How to Reset Host File Back to Default in Windows 10

If you find that your Host file is changed for some reason, don’t panic, you can easily bring it back to default. And in this article, we’ll show you how to set the default values for your Host file in Windows 10.

In Windows, Host file is used to map host names to IP addresses, and it should not be changed. But if you notice any changes in this file, here’s what you need to do:

1. Open File Explorer and enter the following location:
   • C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
2. Find Host file, and rename it to host.bak (You may be required to take ownership of the file, first)
3.  Paste the following text in Notepad:

   • # Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
     #
     # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
     #
     # This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
     # entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
     # be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
     # The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
     # space.
     #
     # Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
     # lines or following the machine name denoted by a ‘#’ symbol.
     #
     # For example:
     #
     # 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
     # 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
     # localhost name resolution is handle within DNS itself.
     # 127.0.0.1 localhost
     # ::1 localhost

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4. Save it to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc and close the document

Your Host file is now back to its default values, but it’s recommended to create a backup copy of the Host file, so you can easily replace it again, if needed. You can use your old Host file as a backup, and keep it in the Drivers folder, right next to the original.

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