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Windows 11 Start menu ads are now rolling out to everyone (www.theverge.com)

submitted 7 months ago by ForgottenFlux@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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Microsoft is starting to enable ads inside the Start menu on Windows 11 for all users. After testing these briefly with Windows Insiders earlier this month, Microsoft has started to distribute update KB5036980 to Windows 11 users this week, which includes “recommendations” for apps from the Microsoft Store in the Start menu.

Luckily you can disable these ads, or “recommendations” as Microsoft calls them. If you’ve installed the latest KB5036980 update then head into Settings > Personalization > Start and turn off the toggle for “Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more.” While KB5036980 is optional right now, Microsoft will push this to all Windows 11 machines in the coming weeks.

Microsoft’s move to enable ads in the Windows 11 Start menu follows similar promotional spots in the Windows 10 lock screen and Start menu. Microsoft also started testing ads inside the File Explorer of Windows 11 last year before disabling the experiment and saying the test was “not intended to be published externally.” Hopefully that experiment remains very much an experiment.

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[–] merdaverse@lemmy.world 58 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Win11: less functionality, more ads

And what's with the weasel words like "recommended"? Just call them "sponsored" or "ads", like they really are.

[–] Silentiea@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Are they sponsored? I was under the impression they were usually just Microsoft advertising their own shitty stuff? Ads, sure. But for it to be sponsored, someone else has to pay for them

[–] merdaverse@lemmy.world 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

The screenshot shows 1password, which to my knowledge is not affiliated to Microsoft, so I think yes, they are sponsored

[–] NoFun4You@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Maybe

[–] lorkano@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Might not be sponsored directly, meaning 1password paid Microsoft, but: even if Microsoft just uses it to promote apps in their store it leads to their profit eventually.

[–] NoFun4You@lemmy.world 0 points 7 months ago

Oh no! Lol

[–] Sylvartas@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Windows 11 (and how much I like my experience with the Steam deck, if I'm being honest) has me seriously reconsidering switching to Linux for my gaming desktop

[–] merdaverse@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I've only been playing games on Linux for the past year and it's been a pretty smooth experience. Go for it!

[–] Sylvartas@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

I'm considering it even more seriously right now. I had my eyes set on Fedora, but apparently I shouldn't, because they are ditching official support for X11, and I need it because I have an Nvidia GPU ? I was also looking at pop OS, but I also saw people recommending against Ubuntu on Lemmy, I don't remember why though. Do you have a recommendation ?