[TIP] AdAway cannot write hosts file - Stock, rooted

[SoNic67]

This is for people that like to use the stock firmware (I'm one of them) and you are rooted with ElementalX. One of my main reasons to root the phone is to use AdAway (or similar) to get rid of annoying and useless ads.
Well, the hosts file is write protected by the stock Android and cannot be overwrite by AdAway, even if you give root access. AdAway suggests a work-around for this and this is how you apply it.
1. First run AdAway - it will fail writing the system hosts file, but the new hosts file is downloaded on the phone.
Now change to fastboot mode and then boot TWRP (there is no need for TWRP to be flashed with stock).
I usually do it from a command window opened in the TWRP folder (Shift-RightClick), like this:

adb reboot-bootloader

Now you are in fastbootmode.

fastboot boot twrp-3.1.0-athene_shreps.img

Of course, replace the TWRP name with "twrp-3.0.2-r4-athene.img" if that's is what you have.

In TWRP screen now:
1. Select MOUNT and check the System partition. Go back.
2. Select ADVANCED>TERMINAL
You have a # prompt. If not, type SU.
3. Type the following two lines in that terminal:

mv /system/etc/hosts /system/etc/hosts.bak

This renames the existing hosts file to hosts.bak . Not really needed... but better safer than sorry.

[COLOR="Blue"]ln -s /data/hosts /system/etc/hosts[/COLOR]

This creates a symbolic link to a location that AdAway can write.
Reboot and enjoy.

 

[Hari Haran]

Simply copy that hosts file via any root Explorer

Sent from my Moto G4 Plus using Tapatalk

 

[rajatgupta1998]

Simply copy that hosts file via any root Explorer

Sent from my Moto G4 Plus using Tapatalk

This thing won't directly happen, imo:

ln -s /data/hosts /system/etc/hosts

This creates a symbolic link to a location that AdAway can write.
Reboot and enjoy.

 

[SoNic67]

Simply copy that hosts file via any root Explorer

Yeah, but you have to do it manually every time you update the hosts (AdAway update). Annoying IMO.

 

[[email protected]]

Thanks

Wow it worked great after a reboot. Is it like a hosts shortcut in etc folder to hosts file in data folder?

 

[SoNic67]

This needs to be re-done after the 93.14-4 security update.

 

[toppits]

I am running Stock, ElementalX, rooted with SuperSU.
I installed AdAway 3.2, checked systemless mode in the settings and that's it.

 

[SoNic67]

I am still at version 3.1.2. Thanks for the heads up.