Bonjour, also known as zero-configuration networking, enables automatic discovery of computers, devices, and services on IP networks. Bonjour uses industry standard IP protocols to allow devices to automatically discover each other without the need to enter IP addresses or configure DNS servers.
If you’ve installed software by Apple such as iTunes, software by Adobe such as Premiere Pro, Photoshop CS2, Dreamweaver CS3 the chances are there’s already a Bonjour folder in your Program Files. This service starts automatically and runs a process named mDNSResponder.exe which cannot be ended by Windows Task Manager. If you do not want Bonjour to be in your computer and want to uninstall it, sometimes you can’t find any uninstaller for it! Even if you go to Control Panel’s Add or Remove Program, you can’t find the uninstaller there as well.
Here’s how to safely uninstall and remove the Bonjour service and files (mDNSResponder.exe and mdnsNSP.dll). Just follow the few simple steps below to remove Bonjour from your computer.
NOTE: Make sure you have administrator privileges before executing these commands. You might have to delete the quotes and input them manually, because WordPress.com is outputting them as smart quotes.
- Go to [Start > Run] and type the following command and hit OK.
- “%PROGRAMFILES%\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe” -remove
- Go to [Start > Run] again and type the following command and hit OK.
- regsvr32 /u “%PROGRAMFILES%\Bonjour\mdnsNSP.dll”
After you restart, you can safely delete the Bonjour folder without errors.
To know if you have actually uninstalled Bonjour. Open services.msc and see if there is a service similar to: “##Id_String2.6844F930_1628_4223_B5CC_5BB94B879762##”. If it is not there, then it has been uninstalled. But the folder and files remain in the program files folder. Just in case you want to install it again.
If you encountered problems after uninstalling or removing Bonjour, you can download and reinstall Bonjour. [Download Bonjour for Windows]
If you have any problems, let me know. I will do my best to help you.
Filed under: Software, Tutorial | Tagged: 2008, Adobe, apple, bonjour, bonjour service, bonjourservice, command, cs3, dreamweaver cs3, dreamweavercs3, itunes, mdnsNSP.dll, mDNSResponder.exe, Photoshop, photoshopcs3, remove, Software, solutions, Tutorial, uninstall, windows, winvista, winxp
Hi Amarjeet,
I have tried this twice to remove the Bonjour service from my computer. Each time it tampered with my TCP/IP settings, so I ended up with no internet connection. I am running Windows XP, so I was able to restore my previous settings.
As for now I have disabled the service in Control panel, until hopefully somebody will come up with a solution to remove this stubborn service without negative after effects.
If you have any other ideas besides the ones mentioned above, please do tell. :-)
Thanks in advance….
For everyone out there, who is still struggling to remove this service, here is the fix:
http://www.x64bit.net/site/board/index.php?showtopic=4214&mode=threaded&pid=47407
I have tried it and it works. The only thing I did differently, I deleted the Bonjour folder in ‘Safe Mode’, because it wouldn’t let me do it any other way. From my experience I am concluding, that the application ‘LSPFix’, which I downloaded before I made changes, is the actual remedy to the problem. It repairs Winsock 2 by removing the LSP module ‘mdnsNSP.dll from Winsock 2.
Once you have done this all, go into the registry – if you are comfortable with it – and clean out all traces of ‘Bonjour’. You will be surprised how many there are.
Good luck!
Sorry, according to my conversations with both Adobe and Apple, the solution presented in this article is correct. The solution at x64bit.net is not correct.
The difference is this author correctly shows the command to “unregister” the ddl in the Bonjour directory. Before doing anything like renaming the file, rebooting, and then deleting the file as the other site says, you must be away this will not correct the associated registry key. In fact, they suggest you manually edit the key later.
By first unregistering the dll, the registry will be automatically updated. (Some installations of iTunes will place an extra dll in the directory; if so, unregister it as well) Reboot and then delete all the Bonjour files and directory. Bon Voyage, Bonjour!
Thanks G. Stender. I am glad the other method works for you.
I didn’t have any problems with the first method but this could be because I’m using Windows Vista. I just wish users had a choice before installing any services. I hate programs that install services unless they are absoulty crucial.
