What is Bonjour Service on Windows 10?

Have you ever noticed a process named Bonjour Service running in your Task Manager and wondered what it was? You're not alone. Many users, upon discovering this service, are often confused about its purpose and necessary function in their daily PC activities.

Firstly, it’s important to clarify that the Bonjour Service is not a virus. Developed by Apple, it has been an integral feature of their operating systems, namely iOS and macOS, since 2002. Although it primarily exists within the Apple ecosystem, it often ends up on Windows computers when users install Apple-related software, such as iTunes or Safari.

This article will delve deeply into what the Bonjour Service is, its importance, whether you need it, or if it can safely be removed from your Windows computer. If you decide to remove it, we have prepared a comprehensive guide on how to disable or uninstall the Bonjour service effectively.

Contents

1. What is Bonjour Service on Windows 10?
2. How to disable Bonjour service?
3. How to uninstall Bonjour?

What is Bonjour Service on Windows 10?

Formerly known as Apple Rendezvous, the Bonjour service is essential for discovering and connecting shared devices and services within a local network. Unlike standard applications, Bonjour operates in the background, enabling other Apple applications to seamlessly communicate over a local data network—a technique referred to as zero-configuration networking (zeroconf).

This functionality is supported by various modern technologies, including hostname resolution, address assignment, and service discovery methodologies. Furthermore, the use of multicast Domain Name System (mDNS) ensures that the Bonjour Service does not adversely affect your internet speed while operating.

Today, the most common use cases for the Bonjour service involve:

On Windows, the Bonjour service does not serve any direct interactive functions and can be removed. However, if you utilize any Apple software (like iTunes or Safari) on your system, it’s advisable to keep the service, as its absence may hinder the performance of these applications. Furthermore, certain third-party applications, including Adobe Creative Suite and Dassault Systemes’ SolidWorks, also rely on Bonjour to function effectively. Thus, before removing it, ensure it is not critically needed by any applications on your computer.

How to Disable Bonjour Service

When it comes to disabling the Bonjour service, you have two primary options: temporarily disable it or uninstall it entirely. Uninstalling is a more permanent solution, while disabling allows you the flexibility to enable it later if needed.

To disable the Bonjour service, follow the steps below:

1. Open the Run command by pressing Windows key + R, type services.msc in the text box, and click OK.
2. In the Services window, locate the Bonjour service. You can sort the services alphabetically by clicking on Name.
3. Right-click the Bonjour service and select Properties or double-click to open the properties menu.
4. To stop the service, click the Stop button under the Service status label, which should then display Stopped.
5. Change the Startup type to Disabled from the dropdown menu.
6. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

How to Uninstall Bonjour

Uninstalling Bonjour from your computer is straightforward, akin to removing any regular application. Here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Open the Run command box by typing control or control panel and press Enter.
2. In the Control Panel, select Programs & Features. Adjust the icon size to small or large for easier navigation.
3. Find Bonjour in the list, select it, and click on the Uninstall button at the top.
4. Alternatively, right-click on Bonjour and select Uninstall.
5. In the confirmation dialog, click Yes, then follow the on-screen instructions to finish the uninstallation process.

Note that Bonjour could leave residual files even after you uninstall the application. Follow these steps to completely remove Bonjour:

1. Open Windows File Explorer by pressing Windows key + E.
2. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Bonjour. (On some systems, you may find it in the Program Files (x86) folder).
3. Locate and delete mDNSResponder.exe and mdnsNSP.dll files.

If you encounter an error stating that the file is open in Bonjour, restart your computer and attempt to delete the files again. Alternatively, you can utilize an elevated command prompt to perform the removal:

1. Launch the command prompt as an administrator.
2. In the command prompt, navigate to the Bonjour folder path using cd command.
3. Run the command mDNSResponder.exe –remove to unregister the service.
4. Finally, unregister the mdnsNSP.dll file with the command: regsvr32 /u "C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mdnsNSP.dll".

After completing the steps above, restart your computer and delete the Bonjour folder in File Explorer.

Recommended Articles

• How to Transfer Microsoft Office to a New Computer?
• Fix Dragon Age Inquisition Won’t Launch in Windows 10

We hope this article has provided clarity on the Bonjour service and guided you effectively through the process of disabling or uninstalling it from your system.