Some Windows 11 users experienced that when updating Store apps, the HP Smart application for managing HP printers and other peripheral devices was suddenly installed on their PCs and virtual machines. The OS installs it despite the lack of printers and other HP products. A Microsoft spokesperson said the company is aware of the complaints and is looking into the situation.
A Microsoft spokesperson said the company is aware of the complaints and is looking into the situation. Anyone who encounters such an installation is advised to simply uninstall the application. If you are affected, you can right-click it in the Start menu and select Uninstall from the context menu of the app. However, it is not listed in Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
It is worth noting that the application is installed from an official source and does not seem to pose any threat to the system. However, there is a chance that the app may return, as the reason behind its automatic installation is unknown even for Microsoft. The company is working on figuring out why this happens and what kind of users are affected.
The issue persists on actual versions of Windows 11 and Windows 11, including 22H2/23H2.
Previously, Microsoft Edge users have already complained that their browser automatically installs the Google Docs Offline extension, which allows you to create and edit documents. The installation took place from the Chrome Web Store without permission or notification.
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