Microsoft starts testing ads in the Windows 11 Start menu
Microsoft is starting to test ads inside the Start menu on Windows 11. The software maker will use the Recommended section of the Start menu, which usually shows file recommendations, to suggest apps from the Microsoft Store. The tech giant said in a blogpost that this will appear only for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel and will not apply to commercial devices.
However, it appears that Microsoft will enable these by default. Microsoft is seeking feedback on the changes. So there is a possibility that the company could decide to ditch these ads in development builds of Windows 11 if there’s enough feedback that suggests they are not going to be a popular addition.
Microsoft started testing ads inside the File Explorer of Windows 11 last year before disabling the experiment in beta versions of Windows 11. Microsoft has been experimenting with ads inside Windows for more than 10 year nows. There are already promotional spots on the Windows 10 lock screen and in the Start menu, so it’s not exactly surprising to see them appear in Windows 11, too.
It is now up to Windows testers to file feedback on these changes to see whether Microsoft might be forced to not include these ads on shipping versions of Windows 11.
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