HP Smart app demands location

[ffraai]

Why does HP Smart app to install a printer demands location of the pc while using a Wifi connection? This should not be nessecairy!

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @ffraai 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thank you for raising this concern and for your patience in navigating the setup process. I completely understand how unexpected and unnecessary this request may feel, especially when your printer and PC are already on the same Wi-Fi network. 

The HP App requires location access during Wi-Fi setup to detect nearby printers broadcasting their presence over the network, which is a function tied to how Windows handles network discovery permissions.

Let’s clarify why this happens and how to proceed confidently.

 

Why Location Access Is Required During Wi-Fi Setup

When setting up a printer over Wi-Fi using the HP App on Windows 11, the app relies on the operating system’s network discovery services to detect printers broadcasting via Wi-Fi Direct or Bonjour/mDNS protocols. On Windows, these services are tied to location permissions due to how the OS classifies Wi-Fi networks as potential indicators of physical location.

Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:

• The HP App uses Wi-Fi scanning to find printers in setup mode or broadcasting availability.
• Windows treats this scanning as a location-sensitive operation, even though HP does not collect or store your physical location.
• Without location access enabled, the app cannot complete the discovery process, and the printer may not appear during setup.

This requirement is part of how Windows manages privacy and permissions—not a data collection effort by HP.

 

How to Enable Location Access Temporarily for Setup

Open Windows Settings
Go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Location.

Turn On Location Services
Toggle Location services to On.

Allow HP App to Access Location
Scroll down to Let apps access your location, and ensure the HP App is enabled.

Complete Printer Setup in HP App
Open the HP App and proceed with Wi-Fi setup. Your printer should now be detected.

Turn Off Location (Optional)
Once setup is complete, you can return to the same settings and disable location access if preferred.

I truly appreciate your attention to privacy and your persistence in getting your printer connected. The setup process should feel intuitive and respectful of your preferences, and I’m here to help make that happen. 

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye