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

submitted 4 months ago by ForgottenFlux@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

12 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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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[–] NarrativeBear@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Didn't I pay for the OS?

[–] Linkerbaan@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago

I didn't pay for the OS.

[–] Sanctus@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

How did the default attitude toward the user get so hostile? The amount of toggles you need to set just to have a smooth experience with minimal tracking is insane. The people in here defending it by the fact it can be disabled are missing the point: we shouldn't have to deal with it in the first place.

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

It got here because it’s super profitable, and that’s all the C-suite cares about, and they’re the ones calling the shots at the end of the day.

I also think that engineering ethics has, in general, been strongly de-emphasized, and true holistic ownership of technical products is now usually held by business and finance types instead of engineers, with all the negative consequences that that entails.

Edit: also, don’t forget the Peter principle

[–] Sniatch@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Think I will try Linux for real now

[–] maeries@feddit.de 0 points 4 months ago

Come to the dark side. We have ~~cookies~~ no ads

[–] MonkderDritte@feddit.de 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Why does the OS have to recommend you apps?

[–] knexcar@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Because they care about your experience and want to ensure you’re getting the most out of your computer by suggesting helpful productivity apps?

[–] MonkderDritte@feddit.de 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

rofl 🤣

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I’m getting extremely close to making a tiny partition for windows (so I can play gamepass) and then using a Linux distro for my day to day. Are there still issues with Nvidia drivers on Linux? Its been a long time since I’ve run Linux.

[–] MonkderDritte@feddit.de 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

But a tiny partition will not do for Windows.

[–] Temperche@feddit.de 0 points 4 months ago

PopOS handles nvidia drivers perfectly.