Windows 11 Start menu ads are now rolling out to everyone

Microsoft is starting to alteration ads wrong nan Start paper connected Windows 11 for each users. After testing these briefly pinch Windows Insiders earlier this month, Microsoft has started to administer update KB5036980 to Windows 11 users this week, which includes “recommendations” for apps from nan Microsoft Store successful nan Start menu.

“The Recommended conception of nan Start paper will show immoderate Microsoft Store apps,” says Microsoft successful nan update notes of its latest nationalist Windows 11 release. “These apps travel from a mini group of curated developers.” The ads are designed to thief Windows 11 users observe much apps, but will mostly use nan developers that Microsoft is trying to tempt into building much Windows apps.

Microsoft only started testing these ads 2 weeks ago, truthful it’s astonishing to spot this “feature” advancement from nan Beta Channel to merchandise successful specified a short play of time. At nan clip of first testing I mentioned Microsoft “could determine to ditch these ads” if location was capable feedback that suggested they weren’t popular, but 2 weeks of feedback surely isn’t agelong capable to find that.

Luckily you tin disable these ads, aliases “recommendations” arsenic Microsoft calls them. If you’ve installed nan latest KB5036980 update past caput into Settings > Personalization > Start and move disconnected nan toggle for “Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more.” While KB5036980 is optional correct now, Microsoft will push this to each Windows 11 machines successful nan coming weeks.

Microsoft’s move to alteration ads successful nan Windows 11 Start paper follows akin promotional spots successful nan Windows 10 fastener screen and Start menu. Microsoft besides started testing ads wrong nan File Explorer of Windows 11 last twelvemonth earlier disabling nan research and saying nan trial was “not intended to beryllium published externally.” Hopefully that research remains very overmuch an experiment.