Cheers
Thanks for the link,
This program is getting blocked by my Hardware (smoothwall) and killing my connection.
Firstly i can’t belive Adobe got sucked in by Apple i hate Itunes don’t get me wrong ipod are a ok peace of kit but the requirement for itune is just a recourese waister
Bonjour is killing peoples connections i would like to see it come up in trend or nortons malicious software lists
Thanks man this piece of crap injects a dll to every single program I run and even messes up outgoing packets.
For anyone out there, I am running AVG, and I get a couple of codes that come up as changed. After the check is completed the system is “clean”. What’s up with it?
Hope is no new or hard to kill bug.
The codes:
C:WINDOWS\System32\shell32.dll
C:WINDOWS\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
will appreciate any imput
It could mean those files were changed. But if everything works fine, it shold be ok.
For the hosts file, I think this entry was added:
::1 localhost
Open the file in Wordpad or Notepad and delete that line.
I’m not sure of the changes it made to shell32.dll. Try searching Google.
thanks man, appreciate a bunch/will give it a try and will post results later, sorry for the delay on coming by and checking for feed back
ektor
I see I’m following a well traveled path. I noticed the Bonjour service (aka MDNSRESPONDER) this morning and found it was not “killable”. It was however easy to disable with WinPatrol. This handy utility provides a lot of info about running tasks and their affinities. Lets you take control FAST at a high level, and defer (or avoid altogether) all the rooting around in control panel. I’ve used it to identify and remove several lingering services and tasks that refused to go away, including symantec’s. Provides the option to set a manual start on startup tasks until a decision is made about keeping or removing a service. Come to think of it, I told WinPatrol to let the task install and run in the first place. Should have done my homework first. Cheers.
Seems like Apple safari Bonjour for windows since 2 versions works the uninstaller whitch comes with it. No files left after uninstall bonjour with its deinstallation
I had a problem with deleting the Program Files and folder after removing the msnsNSP.dll from autostart files.
Antivirus, system event logging stopped and had to do a sytem restore.
anyone else get this problem
I used the un-installer placed in windows control panel…seems to have eliminated this process without causing the issues others have had/
I get a Windows error when I try to remove Bonjour as you directed (I pasted the string in): ‘Windows cannot find: “C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe” –remove’ Even when I hit ‘Browse’ and locate it (exactly as the string indicates!)
This is a pesky program–any other suggestions?
“C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe” –remove
I get a “Windows cannot find “C:\Program:” error when I do as you directed
That is because they are the wrong quote I believe Wordpres converted them to smart quotes automatically.
Delete the quotes and type them in manually.
“C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe” –remove
i got another way to get rid of it too, try to use Unlocker (http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/) to then unlock any process connected to it, then its easily can be deleted :)
this tool also works for files/folders in windows that sometimes forbidden to be deleted,
hope helps
-iwel-
How do you get rid of the id string that is left behind in the services.msc screen. I have followed the steps and the service is stopped. I removed the folder from the Program Files without a problem. But how do you clean it off completely.
hi, by removing the Bonjour Service, will there be any known complications with the software? IE: Photoshop, premiere, itunes etc? Or is it a ’service’ that is completely unneeded?
thanks!
@Julio
Just run the command above and it should remove the service as well. But if you deleted the files, before running the command, you’re going to have to remove the service manually using hijackThis.
@GMC
I would say it is not needed.
IE and Photoshop CS3 work fine.
But I don’t have the iTunes or Premiere to test them.
I tried typing in the remove string manually and still got a cannot located file
This thing is really annoying because before itunes 7.7 I didn’t need it but now if I want to network my music library I need it and it is saying it is on a network resource that is unavailable. So I am just trying to remove it so I can re-install it. What a pain!!
You can simply turn Bonjour service off. Here is utility, directly from Gizmo… http://download.gizmo5.com/jasmine/
Look through the list.
-polocanada-
You can simple stop the service is Services in the Admin tools. By setting it to disabled.
Glad I don’t use iTunes or for that matter have an ipod.
