Microsoft advertises apps in Windows 11 start menu after update | Tweakers

The app ads have been added to Windows 11 update KB5036980, Microsoft writes in a blog post. This is an optional update that users must obtain themselves via the Windows Update page in the Windows 11 settings. However, many of the features included in optional updates will be added in the next Patch Tuesday update, which is automatically installed every second Tuesday of the month. There is a good chance that these advertisements will be visible to all users of the PC operating system from May 14.

The Recommended section of the Start menu normally lists recently opened and frequently used files and applications. Now there will be advertisements for other apps in between. When users click on it, they will be sent to the Microsoft Store so they can install the app on their PC. Microsoft says it will only show apps from a small number of developers the company has chosen itself. It is not clear which developers these are and whether they have to pay Microsoft to be recommended via the start menu.

The advertisements can also be disabled. To do this, users need to open the settings menu, then go to the Personal Settings section and click on Start Menu. There the Recommended section can be disabled.

Two weeks ago, a test version of Windows 11 showed that Microsoft planned to show app advertisements in the Start menu. It doesn’t happen often that the American tech company releases test functions generally so quickly.