How to Reset Windows Hosts File to Default

To reset the hosts file back to the default, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type %systemroot% \system32\drivers\etc, and then click OK.
   
   Note If you are using 64 bit version of Windows, type %systemroot% \SysWOW64\drivers\etc.
2. Rename the hosts file to hosts.bak.
3. Create the new default hosts file. To do this, follow these steps:
   
   
   1. Right-click an open space in the %WinDir%\system32\drivers\etc folder, point to New, click Text Document, type hosts, and then press ENTER.
   2. Click Yes to confirm that the file name extension will not be txt.
   3. Open the new created hosts file in a text editor, for example, in the Notepad.
   4. Copy the following text to the file:
      
      For Windows XP or Windows Server 2003
      
      

      # Copyright (c) 1993-1999 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
      
      127.0.0.1       localhost