iTunes uses Bonjour for various tasks it carries out. For instance, it uses the program for locating ‘Shared Music Libraries’, devices for streaming music to, and so forth. Safari, Apple’s own web browser, uses the same program for finding devices advertising web pages on your network. The Bonjour toolbar plugin offers an easy mode of discovery for Bonjour – advertising web pages. Moreover, Bonjour Printer Setup Wizard uses Bonjour’s application to discover and configure Bonjour’s advertised network printers.
If you happen to install iTunes, you will find that it installs Bonjour Windows Service, a Zero Configuration Networking process, and mDNSResponder.exe. Often iTunes is bundled with other software and installed on the user’s computer without the user’s knowledge. If you don’t use Bonjour or any of its features, then removing Bonjour shouldn’t cause any issue; however, in some cases, it is known to cause so. Here are the steps you can follow for more thoroughly uninstalling Bonjour.
Remove Bonjour from Windows 11/10
Firstly, if you have any Apple software installed on your computer such as iTunes, there’s a high likelihood that there’s already a Bonjour folder residing under the ‘Program Files’ section. On most occasions, the service starts automatically and runs a process named mDNSResponder.exe, which cannot be killed by Windows Task Manager.
You will, in most cases, be able to uninstall the program via Control Panel – but in some cases, this may fail! Hence, a safe method described here to uninstall and remove the Bonjour service and files – mDNSResponder.exe and mdnsNSP.dll.
Press Win + R keyboard keys in combination, to bring up the ‘Run’ dialog box. Next, type the following command and hit OK. Alternatively open an elevated CMD and do it.
"%PROGRAMFILES%\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe" -remove
To unregister the dll file, open a command prompt window, as an administrator, type the following and hit Enter.
regsvr32 /u "%PROGRAMFILES%\Bonjour\mdnsNSP.dll"
Restart your computer, go to C:\Program Files\ and delete the Bonjour folder.
iTunes and some other programs need Bonjour to function. If you use these programs, do NOT remove Bonjour! Make sure you have administrator privileges before executing these commands.
If you face any problems or need more support, you may see Apple.com.
What is Bonjour service in Windows 11/10?
Bonjour Windows Service, a Zero Configuration Networking process. Apple products and software need this service to function properly. Apple products like iTunes uses Bonjour for various tasks it carries out. Bonjour Printer Setup Wizard uses Bonjour’s application to discover and configure Bonjour’s advertised network printers.
Is Bonjour necessary on Windows?
If you do not use any Apple software on your Windows PC then you do not need Bonjour, and you can safely remove it by following this method. You will need it if you use any Apple products or software.
Related: Fix Bonjour Application Service error on Windows PC.
Hi, sorry to be an ignoramus but where is ‘win + r ‘ ? I don’t know how to start on what is recommended.
These are the keyboard keys. Press the Windows key and the R key at the same time.
the string to unregister the dll file doesnt work here, any suggestioins
Open a command prompt window, as an administrator and enter the command to unregister the dll.
Because Admin answer thinking you are dumb, your solution is : “C:Program FilesBonjourmdnsNSP.dll”
That file, “mdnsNSP.dll”, does not exist on my system. Yet when I try to install the TiVo desktop application, it says that bonjour is already installed, then when I try to run the TiVo desktop application, it says that the bonjour service is not on my system. All the bonjour files were removed long ago. Do I need to reinstall ITunes so that I can uninstall it?
Weird lol. It can be a solution, give it a try yes :o
I really appreciate the info here, thank you.
When I try this it says windows can’t find C:PROGRAM files and won’t do anything. I did the free upgrade from windows 8.1 to 10 and it was so bad I went back to 8.1. Now itunes won’t work and I can’t delete the old version, or Bonjour and I’m stumped. Any suggestions?
I have the same problem. The nice man from Apple spent an hour with me this afternoon, still no joy.
Can anyone help me with my problem. I am having the same issues except for that it is on Windows 10
I did the same thing. Downgraded to Windows 8.1 but then everything was having issues so I went back to Windows 10. Now I’m having issues with Itunes, Bonjour, and Adobe Reader
Same thing happened to me. I uninstalled iTunes to see if it could help me to uninstall Bonjour but it didn’t help me and I’m stuck.
Just sorted this. I’m using Windows 10 too and since updating iTunes last week I’ve had to manually reset my ethernet connection at startup.
Bonjour removal didn’t work BUT uninstalling iTunes did.
