Microsoft has confirmed an issue causing the HP Smart app to automatically install on Windows systems after all printers are renamed to HP LaserJet M101-M106.
Customers have been reporting this issue since last week on the Microsoft community website and on online social networks.
According to these reports, the HP Smart App is automatically installed on some Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices via the Microsoft Store, even though users don't own or use an HP printer or an HP computer.
While initially, some users thought that their systems had been compromised, Microsoft has now confirmed that this is a known issue affecting both client (Windows 10 1809 or later) and server (Windows Server 2012 or later) platforms.
According to Microsoft's findings, devices without access to the Microsoft Store should be unaffected by this particular issue.
Additionally, all printers, regardless of their original manufacturer, are being relabeled as HP printers on impacted systems, with the possibility that the printer icons will also get changed.
When users try to open a printer by double-clicking on it, they may also see an on-screen error message that says, "No tasks are available for this page."
"Printing processes are not expected to be affected by this issue. It should be possible to queue printing jobs as usual, as well as other features such as copying or scanning," Microsoft said.
"Printers on the device will continue to use the expected drivers for printer operations.
"As the symptoms are related to the automatic installation of the HP Smart app, Windows devices which do not have access to the Microsoft Store are not expected to be affected by this issue."
Microsoft is investigating this ongoing issue and will provide an update soon. Home and business users seeking assistance should contact support through the online form available at https://support.microsoft.com/contactus.
Earlier this year, the company fixed another known issue encountered by some printers during the installation process when they connect to Wi-Fi automatically.
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Comments
doncoyote - 1 year ago
We're all beta testers now.
Drakkaar - 1 year ago
I agree with this sentiment.
/rant
I've been mostly self-taught with how to diagnose and resolve issues related to Windows. Over the years, it feels like Microsoft ended up on down-ward spiral since Vista's conception.
Windows 8 was garbage, it was a Tablet OS that never should have been brought to Desktops, and stayed on the Microsoft Surface and similar devices. [Hidden Settings Menu, anyone?]
I was hesitant when Windows 10 first came out because of how heavy handed they were, forcing some people to Upgrade if they weren't even slightly tech savvy.
The thing that irks me most, is when Microsoft claimed that Windows 10 would be their last OS.
They're already developing Windows 12, and Windows 11 isn't even in a complete state.
Windows Fast Start has been problematic since its conception; who thought it would be a good idea to keep the computer in a state that allows Memory Leaks to eventually stop the system from even functioning, to the point that a user can't even initiate a restart. Most daily users don't even know the difference between a Mouse Pointer and a Cursor.
They continue to segregate the Windows Settings and Control Panel, continually trying to force people to use the inferior Windows Settings, when Control Panel still has [almost]everything you need and it works well. They need to either fully develop Windows Settings or just go back to Control Panel. I expect this will still be a problem after Windows 11.
I can't even count how many articles I've read over the past 3 years where Microsoft releases an update that either breaks the boot process, affects Printers [PrintNightmare, the current HP M101-106 debacle], the OOBE [Out of Box Experience] constantly nagging users to sign into a Microsoft Account, or forcing you to connect to a network to even use your computer [Win11]
I understand that [some] people may run into these problems because they may have used some type of pirated software that left their OS vulnerable or changed it in an unexpected manner, but Microsoft certainly causes a lot of their own problems.
/rant over
NoneRain - 1 year ago
True. MS has three big issues that overlap:
1-Windows has legacy stuff. They improved almost every aspect of the system, but it still depends on fundamental parts that are old and heavily patched. Explorer and indexing, for example, are just terrible (I can't stress enough how sh1tty they are), but they're essencial to the system. Everything that relays on those are going to be slow or freeze at some point.
2-Incompetence. MS does not deliver quality. Every piece of software or system (even videogames) have been deployed half-baked. They expend the big bucks, but the result does not live to the investment. When they propose new stuff to fix legacy problems, like for example, UWP as Win32 replacement, their proposal is poor thought, limited, and buggy. No one adopts it, and it's fast abandoned by their target audience. Later on, MS improve their offering but then is too late. You end up with the old issues, plus new stuff going on. The same applies to the Config vs Control Panel.
3-You're the beta tester. Since the Win8 fiasco, MS has pushed Win10 as an "ever evolving" system (that's why they also said it would be the last Win, but you know, NEW shining stuff makes headers). That means that things are gonna be deployed on production without refinement or a clear goal as a project. They experiment a ton and apply the telemetry to other services. This is the "brute force" style: you don't use a lot of money and time making a great and all-rounded solution, you make a solution relatively cheaper and with less time, and let users use it. Then, the collected usage data shows your next move. Will it improve? Maybe, let's deploy and analyze the telemetry.
Drakkaar - 1 year ago
Couldn't have said it better; I'll continue to work through the issues I encounter and fix the ones I can for my customers.
Not sure I'll be jumping to Windows 11 anytime soon, might skip it and see what Windows 12 offers. At least by then Windows 11 should [hopefully] be more feature complete
Jaybee02 - 1 year ago
"Not sure I'll be jumping to Windows 11 anytime soon, might skip it and see what Windows 12 offers. At least by then Windows 11 should [hopefully] be more feature complete"
I have old computers here I run that may or may not run 11 properly, so that is a bridge I'll have to cross before the security patches run out late 2025.
AutomaticJack - 1 year ago
"We're all beta testers now."
We always have been with M$.
Bibliophage - 1 year ago
What do you mean, now? We've been beta testers since Microsoft/Gates figured out that people would pay for Windows 3.1 because of all the bugs in Windows 3.0. Let's not talk about Windows 2..0
INTREPID-FL - 1 year ago
Widespread Bug caused by Windows Store. This is affecting just about all of my clients. Thankfully, printing is unaffected but double-clicking on a printer is broken.
Also See: https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/widespread-printer-bug-caused-by-windows-store/
Bibliophage - 1 year ago
This is not just limited to Microsoft Store. I'm looking at two Windows 2012 R2 servers, and both have the bug.
Neither have had updates in the last 14 days.