The Adobe Hosts File Block List is a community-maintained collection of domains and IP addresses designed to prevent Adobe software from communicating with official servers. Users typically use this list to bypass licensing checks, disable genuine software verification, or stop Adobe from modifying system files without consent. Purpose and Functionality
Blocking Activation Checks: The primary use is to reroute Adobe’s licensing servers (e.g., lm.licenses.adobe.com) to a non-existent local address ( or
), effectively "silencing" the software's ability to verify subscriptions.
Preventing Background Telemetry: Many entries in these lists target Adobe’s "Genuine Software Service" and other data-tracking endpoints to improve privacy or prevent "non-genuine" pop-up alerts.
Site Detection Countermeasures: Some reports suggest Adobe Creative Cloud modifies the local hosts file to detect if a user has the software installed when they visit the Adobe website, a move some critics compare to malware behavior. Key Block List Resources
Community members actively maintain these lists on platforms like GitHub to keep up with new Adobe endpoints.
Adobe-URL-Block-List: A curated repository on GitHub that allows users to contribute new domains or IPs.
Adobe-Block-Hosts-List: Another active list that frequently updates with new URLs to ensure ongoing effectiveness.
GitHub Gist Collections: Individual users often share static snippets of block lists for specific versions of Creative Cloud. Block Adobe Hosts C:\drivers\etc\hosts - GitHub Gist
This report covers the purpose, list, and implementation of Adobe hosts file blocking, current as of April 2026. 1. Purpose and Mechanism
The Adobe hosts file block list is primarily used to prevent Adobe software from communicating with its home servers. Users typically implement these blocks to: Adobe Hosts File Block List
Prevent License Verification: Stop the software from checking subscription status or serial numbers.
Block Tracking and Analytics: Disable background telemetry and "genuine software" checks that monitor usage.
Disable Automatic Updates: Prevent the software from automatically downloading and installing updates that might break specific workflows or "patch" activation bypasses.
The mechanism involves mapping Adobe’s known domain names to a non-routable IP address like 0.0.0.0 or 127.0.0.1 in the system's local hosts file. This causes the software's network requests to fail locally rather than reaching Adobe's servers. 2. Comprehensive Adobe Block List (2026)
The following entries are commonly consolidated from major community repositories like the Adobe-URL-Block-List GitHub and Scribd documentation. Target Domains Main API & Stats
adobe.io, cc-api-data.adobe.io, adobestats.io, cctypekit.adobe.io, ic.adobe.io Licensing & Activation
activate.adobe.com, licenses.adobe.com, practivate.adobe.com, lm.licenses.adobe.com, na1r.services.adobe.com Identity & Login
adobelogin.com, adobe-identity.com, ims-na1.adobelogin.com.cdn.cloudflare.net Genuine Check genuine.adobe.com, adobegenuine.com Telemetry (Subdomains)
*.prod.cloud.adobe.io, *.adobestats.io (e.g., x0850n5e.1q9cz.adobestats.io)
IP-Based Entries:Some configurations also block direct IP addresses associated with Adobe servers: The Adobe Hosts File Block List is a
192.150.14.69, 192.150.18.101, 192.150.18.108, 192.150.22.40, 192.150.8.100, 192.150.8.118. 3. Implementation Guide Editing the Hosts File (Windows) Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc. Right-click Notepad and select Run as Administrator.
Open the hosts file (ensure "All Files" is selected in the file dialog).
Paste the entries at the bottom of the file in the format: 0.0.0.0 ://name.com.
Save the file and restart your computer or flush your DNS cache. Firewall Blocking (Additional Security)
Because some modern Adobe services use hardcoded IPs or alternative resolution methods, users often complement hosts blocking with a Windows Defender Firewall rule:
This is the Adobe URL/IP block list for the Host file. - GitHub
To block Adobe's background services and telemetry via your system's hosts file, you need to map specific Adobe domains to an invalid IP address like 0.0.0.0 or 127.0.0.1. This prevents your software from "calling home" for license checks or data tracking. Core Adobe Block List
Copy and paste these entries into your hosts file. For a complete and updated list, you can use the Adobe URL Block List on GitHub.
# Adobe Block List 0.0.0.0 activate.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 practivate.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 ereg.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 activate.wip3.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 wip3.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 3dns-3.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 3dns-2.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 adobe-dns.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 adobe-dns-2.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 adobe-dns-3.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 ereg.wip3.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 activate-sea.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 wwis-dubc1-vip60.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 activate-sjc0.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 hl2rcv.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 lm.licenses.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 na1r.services.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 hlrcv.stage.adobe.com 0.0.0.0 lmlicenses.wip4.adobe.com Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard (Sources: GitHub Gist, Scribd, Facebook InDesignSecrets) How to Edit the Hosts File
The file has no extension and requires Administrator privileges to save changes. File Location: Windows: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts. macOS / Linux: /etc/hosts. Edit Process (Windows): Typical categories of Adobe domains targeted
Search for Notepad in the Start menu, right-click it, and select Run as Administrator.
Go to File > Open, navigate to the path above, and change the file type filter from .txt to All Files. Paste the block list at the bottom of the file. Save and exit. Additional Best Practices
Example (illustrative only — do not paste blindly into your hosts file):
127.0.0.1 activate.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 practivate.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 ereg.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 lm.licenses.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 cc-cdn.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 oobelib.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 adobe-dns.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 adobeereg.com
127.0.0.1 licenses.adobe.com
(Real-world lists may include dozens or hundreds of hostnames; the exact set changes over time.)
Below are commonly targeted domains from various public block lists (historical examples):
| Domain | Purpose (if unblocked) |
|--------|------------------------|
| activate.adobe.com | Main activation server |
| adobe-dns.adobe.com | License validation |
| adobe.activate.com | Activation handshake |
| ereg.adobe.com | Entitlement/registration |
| hl2rcv.adobe.com | License check-in |
| ccmdl.adobe.com | Creative Cloud download & validation |
| practivate.adobe.com | Activation & tamper detection |
| na1r.services.adobe.com | Real-time licensing |
| lm.licenses.adobe.com | License manager |
| licenses.adobe.com | License status |
| crl.adobe.com | Certificate revocation list (tamper protection) |
| lcs-cops.adobe.com | License compliance check |
Note: Adobe frequently changes, adds, or retires such domains, making static host lists unreliable.
Modern Adobe applications have hardcoded IP addresses for critical activation servers. If DNS resolution fails (due to a Hosts block), the software tries the direct IP. If that works, the license check proceeds.
Many users blindly copy-paste block lists without understanding the consequences. Here is what can go wrong: