Windows update bug labels all printers as “HP LaserJet”

HP is the biggest manufacturer of consumer printers in the world, according to this 2021 statistic. But with just under 25 percent of the market, it’s hardly a monopoly. So, it’s no surprise that many Windows users were confused when all their printers, from any manufacturer, suddenly started showing up as an “HP LaserJet M101-M106” last week.

The culprit appears to be a Windows update that erroneously re-labeled some or all of the hardware printers connected to PCs with incorrect metadata, either directly or over the network, and automatically installed the HP Smart app. (Windows Update can download third-party executables in addition to standard drivers for some partner companies — you may have noticed this when plugging in a new gaming mouse or keyboard.) The issue was reported by Windows users to various Microsoft support systems and spotted by Tom’s Hardware.

The bug doesn’t appear to cause any further technical problems for most users, though incorrectly labeled printers might be a big problem for a busy office blowing through expensive ink or toner by sending print jobs to the wrong printer. Both HP and Microsoft are aware of the issue, but no one’s committed to a timeframe for a fix just yet, and there doesn’t appear to be a workaround discovered.