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OpenDNS Search Engine Redirection

How to remove OpenDNS (Removal Guide)

OpenDNS is a company based in San Francisco, California that provides a free and paid internet navigation structure, as well as web security solutions for families, schools, governmental organizations, and businesses of all sizes. OpenDNS claims that their services increase the speed of navigating websites and prevent unintended access to phishing and malware sites as well as to any web content that you configure to be restricted, but this is not likely.

How To Remove OpenDNS

OpenDNS is not a necessity and may not add any realistic value or safety to a computer. A first-person IP or other third-party IP addresses provided free by Google, etc. should be used over OpenDNS IP addresses to avoid potentially unwanted situations, including browser redirects to their search engines and websites. OpenDNS is known to cause unwanted browser redirects to sponsored webpages and advertisements.

OpenDNS claims no responsibility for third party links they provide, which contradicts the meaning of internet safety. You can read more about this in the OpenDNS privacy policy below.
OpenDNS Third Party Sites

OpenDNS is known to block or restrict access to multiple websites, including harmless and safe websites. When OpenDNS blocks access to a website the prompted webpage warning reads: “Phising Site Blocked – Phishing is a fraudulent attempt to get you to provide personal information under false pretenses.” Note, in the image below we attempt to access a legitimate software company’s website, which OpenDNS wrongfully blocked.

Phishing Site Blocked by OpenDNS

OpenDNS redirects web searches to their OpenDNS search engine called “OpenDNS Guide” (guide.opendns.com). Often these searches are filled with third party advertisements.

OpenDNS Search Engine Redirection

OpenDNS IP addresses are often used to repair computer systems and allow access to the internet. OpenDNS may be on your system due to previously repairing DNS settings on your computer, from infections such as DNS changer malware.

How to remove OpenDNS (Windows)

1. Click the internet connectivity icon on the taskbar, and click “Open Network and Sharing Center” or navigate to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center.

Open Network and Sharing Center

2. Under “View your active networks” click the option provided for “Connections”, this may either be “Local Area Connection” (if connection is wired), or “Wireless Connections”.

Local Area Connection

3. The “Local Area Connection Status” window pops up, click “Properties”. (Please note this window will detail if IPv4 and IPv6 settings are in use)

Local Area Connection Status

4. Double click “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” (or highlight and click properties) to open the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Properties window.

Internet Protocol Version 4

5. Under the “General” tab where it says “Use the following DNS server addresses:” remove the OpenDNS IP addresses (common OpenDNS addresses are 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220).

Open DNS Server IP Addresses

6. Now select Obtain DNS server address automatically.

Obtain DNS Server addresses automatically

This will erase the OpenDNS DNS server IP address from your system and your computer and internet browser will function normally.

How to remove OpenDNS (Mac)

1. Navigate to: System Preferences > Network > Advanced > DNS

2. Under DNS you will see various IP addresses. Remove the OpenDNS IP addresses – you’ll recognize them as they start with 208 and will be something something similar to 208.67.222.222 or 208.67.220.220.

3. Remove the OpenDNS IP address by pressing the minus (-) button at the bottom.

4. You will be left with your own original IP address will will now be grayed out. Don’t worry, just add it again by pressing the plus (+) button and typing it in.

Jared Harrison

Jared Harrison is an accomplished tech author and entrepreneur, bringing forth over 20 years of extensive expertise in cybersecurity, privacy, malware, Google Analytics, online marketing, and various other tech domains. He has made significant contributions to the industry and has been featured in multiple esteemed publications. Jared is widely recognized for his keen intellect and innovative insights, earning him a reputation as a respected figure in the tech community.

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72 Comments

  • hello I came back form FL abd I left my computer home, when I got home I got on my pc and I cant play league or CS:GO, I can’t even go in YouTube, I can Google things but if I click the link it just says I can’t view things or something. please help me I have tried a LOT of things to fix this, hope some one can help me.
    Thanks, Crew

  • You need to update the mac one because I still have trouble with OpenDNS even after I followed those steps.

  • So our website was blocked by OpenDNS from an earlier malware issue which we have already resolved it, OpenDNS closed the ticket and continue to block the site. How should I reason with them since its affecting the business now?

  • Hello! I tried to do everything that was mentioned in the guide and comments above but yet It wont disable. I’ve done everything that i have found and nothing has worked. What do i do?

