Will I need root to access hosts file? - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello, I currently have the GS7 G930V. I'd like to have access to the hosts file. Will I need root to accomplish that? I'd like to edit the hosts file and then password lock it. Willing to upgrade my phone to accomplish this. Thank you.

Affirmative, root is required.

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[Q] Android Stock Browser - help please!

Hi to all
My Streak 5 is running DSC ROM v1.1 and am using the included Android stock browser (v2.3.3).
When I try to view adfly web pages (eg *******/), I am not able to see them - I get the 'web page not available' error message.
What do I need to do to both view these kind of web pages and also for them to load properly in the Android browser? I can see the pages on any PC but have singularly failed to find a way via the browser on my phone
Many many thanks to anyone who can put me out my misery..
This may be due to the modified hosts file that is included with DSC. Look in /system/etc/ and find a file named hosts. Make a backup of it. Open the original in a text editor and remove everything but this line:
127.0.0.1 localhost
Leave a blank line at the end of the file, save and exit.
It may require a reboot to be effective. If it doesn't work, just revert to your backup.
lordmorphous said:
This may be due to the modified hosts file that is included with DSC. Look in /system/etc/ and find a file named hosts. Make a backup of it. Open the original in a text editor and remove everything but this line:
127.0.0.1 localhost
Leave a blank line at the end of the file, save and exit.
It may require a reboot to be effective. If it doesn't work, just revert to your backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much for the quick reply - much appreciated. Your suggestion about the hosts file gave me a clue.
I have AdAway installed, which blocks ads (on both webpages and those sent/displayed by apps and games) by modifying the hosts file. I disabled AdAway and reverted to the DSC ROM hosts file - and I can now see adfly pages on the browser.
However, I still wish to block ads on web pages, while still being able to use adfly-type sites. I also don't want to lose the ability to block ads shown/sent by apps & games. Is there an alternative method to block these?
AdAway was extremely effective at doing its job and I'd be loath to lose that functionality. For example on my PC, I use Chrome with AdBlockPlus extension which allows me to see and navigate through adfly-type sites while not being subject to ads.
Any advice or suggestions would be gratefully received. Thanks again for your help.
Cheers
AdAway and other such programs only combine the lists of blocked sites compiled by well-known sites into a single HOSTS file. They currently cannot exclude specific sites. For that, you have to edit the file manually.
Continue using AdAway, but use a text editor afterward to manually update the HOSTS file to exclude the site you want to see.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
AdAway and other such programs only combine the lists of blocked sites compiled by well-known sites into a single HOSTS file. They currently cannot exclude specific sites. For that, you have to edit the file manually.
Continue using AdAway, but use a text editor afterward to manually update the HOSTS file to exclude the site you want to see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually AdAway has a whitelist facility. I've added ******* to it but can still see all the ads, unlike when I use AdBlock Plus under Chrome on a PC. Guess that'll have to do, unless anyone knows of a more elegant solution..
Cheers
I've used AdAway for months now and didn't realize it had a whitelist. Good to know the feature exists, though I am unlikely EVER to use it.
lordmorphous said:
This may be due to the modified hosts file that is included with DSC. Look in /system/etc/ and find a file named hosts. Make a backup of it. Open the original in a text editor and remove everything but this line:
127.0.0.1 localhost
Leave a blank line at the end of the file, save and exit.
It may require a reboot to be effective. If it doesn't work, just revert to your backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks bro!!!
I stop using adaway due to this problem. SO many website can't be opened. MOdify the host file and now things work again or just click disable adaway and it will modify the host file for you
For the app, you might want to use lucky patcher to block the ads
lordmorphous said:
This may be due to the modified hosts file that is included with DSC. Look in /system/etc/ and find a file named hosts. Make a backup of it. Open the original in a text editor and remove everything but this line:
127.0.0.1 localhost
Leave a blank line at the end of the file, save and exit.
It may require a reboot to be effective. If it doesn't work, just revert to your backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't find system , can you be more specific , not able to find in file manager
pramodb said:
Can't find system , can you be more specific , not able to find in file manager
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to be using a file manager that allows root functions, such as ES File Explorer, Root Explorer, etc. A non-root enabled file explorer won't allow you to see /system/
lordmorphous said:
You need to be using a file manager that allows root functions, such as ES File Explorer, Root Explorer, etc. A non-root enabled file explorer won't allow you to see /system/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude , I used es explorer and I'm still not able to find system
pramodb said:
Dude , I used es explorer and I'm still not able to find system
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you enable the root explorer features of ES? I'm not sure where to go from here to help you. Finding /system/ is pretty basic stuff.
If you are familiar with using adb, you can use it to pull the file to your computer, edit it, and push it back into place. The command would be:
adb pull /system/etc/hosts
adb push hosts /system/etc/hosts
There are lots of guides available for using adb and it is a worthwhile tool to know and use.
I like Notepad ++ for editing files on my computer. It's free and simple to use.
I'm willing to help, but keep in mind that I no longer have this phone as I moved on to the S3 last July.
lordmorphous said:
Did you enable the root explorer features of ES? I'm not sure where to go from here to help you. Finding /system/ is pretty basic stuff.
If you are familiar with using adb, you can use it to pull the file to your computer, edit it, and push it back into place. The command would be:
adb pull /system/etc/hosts
adb push hosts /system/etc/hosts
There are lots of guides available for using adb and it is a worthwhile tool to know and use.
I like Notepad ++ for editing files on my computer. It's free and simple to use.
I'm willing to help, but keep in mind that I no longer have this phone as I moved on to the S3 last July.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay , got it but it is already in the way you said of should he , what do you suggest I do now
lordmorphous said:
Did you enable the root explorer features of ES? I'm not sure where to go from here to help you. Finding /system/ is pretty basic stuff.
If you are familiar with using adb, you can use it to pull the file to your computer, edit it, and push it back into place. The command would be:
adb pull /system/etc/hosts
adb push hosts /system/etc/hosts
There are lots of guides available for using adb and it is a worthwhile tool to know and use.
I like Notepad ++ for editing files on my computer. It's free and simple to use.
I'm willing to help, but keep in mind that I no longer have this phone as I moved on to the S3 last July.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay , I got it and its in the way you said it should be , so any suggestions. And BTW I'm using gt-p5100 on job 4.2.2 via CyanogenMod
Well, that ruled out the hosts file. I'm stumped now. If I think of something I'll post it.
lordmorphous said:
Well, that ruled out the hosts file. I'm stumped now. If I think of something I'll post it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
I had the same problem like others had so what i did , i just move the host file from system/etc to just system , now i can open adf and other sites but now i can see ads running in my apps and games . Now i want to manually edit the hosts file so that the ads won't run in apps & games but it won't block adf . So can u tell me which data to remove from the host file ??
Okay i just remove the adf (dot)ly and cdn(dot)adf(dot)ly from the hosts and now i can open adf and also no ads in the apps or games.
But has problem with the linkbucks , still can't open it and can't find it in the hosts also
easy video tutorial made by me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kaochdv3cbs
Hi
hi
after doing that i have this error
unable to connect proxy server
how to fix this?

