Solidworks — Host File Block Fix

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

Contact support or your reseller if:

: In the open dialog, change the file type from "Text Documents ( .txt)" to **All Files ( .*)** to see the file named hosts (with no extension).

If you are operating on a company network using a specific corporate license manager, add your internal server IP address paired with your SolidWorks port number (typically 25734 or 25735 ): [Your_Server_IP_Address] [Your_Server_Name] Use code with caution. Step 4: Save and Flush DNS Click > Save (or press Ctrl + S ). Close Notepad. solidworks host file block fix

For SolidWorks PDM or network licenses to work when DNS fails, you must manually point the machine to the correct server IP.

You likely need a Hosts file fix if you experience any of the following issues:

Fixes "Could not log into the database" or "Server not found" errors in SOLIDWORKS PDM. SolidWorks Blog ⚠️ Important Considerations Temporary Solution: The issue is usually caused by the Windows

A allows your CAD workstation to establish a stable connection with SolidWorks licensing servers, SQL databases, and SOLIDWORKS PDM network roots. This workaround manually forces Windows to resolve your network server names to accurate IP addresses, immediately bypassing faulty Domain Name System (DNS) configurations.

Restart SolidWorks to verify that the license validation error is resolved. Troubleshooting Common Errors

The Windows hosts file is a plain text file used to map hostnames to IP addresses. It’s a low-level, local DNS system. Sometimes, security software, network administrators, or previous installations can inject entries into this file that instruct your computer to redirect or block connections to specific web addresses. Step 4: Save and Flush DNS Click > Save (or press Ctrl + S )

Paste the following path into the address bar at the top and hit Enter: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

After:

Save the file, restart your machine, and launch SolidWorks to verify that your connection block is cleared.

This method is commonly used with cracked or pirated versions of SOLIDWORKS to block communication with activation and validation servers.