  • I have been fighting with this issue for so long. I cannot thank you enough. This solution worked. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

  • hey so i tried changing my mac settings but the one IP number that is in there..isn’t a 208 number. It starts in 192. Even when I try deleting it and typing it back in..everything just stays the same. And I’ve found no other way to uninstall it. It just doesn’t make sense

  • I’ve tried following these steps but when I came to the part where you remove openDNS IP adress it was already blank and there where no numbers.. why? openDNS is blocking vidoes from me. What can I do?

    • Try this! This is the google domain IPs, it worked for me when nothing else did.

      IPv4 – enter 8.8.8.8 and the alternate 8.8.4.4

      Then go into the IPv6 and enter this for the dns and also the alternate.

      2001:4860:4860::8888
      2001:4860:4860::8844 (alternate)

      hope this helps!

  • I had just installed the OpenDNS IP Updater to my machine as part of their step-by-step intro process. All of a sudden, my machine is right-clicking and clicking on links that I’m certainly not doing. No other peripherals have control over that except my mouse which is working fine. So … only one last place to look. And as soon as I remove it, everything’s right as rain. If it wasn’t spying on me, it was at least making me think it was.

  • I tried the steps to Mac when this showed up today blocking Google but I have nothing under DNS on my preferences. Help!!! I don’t understand how this happened! Thanks!!

  • Can u take this block off my pH did not ask 4 it be on my phone or how I can do it my South got back to me thanks

  • So I tried the Mac steps and I cannot click on the (-) to get the IP off. It’s all greyed out and I cannot click on anything. What do I do? This OpenDNS thing is blocking some sites I need for my grad classes.
    Thanks

  • Thank you so much! I have absolutely no idea how OpenDNS installed itself into my computer, but your guide pretty much saved me my job, so thanks!

  • Hey if i remove openDNS will it send a notification to anyone using that network?
    Any reply would be great thanks

    – Henry

    • Not sure what you mean… No one using the same network will get a notification if you change your own DNS that I am aware of.

      OpenDNS may keep track of these things. I am not sure if it would be considered anonymous information though.

  • Thank you!

    Just to add – for Mac it’s a similar process:

    Navigate to:
    System Preferences > Network > Advanced > DNS
    Under DNS you will see some IP addresses. Remove the OpenDNS IP addresses – you’ll recognise them as they start with 208 and will be something like 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220. So delete those by pressing the minus button at the bottom.
    You will be left with your own original IP address will will now be grayed out. Don’t worry. Just add it again by pressing the + button and typing it in.
    All done!

  • my already automatically searches for dns so this didnt solve the issue but when I try to go on youtube and it blocks the site at the bottom it says powered by opendns

    • It’s a similar process. Go to:
      System Preferences > Network > Advanced > DNS
      Under DNS you will see some IP addresses. Remove the OpenDNS IP addresses – you’ll recognise them as they start with 208 and will be something like 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220. So delete those by pressing the minus button at the bottom.
      You will be left with your own original IP address will will now be grayed out. Don’t worry. Just add it again by pressing the + button and typing it in.
      All done!

  • Hey,

    Okay , so… I don’t do this often but..
    ..Thank You.
    I just had to say that, I HAD TO. 😀
    I’m really glad someone took the time and explain what the frak all this was about blocking google and some other sites, all of a sudden.
    Also you managed to do this in short, clearly and honest way (like about the forum moderators, they ARE jerks).
    Everywhere I looked couldn’t find good information about this Company and the way to avoid their site-blocking.

    Sooo, yea. I wanted to say thank you, great job.

    -Dave

  • OpenDNS appeared when my browser opened. I do not know how it got on my computer. I ran all my Malewarebytes software and finally did a restore without sucess.
    I appreciate this informational webpage.
    Thank You, Weldon

  • thanks! I hate openDNS so much. If you go to their website and try and find this info, all the replies focus on your being an ingrate for even inquiring.

  • Thank you for the tutorial. It was simple and easy to follow. Only problem that i faced was in the last step when i need to remove the Open DNS ip address, the area that is should show the open dns ip is blank but open dns is still controlling my laptop.

    • Your internet provider DNS may be set to an OpenDNS IP address.

      For example last night Cox Cable DNS malfunctioned causing issues for most of their customers. – Google and OpenDNS DNS IP addresses are often used as backups.

      I suggest to possibly contact your provider (and/or Open DNS) and see if this is the case. Furthermore, I will update this post tomorrow (12/19) with alternative instructions.

  • Pingback: How To Disable And Remove OpenDNS From Your Computer And … | DNS Internet

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