In today’s world, our computers often surprise us with unexpected software installations. One common culprit is the HP Smart App, which sometimes shows up on Windows PCs without asking first. How would you feel when you opened your door and saw things that you had never bought, and all those things were unwanted? This can be annoying and even make people worry about their privacy. Today in this guide, we will talk about this problem and will guide you on How to Stop HP Smart App installing on Windows PCs without Permission.
Reports are coming that Microsoft is installing the HP Smart application on your Windows PC without your permission. The strange thing is that the HP Smart app is installed to provide support for HP laptops. But, there are cases where it sneaks onto computers without the user’s permission. This unwarranted installation can be not only an inconvenience but also a privacy concern for users who value control over their computing environment. If you have seen this application on your Windows PC, you are in the right place.
In this article, we will find out why this application is getting installed on your PC without your permission and the ways in which you can fix this issue and stop the HP Smart App from installing on your Windows PC. It’s important to understand why this happens in the first place so we can stop it from happening again. Whether it’s because of automatic updates or bundled software, we want to make sure users can decide what ends up on their computers.
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Why HP Smart App installing on Windows PCs
This is not the first time that Microsoft has done anything like this. A few months ago, people reported that Microsoft was installing the Google Doc extension on their Microsoft Edge browser without their permission. Microsoft has informed us that they are aware of this situation and are investigating it to remove any bloatware from your Windows PC, including the HP Smart App. However, you can remove this application at your will by right-clicking on the application and selecting uninstall in Windows 10 or 11.
Also read: How to Increase Space in C Drive on Windows 10/8/7 Without Losing Data or Formatting
The HP Smart App is designed to enhance the printing and scanning experience for HP printer users. If you have been in this situation, you need not worry, as this HP smart application is from a trusted source, and even if you have this application installed in your Windows 10 and 11, you are on the safer side. The only thing it will take is your little storage on your PC. However, installation of such apps without clear consent from the user raises serious concerns about user autonomy and the boundaries of permissible software installations.
How to Stop HP Smart App installing on Windows PCs without Permission
We have already mentioned the problem people are facing with this Microsoft installation on their PC, as this application is useful for only HP laptop owners. If you are not an HP user and you are facing this issue, then you can follow these methods to ensure that this does not happen again.
Method 1: Via Security Policy
This is the most trusted method to fix this issue, and it has been tested multiple times and has proven to be working for multiple users. Just follow the below-given steps carefully to fix this issue.
- Go to your Windows PC and press Win+R to open the run dialog box. Type “secpol.msc” and hit enter.
- A local security policy app will appear. Choose the application control policies on the left.
- Click on App Locker, and then click on the Package App Rules. Create a new rule wizard will appear, and click on Next.
- Windows will ask for your permission (this time) and set the action to deny and keep the user or group as everyone.
- Now, click on Next and use the installed package app as a reference.
- Select “Whatever you want” and click OK. Now click on Create.
When you follow all the methods carefully, you will see that Windows has stopped installing this HP smart application on your Windows PC. However, you can manually install the HP Smart application on your PC from the Windows Store. One thing you need to keep in mind is that this will stop your application from getting updated automatically without your permission.
Method 2: Via Registry Editor
This is another method to fix this issue; however, this method did not work for everyone, but you can try this method too if the above-given method fails for you.
- In the search box in your taskbar, type “regedit.” Click on the Resgitery Editor app.
- Then go to this location: “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager.”
- Find the “Silent Install App Enabled” and change the values from 1 to 0.
This method is true for only some users, and all users have to do it independently.
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of this guide for How to Stop HP Smart App installing on Windows PCs without Permission. By doing this, users can take charge of their privacy and keep their computers organized. These troubleshooting methods given above have been tested and will work for you. Ensure that all the steps given above are followed thoroughly to avoid any issues on your Windows PC. As we are dealing with the registry editor, you need to be careful with your steps.