[SOLUTION] AdAway Not Working - Stuck on "Applying hosts file"

Here is an easy solution/fix for those who wish to use AdAway v2.8 but end up getting stuck on the final step to enabling ad blocking, "Applying hosts file".

If you are trying to enable AdAway but are stuck on "Applying hosts file" as seen in the screenshot below, then please follow these very simple instructions.


1. Download a root explorer. I prefer using Root Explorer because I think its the best file explorer on the android market. If you have problems with purchasing apps you can always use the free version Explorer, or if you prefer using another file explorer that's fine, just make sure it has root access enabled.


2. Once you have a file explorer installed that has root access enabled, navigate to "system/etc" and find the file labeled "hosts" as seen in the screenshot below.


3. Hold down/select the file labeled "hosts" and select "permissions" from the selection as seen in the screenshot below.


4. After selecting permissions a window should have popped up where you can change the permissions of the file as seen in the screenshot below.


4. Change the permissions of the hosts file to "rw-rw-rw" just like in the screenshot below. Hit "OK" to apply the permission changes and close the file explorer completely and head back over to AdAway.


5. Once you have AdAway back open, click "Download files and apply ad blocking" and try again. Depending on your internet connection it shouldn't take very long, but you should see something like this, hit "Yes".


6. After your phone has rebooted, open AdAway again and you should see something like this saying newest hosts files enabled.


Congratulations, AdAway is now working and ad blocking is enabled!

Still having problems - you can try this

Had the same issue on my HTC Desire running 4.4.2 OmniRom by Spezi77

I followed all the steps outlined in the OP, but still Adaway was stuck while applying the host file

Finally, managed to get it to work by disabling the toast notification for Adaway in SuperSU.


The original solution has been posted here (towards the end)

The reason AdAway does that on newer android versions (some 4.3 roms and most all 4.4) is because of SELinux. If you change it to permissive, the Hosts file applies perfectly. Do so at your own risk, but I can't stand having it on my phone. Blocks too many fun things.

I installed root explorer -free version just to reprodcue your problem. Yes, I get the same on step 3 - it only shows the properties of the host file. I think this is partly because the program does not ask for root permissions. With SuperSu i couldn't manually grant root permissions to it.

I would suggest you to use "ES file explorer" instead. When you open this program, access the left menu. Open tools and scroll down to find root explorer option. Now in the app click on the button next to it to switch it on. The program will now ask for root permissions from your super user program. Grant there rights. Then you have to click on the word root explorer and you will get a popup menu. In this menu you have to next to the /system select RW option. This will allow you to make changes to system.

Now close this left menu, and navigate to the hosts file and set the permissions. When you long press on the file you will get similar options as listed in the original post.

You can switch off the root explorer option when you are done.

Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Free mobile app

SuperSU Notification tweak fixes it

Disabling the notification in SuperSU worked for me as well.

Thanks for the note.