I can provide targeted troubleshooting steps to get your connection working properly. Share public link
Change the file type dropdown menu in the bottom-right corner from Text Documents ( .txt)* to .
What or code is appearing on your screen?
If you open a standard "readme" file from a cracked SolidWorks installer, you will usually see instructions to add the following domains to your HOSTS file: Solidworks Host File Block
At the bottom of the file, you will add lines that redirect SolidWorks servers back to your local machine ( 127.0.0.1 ).
In the context of SolidWorks, blocks are usually applied to official DS (Dassault Systèmes) activation, validation, and licensing domains. Common Symptoms of a Host File Block
| Need | Better Solution | |------|----------------| | Stop unwanted updates | Group Policy / Registry to disable auto-updates | | Block telemetry | Corporate firewall with SSL inspection | | Reduce license server load | Configure license borrowing or timeout settings | | Privacy | Run SolidWorks in a VM with no network adapter | | Compliance | Use legitimate standalone license or network license manager | I can provide targeted troubleshooting steps to get
Uncheck "Prevent any program from modifying the HOSTs file".
He deleted those lines, saved the file, and restarted his computer. The Lesson
The Windows hosts file is located at: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts . If you open a standard "readme" file from
Some users intentionally block SolidWorks domains in the hosts file to prevent the software from contacting the manufacturer's activation or telemetry servers. This is often done by mapping SolidWorks URLs to the ( 127.0.0.1 or 0.0.0.0 ), which effectively kills the connection. Common Domains Blocked: install.solidworks.com api.solidworks.com www.solidworks.com Risks of This Method:
Are you working on a or a standalone personal computer?
If you are using the Hosts file to avoid paying for a license, be aware that modern versions of SolidWorks (2020 and later) have sophisticated licensing checks that often ignore the Hosts file or store license tokens in the Windows Registry that cannot be tricked by DNS redirection.
Because the hosts file resides within the Windows system directory, editing it requires administrative elevation. Follow these structural steps to establish a reliable mapping: Step 1: Open Notepad as an Administrator Click the Windows . Type Notepad into the search bar.