Bhai ji,
I disabled the Bonjour Service and mDNSResponder.exe does not run. Unfortunately, I use Adobe Acrobat, CS3 and iTunes, so it becomes a necessary evil that can be Disabled, but not eliminated.
H. Kaur
I use Photoshop CS3, Acrobat 8, Dreamweaver CS3. And have had no problems.
Hi Amarjeet,
I have tried a couple of times to remove the Bonjour service from my computer. Each time I got an error message “service failed (5)” after the “C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe” –remove command.
I use Photoshop CS3 under Vista Professional 32 bit.
Thanx for your help.
sZs
I followed your instructions to uninstall Bonjour, the first step ran OK, the second, regsvr32 failed with the error message “LoadLibrary(“c:\program files\bonjou\mdnsNSP.dll”) failed – The specified module could not be found.”, however when I go to the directory, the file is there! What seems to be the problem; or did the uninstall work?
Thank you,
Jesse
To know if you have actually uninstalled Bonjour. Open services.msc and see if there is a service similar to: “##Id_String2.6844F930_1628_4223_B5CC_5BB94B879762##”
If it is not there, then it has been unistalled. But the folder and files remain in the program files folder. Just incase you want to install it again.
I too was unable to remove the program from the command prompt. Then I remembered I installed a free uninstaller called REVO UNINSTALLER. It is absolutely free to download and use with no spy or adware. You may want to try it if you have problems with the other methods. It even gets the registry entries. You determine the level of removal desired. Apple had no business sending this out with the iTunes update without the option to refuse to install it.
Please disregard the removal of Bonjour posted above using Revo Uninstaller. iTunes will not function because it cannot find Bonjure and is asking for a reload of the software. I restored to a previous point and removed the entire program. I am downloading 4.9 and reinstalling iTunes. Sorry.
Hi, I wanna thank the person who posted this, I have followed the instructions and all seems well – as of now, I have yet to restart. There is one step that the post forgets to mention though… Before you can unregister the dll you must STOP THE SERVICE. So… go to your administrative tools, look for the funky service (should be one of the first ones on the list as it has unusual characters in its name i.e. “#”) double click and click on stop service. For good measure I also changed the startup type to “disabled”. I’ll be restarting soon so I hope for the best!
Will try to remember to post the end product of my own little test. Bye then :)
If Microsoft installed a stubbon pain-in-the-ass program like this without the user’s permission and with no practical way to remove it, the Dept of Justice would be up their butts in a heartbeat. As soon as I find an alternative to my iPod, I’ll be dumping i-friggin-tunes, setting that i-friggin-pod on fire and sending the charred remains to Steve Jobs with a nasty letter.
My online security system, Embarq, picks up on Bonjour at least once a week. I didn’t know what it was, but kept telling it to accept the program. I also use iTunes. Do I need Bonjour in order to run iTunes? Will it mess anything up if I uninstall it?
At a command prompt:
sc delete [servicename]
ex. sc delete “Bonjour Service”
hey, i stopped the bonjour service first, and after i delete the mDNSResponder.exe file BUT i cant delete the .dll file, i tried everything, and at the end how can i delete this file?
I have updated the commands, this should work for everyone.
This bonjour app is so annoying!
regsvr32 /u c:\PROGRA~1\Bonjour\mdnsNSP.dll
I used the above command in the command prompt -> start -> run -> cmd
in my winxp sp3 and it works. Hope this help others
[...] (software – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Completly Uninstall and Remove Bonjour Service and Files (mDNSResponder.exe, mdnsNSP.dll) for Window… How to remove Bonjour Service Hoop dat je hier wat aan hebt! __________________ Super Moderator [...]
Please remoe me completely from your files and from my computer. I only use this for email and reasearch. that is it…..sorry…delete your bonjour service
i am sorry but i no longer require your services
Farabi, Thanks
regsvr32 /u c:\PROGRA~1\Bonjour\mdnsNSP.dll
worked perfectly
Hi.