Step by step. I removed mDNSResponder.exe using the elevated cmd prompt. Then deregistered mdnsNSP.dll. On reboot I couldn’t delete the Bonjour folder (c:Program FilesBonjour). I opened the folder and was unable to manually delete the dll file. It was reported as still open in cryptographic services. I reran the dll deregistration using the elevated cmd prompt and then I was able to delete the dll file and of course, the now empty Bonjour folder. On startup I still had to manually enable the ethernet connection. I then uninstalled iTunes; rebooted and it worked.
Such a hassle, won’t be using iTunes anytime soon, leave it for the kids.
GL.
You may need to put quotes around the paths because on most systems, “Program Files” has a space in it. The commands that worked for me (Windows 10 Pro) were:
“%PROGRAMFILES%BonjourmDNSResponder.exe” -remove
regsvr32 /u “%PROGRAMFILES%BonjourmdnsNSP.dll”
Thanks for the original post. Found it after my system crashed on resume from sleep with over 400 Bonjour Service errors logged within a couple of minutes and Bonjour didn’t appear in add/remove programs.
Thanks. Updating.
Delighted to contribute. While your instructions were sufficient to get rid of Bonjour, CCleaner noticed some left-over registry entries for Bonjour (installer and firewall). I don’t know if these would be the same for everyone, but here’s what it removed for me (from the .reg files it creates as a backup):
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionInstallerFolders]
“C:\Program Files\Bonjour\”=”1”
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001servicesSharedAccessParametersFirewallPolicyFirewallRules]
“{FE89F1DE-B4AD-4D0F-9885-5EE1466F5120}”=”v2.22|Action=Allow|Active=TRUE|Dir=In|Protocol=17|Profile=Private|App=C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe|Name=Bonjour Service|”
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001servicesSharedAccessParametersFirewallPolicyFirewallRules]
“{1ADDDECC-5318-4559-830B-EA17A922715E}”=”v2.22|Action=Allow|Active=TRUE|Dir=In|Protocol=6|Profile=Private|App=C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe|Name=Bonjour Service|”
Hi, I am need of help. Read this forum and did everything I could with the suggestions but I still have a problem. I have been trying to use ITunes and upgrade it with not much luck. I believe the problem is Bonjour. I can not delete it from through the Control Panel – Programs and Features. I get an error message that says, The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable.” I have been able to delete the bonjour folder and when I do a search I find nothing left of Bonjour or those to files. However, when I try to install/reinstall ITunes, I get an error message stating that the old version of Bonjour can not be uninstalled. I am running Windows 10 on an older computer (5-6 years old). Running 64 bit. Anyone have any answers for this before I do something like a system restore? Thanks in Advance!!
Disconnect from the Internet. Boot in Safe Mode and then uninstall it and delete the folder.
Thanks but unfortunately that did not work
I was finally able to delete it by using older Window utility program. Thanks again!
regsvr32 /u “%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%BonjourmdnsNSP.dll”
for win7
Thanks for the valuable info :D
Go to the folder where mDNSResponder is. Inside the Bonjour folder probably but can be different depending what application installed it.
Shift + Rightclick in a blank space inside the folder
Open prompt here…
Type: mDNSResponder.exe -remove
Press WINDOWS+R write regedit
Press CTRL+F search for bonjour and delete all results
Reboot and delete the folder.
anyone one know how to block bonjour from installing in the first place? every time itunes updates I have to remove it again, and at no point has removing it cause any issues.
Does QuickTime player run on Bonjour?
Maybe QuickTime bundles Bonjour during installation…
Nothing above works. I got it in C:Program Files (x86)BlizzardBonjour ServicemDNSResponder.exe. I tryed different commands/paths and still no luck. Any suggestions ?
Thank you for that. I removed Bonjour via Control Panel. I noticed my computer was making a lot of noise–hard drives running, and when I checked processes, it was the only software running in background. After removing Bonjour, there was only the sound of my fan. Easy fix, but it surly does not make sense that Apple installs a program that only uses resources with nothing to control. Go figure. :)
Hi, I noticed this bonjour file on my computer after I bought it from Bestbuy. When I try to uninstall it it tries to install it instead how crazy is that? The prompt screen instead of removing the product ; tells me I need to close google chrome in order to continue with the install which doesn’t make sense.
issue> Bomjour is installed on C:Programfiles (x86) tried to do with that route as well and not deleting the .dll
On elevated CMD this command “”%PROGRAMFILES%BonjourmDNSResponder.exe” -remove” must do as follows: cd C: Program Files (x86) /enter
from C: Program Files (x86) .. cd Bonjour /enter
from C: Program Files (x86) Bonjour insert “mDNSResponder.exe” -remove” and enter
the second command line is not working so just reboot and delete the Bonhour folder from C: Program Files (x86)