[Q] I can't edit the hosts file with Root explorer or anything

I have the really common "can't establish a reliable connection to the server" problem... I've tried everything to try and fix it but nothing works. Adaway won't edit the hosts files and I can't do it mannually either. I don't know what the problem is. I can't even delete the hosts file.
I have Kingroot on a Xperia M2... I don't know what else I should need to specify for you to help but if you have an idea for a solution I would really aprecciate it. I don't mind losing all data. Sorry if this isn't clear enough, english is not my mother language.
I wouldn't use kingroot if I were you. You may not have proper root access with Kingroot.

How to modify hosts file

Hi guys, i got root on my Honor 10 and would like to modify the hosts file to block ads.
I assume the correct one is /sytsem/etc/hosts right?
I can confirm that i have root acces because i can rename the hosts file and create other files.
I am using the AdAway app which worked just fine on my old phones.
But this time it says "replacement of hosts file failed" ... no further information.
Since i know the sources where AdAway is getting its information from i would like to simply modify the host file by myself.
What format does the hosts file needs to have to work? Like .txt file and remove the file extension afterwards.
Any ideas?
If you are rooted why not try masigk host file?

MicroG/self check/network-based location unchecked

Can someone point me towards where/how to apply the location setting fix to see if it works for me?
Thanks
Edit: I'm comfortable with editing the file through a root explorer if someone is able to tell me where to find the file. I know there is a pathway but I don't know how to locate it...

Last modified files

I have a rooted TWRP Android.
I want to see files modified by time, including the most recently update.
The Root Explorer search doesn't seem to be able to do this. Any ideas or recommdations on an app or apk to use ?
Thanks

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