HP Smart app doesn't add printers because requires location option which is on

[Hell17]

HP Smart app requires now access on location services to connect to a WIFI printer. 

The option is activated to begin to connect with printer but it appears still the window with the request to enable it. I tried it with another laptop and it's the same. I use the app a long time this is new to me but didn't see a lot of traffic around this. 

[Dragora]

Hi Hell17

The HP Smart app requires location access for Wi-Fi setup to detect nearby printers via Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth, which is a common requirement on many operating systems for scanning local Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks.

Here are the most effective steps to resolve this, starting with the simplest:

 Troubleshooting Steps

1. Check and Toggle Permissions

Often, simply toggling the app's individual permission off and back on can force the system to register the change.

• Go to your laptop's Settings > Apps (or Apps & features).

• Find HP Smart in the list.

• Go to Advanced options (or App permissions).

• Find the Location permission and toggle it OFF, then immediately toggle it back ON.

• Restart the HP Smart app and try again.

2. Reset the HP Smart App

If the toggle doesn't work, resetting the app often clears any corrupted cached data or permission states.

• Go to your laptop's Settings > Apps (or Apps & features).

• Find HP Smart in the list.

• Go to Advanced options.

• Click the Reset button (this will clear the app's local data and permissions).

• Reopen HP Smart and try the setup again. It should prompt you for permissions cleanly this time.

3. Run as Administrator

Sometimes the app needs elevated privileges to properly read system-level permissions.

• Right-click on the HP Smart app icon on your desktop or in the Start menu.

• Select Run as administrator.

• Try the setup again within the app.

4. Add the Printer Manually (Bypass Location Check)

If you've already connected your printer to your Wi-Fi network, you can sometimes bypass the location check by adding it manually using its IP address.

1. Find your printer's IP address (usually on the printer's control panel under Network Settings, Wireless Summary, or by printing a Network Configuration page).

2. In the HP Smart app, look for an option like Set Up a New Printer, My printer is not listed, or Add printer manually.

3. Choose to add the printer using an IP address or TCP/IP address and enter the IP you found.

5. Reinstall the App

As a last resort, a clean reinstall often fixes persistent permission issues.

1. Uninstall the HP Smart app from Settings > Apps.

2. Restart your laptop (important!).

3. Download the latest version of the HP Smart app only from the Microsoft Store (or Apple App Store for macOS/iOS).

4. Launch the app and try the setup again.

Since you've experienced this on two different laptops, it strongly suggests a persistent app-side or network-side communication issue with the Windows permission system, which is why a reset or reinstall is highly likely to fix it.

I hope the above is helpful

[Hell17]

Thanks Dragora for the great explanation.

I am using two laptops in two different locations with HP printer and I realized it don't work for both.

Laptop 1 I want to setup with new printer devices

Laptop 2 has still connections but i am not able to add new one due to the error message.

Currently I am trying these things with Laptop1.

1) done, but nothing changed

2) Yes, put the reset button, error message still appear

3) There is no option, I should be the administrator 

5) I did already before, error still exists

4) I can give it a try. 

Again, many thanks for the support.

[Dragora]

Hi  Hell17

Next Step: Manual IP Address Setup (The Workaround)

Using the printer's IP address bypasses the Wi-Fi Direct/Bluetooth scanning that triggers the location services requirement.

Action Plan:

1. Find the Printer's IP Address:

   • On the printer's control panel, navigate to Wireless Summary, Network Settings, or Network Configuration.

   • Look for the IP Address (it will look something like 192.168.1.xxx or 10.0.0.xxx).

   • If you can't find it, you can usually print a Network Configuration Page from the control panel.

2. Add the Printer in HP Smart:

   • Open the HP Smart app on Laptop 1.

   • Look for an option to "Add a Printer", "Set Up a New Printer", or "My printer is not listed."

   • Select the option to add the printer Manually, by IP Address, or TCP/IP Address.

   • Enter the IP address you found in Step 1.

If this succeeds, the printer will be added and usable.

Please let me know your HP printer model number if you need help finding the IP address!

I hope the above is helpful!