Microsoft is exploring the idea of embedding ads in your ads Windows 11 Start menu. To be specific, looking for Place ads for apps you can find it in the Microsoft Store in the recommended section of the menu. If you’ve used Windows 10 extensively before, I can hear you sighing in defeat – the old operating system also serves ads in the Start menu, and they’re for apps you can download. Currently, Microsoft will only show ads in this version if you are a Windows Insider in the US and in the Beta Channel. If you’re not a beta tester or using an organization-managed device, you won’t see them.
In addition, you can turn off ads completely. To do this, simply go to Personalization under Settings and then turn off “Show recommendations for recommendations, app promotions, and more” in the Start section. Like any other Microsoft experience, it may never become more widely available, but you may want to remember the steps outlined above, as the company has a history of including ads on its desktop platforms. Microsoft also implemented it last year experimental ad spots for services like OneDrive in the drop-down menu when you click on your profile picture.
