How to Permanently Remove HP Smart Printing as a Printer/Device?

[CloSolCharity]

Hello,

I am using a Widows 11 HP Pavilion All-in-One Desktop PC 27-d1000i with a HP OfficeJet Pro 8718 All-in-One Printer, which is connected to the computer via USB. Recently, the computer has started to set "HP Smart Printing" as the default printer. I'd have no issue with this if it meant documents were being sent to my printer, but they're being sent to other HP printers nearby. For reference, we are a small charity in a business park where all the units are in close proximity and most use the business park's internet package, which requires ethernet and is not wireless. So a lot of devices are on the same network. Many of us use HP printers, and our documents have printed to two different ones since this became an issue. 

Every time I remove HP Smart Printing as the default printer and a printer at all, it comes back, presumably when the computer starts up. When it comes back, it also becomes the default printer every time. I have uninstalled the HP Smart Printing app (which didn't work that well anyway, the scanner was always "unavailable"). Before deleting the app, I made sure it was only connected to our printer and our HP account. I thought the deletion of the app would work, but HP Smart Printing keeps coming back! This has never been an issue in the 4 years we have had this printer, but has started and now won't stop.

Could this be solved with deleting a driver? If so, does anyone know which one? 

Or is it because the printer is older (at least 4 years) and the computer we're using is new and running Windows 11?

Thanks in advance.

[Dragon-Fur]

@CloSolCharity 

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@CloSolCharity wrote:

Hello,

I am using a Widows 11 HP Pavilion All-in-One Desktop PC 27-d1000i with a HP OfficeJet Pro 8718 All-in-One Printer,

which is connected to the computer via USB.

Recently, the computer has started to set "HP Smart Printing" as the default printer.

I'd have no issue with this if it meant documents were being sent to my printer, but they're being sent to other HP printers nearby.

For reference, we are a small charity in a business park where all the units are in close proximity and most use the business park's internet package, which requires ethernet and is not wireless.

So a lot of devices are on the same network.

Many of us use HP printers, and our documents have printed to two different ones since this became an issue. 

Every time I remove HP Smart Printing as the default printer and a printer at all, it comes back, presumably when the computer starts up.

When it comes back, it also becomes the default printer every time.

I have uninstalled the HP Smart Printing app (which didn't work that well anyway, the scanner was always "unavailable").

Before deleting the app, I made sure it was only connected to our printer and our HP account.

I thought the deletion of the app would work, but HP Smart Printing keeps coming back!

This has never been an issue in the 4 years we have had this printer, but has started and now won't stop.

Could this be solved with deleting a driver?

If so, does anyone know which one? 

Or is it because the printer is older (at least 4 years) and the computer we're using is new and running Windows 11?

Thanks in advance.

---

HP Smart Printing is a driver queue added to Devices and Printers when HP Smart is installed.

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"Every time I remove HP Smart Printing as the default printer and a printer at all, it comes back, presumably when the computer starts up.'

An Assumption (possibly wrong)

Why does the driver queue come back?

Once installed, the driver becomes available to Windows PrinterControl and can be re-added by Windows when missing.

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"Recently, the computer has started to set "HP Smart Printing" as the default printer."

Change the way the "Default Printer" is managed - doing so should let the default queue "stay as you set it" (remain the default print driver).

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Preparation > Check / enable the printer as the “Default Printer”

Settings > Devices > Printers and scanners

UNCHECK (clear box) Let Windows manage my default printer

Select (Left-Click) your printer from the list of printers > Manage > Set as Default

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"I'd have no issue with this if it meant documents were being sent to my printer, but they're being sent to other HP printers nearby."

First Part...

Printer Properties - Tabs Advanced and Device Settings

Next,

After the Default Printer is assigned,

Open Devices and Printers > Right-Click on your printer > Open Printer Properties

Tab Advanced

Next to Driver > Open the drop down list > Select the HP named driver that was installed with the Full Feature Software / full driver printer software

Click OK / Apply to save any changes

If you have not done so (or wish to check the setup),

Open Devices and Printers > Right-Click on your printer > Open Printer Properties

Tab Device Settings

Check / Adjust the Paper Size / Type for each tray in your printer.

Check / Adjust "Installable Options"

Click OK to save any changes

9025_Printer_Properties_Advanced_Driver_List_7

Next,

Using the HP Smart Printing driver - Managing the Job Setup

When you open HP Smart or another print software / application,

If HP Smart Printing is selected in the main print menu and you don't want it so,

Open the Printer drop-down menu and select the HP named driver for the job.

When you open HP Smart

If HP Smart Printing is selected in the main print menu and that's OK -- you like the queue GUI (user interface),

(then)

Control which printer hardware is used in More Settings > Printer

Open HP Smart

Open PDF document to Print

Set main menu options

Next,

Open More Settings

Control the default / job Preset (called Shortcuts in Printing Preferences) More Settings > Preset

For example, select Preset "Everyday Printing"

Click OK to save changes and exit the Smart Printing sub-menu

Back in the main menu, Click to Print

HP Smart Printing eliminates conflict errors by disabling settings that are not compatible with other settings in the current job configuration.

Example

HP_Smart_Win_Smart_Printing_PDF_1

HP Smart Printing - Windows - Print Word document

Similar to using HP Smart Printing in HP Smart -

Open Word document > File > Print

Set main menu options

Next,

Open Printer Properties to adjust settings in the Smart Printing sub-menu.

Click OK to save changes and exit the Smart Printing sub-menu

Back in the main menu, Click to Print

HP_Smart_Win_Word_Smart-Printing_Sample_2

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HP OfficeJet Pro 8718 All-in-One Printer 

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[BeachOpa]

I have this same issue. I remove the HP Smart Printing in Settings... Printers & Scanners but it magically reappears when the computer is rebooted. I have "Let Windows manage my default  printer" setting off. Still it comes back. I use HP Smart to manage my scanning on one of my printers and check ink cartridges fill level so I don't particularly want to uninstall HP Smart. How can I permanently turn off this arrogant assumption that HP should always have control of my printer settings?

[Dragon-Fur]

@BeachOpa 

All parts of this message are FYI only and reflect the opinion of the Author.

True - At this writing:  The driver / queue is not going to go away.

True - When / if you install HP Smart, if the HP Smart Printing driver / queue is installed, it will "stick".

If you cannot shift the default printer setting away from HP Smart Printing,

Check that you have installed the Full Feature Software / full driver printer software.

Installing the full driver printer software presumably lets you set the default printing device.

Check the Default printer setup and update / check Printer Properties.

In any job, select the driver for the installed printer as opposed to selecting the driver HP Smart Printing

Not true?  True, but disliked?

Unfortunately, no solution is here (in this thread) more than what is offered.

We can share our personal knowledge on practical solutions.

Experts do not trade opinions on policy decisions.

You may certainly start a new thread to ask a question or voice your opinion on the subject.

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