Vista/XP/7/8/10 systems while Mac OS stores the file in /etc/hosts or /private/etc/hosts directory. While editing and resetting the hosts file on Windows operating system requires administrative privileges, we suggest following the easy step-by-step guide below. It will help you quickly resetting the hosts file without causing damage to your operating system. Alternatively, if you want to reset HOSTS file automatically, you might want to try and download RESTORO.
Reset Windows Hosts File Back to the Defaults
We understand that sometimes completing such tasks might seem very difficult and people search for alternative and easier ways. However, there is no reliable host file reset tool. The only safe way to modify hosts file is to do it manually. For that, we have prepared a detailed guide with special instructions for all operating systems, including Windows Vista/XP/7/8/10 and Mac OS. You can find them below.
Steps to reset Windows 7 hosts file
Quickly reset hosts file on Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008
Instructions to reset hosts file on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003
Reset hosts file back to default on Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
Method to reset Windows 10 hosts file
An alternative way to restore hosts file on Windows
Some people encounter problems that Windows 10 hosts file not working even though they have tried completing instructions indicated above. We have also received complaints about no hosts file Windows 10. In this case, if you can’t edit hosts file Windows 10, we suggest trying this alternative method right below.
