Disabling Start Menu Ads
Windows 11 users have encountered a familiar annoyance: advertisements for promoted apps and services infiltrating the Start menu. While this may be a source of frustration, there is a straightforward solution to reclaim a more serene digital experience.
To eliminate these distractions, navigate to the Start menu and search for Settings. Once there, select Personalization from the left-hand navigation pane. Scroll down to Start and click on it. You will find an option labeled
By setting this to Off, you disallow the display of ads for products and services from the Microsoft Store in the Start menu.
The introduction of these ads began in April for mainstream users, and Microsoft appears intent on expanding this strategy, as similar ads are now appearing in Windows 10 as well. It’s clear that Microsoft aims to capture user attention in high-traffic areas of the operating system, hoping to drive purchases of apps and subscriptions to services like Microsoft 365. After all, if it didn’t yield results, they likely wouldn’t pursue it.
While the presence of ads can be bothersome, the silver lining is that users have the option to opt out, allowing for a more tailored and less intrusive experience.
Further reading: How to kill the ads in Windows 11 with a free tool