I’m using Windows XP SP2. I used Revo Uninstaller to remove iTunes 8 but it didn’t remove Bonjour, which left these two files behind. After ending the processes, I was able to manually delete mDNSResponder.exe but couldn’t delete mdnsNSP.dll. I tried your suggestion of, regsvr32 /u “%PROGRAMFILES%\Bonjour\mdnsNSP.dll, but that didn’t work and I got an error message.
Finally, using a free program called Unlocker, I was able to delete it. I right-clicked on it, clicked “Unlock All”, then closed Unlocker. After that, I was able to delete “mdnsNSP.dll” just fine.
Unlocker is designed for a situation like this where a file won’t let you delete it. If anyone is interested, here is the site:
http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Yeah, but you still didn’t remove it smartass
Ok, the easiest way I’ve seen to bypass this piece of crap, was to extract the itunes.exe using 7 zip or winrar.
Delete the Bonjour.msi from the list and install.
Saved my ass from installing it.
It may be possible on Adobe’s products as well.
Too bad I have an Ipod, or else Itunes wouldn’t be on this PC.
Start > Run >
regsvr32 /u c:\PROGRA~1\Bonjour\mdnsNSP.dll
Works in Win XP SP3!! Thanks Farabi
Thanks for this piece. So sick of services being installed without my knowledge. Followed your doc and quickly nuked this one.
Hi, guys. I have a big question. I just recently got an Ipod touch and was updating to itunes 8. Everything was going good until it reached the process in which it said it couldnt delete bonjour. Bonjour is in my add/remove programs but it is not on the computer??? I couldnt find any files mentioned? PLEASE HELP!
Hi everyone, may i know why I have to remove Bonjour from my laptop. what’s the negative effect for this service. Just a month ago, I cannot show hidden files from Folder Optiions menu, except if I would use ACDSEE browser. I dont know if the Bonjour has to do about it? Tnx.
“The older version of Bonjour cannot be removed. Contact your technical support group”.
This message keep coming wheather i try to update or remove any new programe, even Bonjour. i don’t understand what is this, any one can help?
thanks
i got an update on my itunes one day, so i updated. when i got 3/4 into finishing updating my itunes my bonjour file (bonjour.msi) file is missing. the entire file is gone. now i cant open my itunes & put music into my ipod becouse of it. i need help here, because this is gettin ridiculous.
I have unisntalled Itunes, and have deleted any files I found with Bonjour. Bonjour still shows up in my Add/remove programs but when I try to remove it it says
“The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable.”
I have read this entire string and so much of the solutions are over my head. UGH!!! I don’t know what
“I used the above command in the command prompt -> start -> run -> cmd” means, do I type CMD when IO get to the run and then type the regsvr32 /u c:\PROGRA~1\Bonjour\mdnsNSP.dll ??
Any help would be great.
Thanks
[...] asking how to remove Bonjour, Amarjeet Rai has written a blog post about it, which can be found here. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)To Curse or Not to Curse, that is the question. [...]
Since yesterday, Bonjour was automately updated and I cannot connect to the internet anymore (this message is from anoyher way). I went back to a recovery point of two days before in my PC. And guess what? Everything was as two days before except Bonjour of yesterday (files of 27/4/09 were still there)
??????
I have stopped service, removed folder etc but Bonjour still appears on my Add/Remove programs – what kind of a joke program is this? Please help!!!!!!!!!1
[...] that my computer is still running fine and connecting after several days. Check out this link…. Completly Uninstall and Remove Bonjour Service and Files (mDNSResponder.exe, mdnsNSP.dll) for Window… [...]
1. Used Revo to unistall Quick time but not itunes. I know not smart.
2. Used windows unistaller to uninstall Itunes; didn;t work. Froze laptop. Shut down by pulling battery and plug
3. Used Revo to unistall Bonjour, now nothing works
4, Uninstalled Revo.
No internet connection. Cannot do system restore,
Internet connection on other machines through same router.
Question: How do I reset setting on laptop to get internet connection back
thanks…works like a charm :D
I tried everything to get rid of Bonjour and nothing worked until I tried Revo Unistaller which allowed me to view the Bonjour folder and delete it, which could not be found before. Magic programme which allowed me to update iTunes.
