Tropico 4: How to play without launcher / account registration

This guide shows how you can start Tropico 4 without register a new account or disconnect from the internet.
Only tested in Win 7 / 8 / 10 (should work in other Windows version too)

1. Which folder?

First of all you need to go to C -> Windows -> System32 -> drivers -> etc (C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc)



Open the hosts file with your prefered Editor but the Windows wordpad should be enough.

2. Editing the file

In the etc file you will find a text like this:


Just add this " 127.0.0.1 launcher01.kalypsomedia.com " one line under the last #

Now save it but remove the ".txt" at the end



Now you're done with editing. No restart required. Have Fun playing Tropico 4.

FAQ

Does this work on XP / Win 8 / 10 too?
Yeah this works under XP too. (Thanks to Stef)
Yep works under Windows 8 too. (Thanks to Anakin_the_Green)
And lastly this will work under Windows 10.

Does this work with Tropico 4 DLC's ?
Yep DLC's work. Bought them myself and i can play them all.

I don't get any achievements / cards when i play Tropico 4. Do i still need an account?
You wil get all achievements that you've achieved when you start Tropico 4 again. You get cards normally.

I get everything working until I try to save, it then tells me that I need an administrator, what do I do?
Try to open your editor with right click and "Start as Administrator" this should help,
otherwise you can try this
- > Copy your hosts file somewhere you may work with, e.g. your desktop. Edit the hosts file on your desktop and copy/move it back where it came from. Now confirm replace file and you are good to go. (Thanks to Sam Bartson)

Does this edit anything that could mess up my computer?
You only set the activation from the Kalypso Server to your computer (127.0.0.1).
The Launcher can't find the server and starts the game. (Same process as you would disconnect from the internet and start the game)

[LuxHP]

Works great! Thanks!

[Rubikson]

Still works! Thank you! 3/29/25

[Hemor Odin]

still works, thank you

[超级大咸鱼]

very very very thanks

[Le Whopper]

@Dwarf
Yeah i guess there would be no performance difference. Just skipping the Launcher.

[Dwarf]

Thanks for the answer, I was redirected here from a tropico 6 topic about the launcher.
From what I saw it doesn't impact the game performance.

[Le Whopper]

@Dwarf
When i made this guide you had to make an account to even play the game. But you could skip the launcher alltogether with the setting above. The game would just start.

[Dwarf]

Question, what does it bring to disable the launcher? Increased performance?

[Doxepinx]

its doesen't work!

[freshly squeezed]

still works!