How to reset the Hosts file back to the default — by Microsoft Support

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A modified Hosts file can break name lookups and cause connection trouble. The page shows how to restore the default one on Windows 10 and 11.

Quick steps

Save the default Hosts text from the page to a file named hosts on the desktop
Open C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
Rename the existing file to Hosts.old
Copy the new hosts file in and approve the admin prompt

Paraphrased from the source. Menus can differ by version, so check the original for full details.

Read the full article on support.microsoft.com

Source: How to reset the Hosts file back to the default by Microsoft Support. Licence: Link only (©).

Source reviewed: 2026-11-02
Link checked: 2026-11-02
Tested hands-on: Not by Oddbyte.Me

hosts filednsname resolution

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