I have the same problem as Roger L, 2 weeks ago i installed itunes and my wireless connection stop function, I have all this DNS problems… I need help urgent…!! I’m traveling and i can’t use internet!!!!
Please tell me what to do!?? :S
No internet connection. Cannot do system restore,
Internet connection on other machines through same router.
Question: How do I reset setting on laptop to get internet connection back
I have this service on my computer, but don’t know how I got it.
I haven’t installed anything by Apple or Adobe ever except Acrobat Reader. Any other programs that install this piece of crap?
Also, Would a service like this be able to install if you did not have Admin Rights on your Computer?
I figured out what I installed that got this on my computer,
I installed Tivo Desktop and my company also had us install
Skype, both programs use this service.
Here’s a list of other programs that use this:
Adobe Systems Creative Suite 3, Proteus, Adium, Fire, Pidgin, Skype, Vine Server, Elgato EyeTV to share local recordings with multiple clients, the Gizmo Project to find other users on the local network, TiVo Desktop to find digital video recorders and shared media libraries, SubEthaEdit to find document collaborators, and Contactizer to find and share contacts, tasks and events information. Additionally it is used by Safari to find local web servers and configuration pages for local devices, and by Asterisk to advertise telephone services along with configuration parameters to VoIP phones and dialers.
Can we delete the service after the programs have found the other devices? Like with Tivo Desktop, once it has found the Tivo recorder, can the service then be disabled?
You people are funny. everyone’s a genius
So. . . does this mean that if I DO have iTunes, and I DO have an iPod, that I need to keep Bonjour on my PC?
Otherwise, sounds like it allows access to my computer from the outside, by programs and people of whom I am unaware.
–Seems like everyone trying to delete Bonjour does not have use iTunes.
can not charge or update iphones and touch ipodswhat can i do ihave 5 inal 2phones 3 ipod touches
joke on me will contact rogers
After installing iPlayer I now find my computer is infested by Bonjour. The whole iTunes/iPlayer setup turns out to be of little use to me. It has a few jazz albums, but I have no interest in downloading or organising pop music, and there is just one video album of any interest to me. I do not own an iPod and do not intend to get one. I don’t need any of the facilities which Bonjour apparently provides.
If managing to get rid of Bonjour kills iPlayer, I would shed few tears. Could someone please tell me if this is the case?
Am I right in thinking that uninstalling the iPlayer software will NOT remove Bonjour despite its having installed it in the first place?
Can it be disabled by renaming the extension of MDNSRESPONDER.EXE? Presumably simply deleting it doesn’t work?
At present I’m using AVG Firewall to block Bonjour Service from establishing any UDP connection. It wants to contact 224.0.0.251 : 5353.
I am glad that I have very few dealings with Apple if they are capable of installing something resembling a virus in the way it spreads throughout a system without giving any warning or requesting consent.
Further to the above, blocking Bonjour Service DOES disable iTunes/iPlayer. While some of the above posts are truly terrifying, I’ve not AS YET suffered any detectable net access or wireless link problems, so for the moment I’m inclined to leave things as they are.
I use Opera, not Internet Explorer. Could that be something to do with my not having any problems?
However, I still very much dislike having something as problematic as this installed on my system without my knowledge, let alone without my consent. In future I’ll think very carefully before installing ANYTHING which originated with Apple.
Hey so I have tried almost everything you guys have said, to try and find and disable. Yet I can not find any evidence of the program being installed. There is no program file for it and when I search for the bonjour.msi file to update itunes I can’t locate it and it exits the install. So I have now uninstalled itunes and can’t reinstall it because I don’t have bonjour.msi. Please help
If you have any trouble uninstalling and reinstalling itunes you will want to check out this link…
http://zardozz.com/zz/2008/04/how-to-completely-uninstall-and-remove-all-traces-of-itunes.html
Read the positive comments on the post. It’s worth it if you find out you can’t uninstall itunes and you keep getting errors.
I copy & pasted from your web site and the DLL was not removed below is my paste. I removed mDNSResponder.exe with a keyboard delete after your method did not function. How can I delete mdnsNSP.dll?
regsvr32 /u “%PROGRAMFILES%\Bonjour\mdnsNSP.dll”