While it is technically possible to add entries like 127.0.0.1 licensing.solidworks.com , modern software will either crash, lock you out after 30 days, or silently report you to the license server via hard-coded IPs that ignore your HOSTS file.
Modifying these files to bypass licensing is a violation of the software's Terms of Service. For official support or license management, refer to the SolidWorks SolidNetWork License (SNL) Manager documentation. If you'd like, let me know: Are you trying to block activation Are you using a standalone
Sometimes, users get the error: "SolidWorks cannot connect to the licensing server. Error -15,10."
If cleaning the hosts file does not fix the connection issue, the block might live inside your hardware firewall or Windows Defender settings instead. Network-licensed versions of SolidWorks use specific ports managed by the FlexNet service that must remain open. Solidworks Host File Block
: If you get a "permission denied" error, you did not run Notepad as an Administrator.
Note: Adding these lines ensures that whenever SolidWorks tries to "call home," the request is rerouted back to your own computer and fails. 4. Verifying the Block Command Prompt in the Start Menu). ping activation.solidworks.com If the block is successful, you should see it pinging rather than an external IP address. 5. Complementary Firewall Blocks
Ensure your corporate firewall explicitly permits bidirectional traffic to standard activation endpoints, preventing automated security systems from accidentally auto-blocking SolidWorks traffic. While it is technically possible to add entries like 127
In a typical piracy tutorial, you will see lines like this:
To ensure your computer can now successfully talk to the licensing servers, open your Command Prompt again and run a quick ping test. Type the following command and press Enter: ping ://solidworks.com
Many websites that provide "SolidWorks host file lines" also provide a Patch.exe or SolidSQUAD loader. These executables are frequently bundled with: If you'd like, let me know: Are you
Security software like SentinelOne, ZoneAlarm, or Webroot may misidentify SOLIDWORKS activation attempts as malicious and lock the hosts file or block network traffic.
The hosts file is a plain text file used by your operating system to map hostnames to IP addresses. It predates the Domain Name System (DNS). When you type www.google.com into your browser, your computer checks the hosts file first before asking the wider internet.
Troubleshooting SolidWorks Licensing and Activation Issues via Host File Blocks
Are you working on a or a standalone personal computer?
If your hosts file is completely clean but SolidWorks still cannot reach its licensing servers, your security infrastructure might be enforcing a block at a different layer. Windows Defender Firewall