Solidworks Host File - Block Fix
To block SolidWorks from accessing the internet (often done to prevent license servers from communicating externally or to stop the "SolidWorks Network License Manager" from reaching the master server), you need to modify the Windows hosts file.
The Verdict: A Necessary Evil (With Caveats)
The hosts file is a plain text file that maps hostnames to IP addresses. By adding lines like: 127.0.0.1 license.solidworks.com ...you are telling your computer to "look" for the SolidWorks license server on your own hard drive instead of on the internet. solidworks host file block fix
- Corporate VPNs like Cisco AnyConnect or Pulse Secure use their own DNS. They sometimes inject a "split tunneling" rule that ignores the local Hosts file entirely.
- Fix: Disconnect VPN, apply the Hosts fix, reboot, reconnect VPN.