In recent times, users have noticed an uptick in promotional content integrated into their Windows 11 experience. While some may find these suggestions beneficial, many perceive them as intrusive advertisements. Fortunately, there are several adjustments that can be made to minimize this clutter and enhance the user experience.
Start Menu Suggestions
The start menu often showcases app recommendations, which are primarily promotions for Microsoft Store applications. To disable these suggestions, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows icon key and the I key to open Settings.
- Navigate to the three horizontal lines in the top left corner, select “Personalization,” and then click on “Start.”
- Toggle off the option for “Show recommendations for tips, app promotions and more.”
Lock Screen Ads
If your lock screen displays ads, it may be due to the Windows Spotlight feature. To turn this off, proceed with the following:
- Open Settings.
- Select “Personalization,” then “Lock screen.”
- If the lock screen setting is set to Windows Spotlight, change it to either “Picture” or “Slideshow.”
- Finally, disable “Get fun facts, tips, tricks and more on your lock screen.”
File Explorer Promotions
Promotions for OneDrive and Microsoft 365 have also found their way into File Explorer. To eliminate these ads, do the following:
- Open File Explorer.
- Click on the three horizontal dots in the menu bar and select “Options.”
- Navigate to the “View” tab, scroll down in the “Files and folders” section, and uncheck “Show sync provider notifications.”
Taskbar Search
To remove ads from your taskbar search, follow these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Go to “Privacy and security,” then “Search permissions.”
- Scroll down to the “More settings” section and disable “Show search highlights.”
Notification Ads
Windows occasionally presents tips that are essentially advertisements for its services. To turn these off, you can:
- Open Settings.
- Navigate to “System,” then “Notifications.”
- Scroll down to additional settings and uncheck the boxes for “Show the Windows welcome experience” and “Get tips and suggestions.”
Microsoft Account Prods
If you do not utilize Microsoft’s online services, such as OneDrive or Microsoft 365, you can prevent prompts to sign in with a Microsoft account by:
- Opening Settings, then “Accounts,” followed by “Your Info.”
- Selecting “Sign in with a local account instead” and following the instructions to switch.
While it may not be possible to eliminate all advertisements—especially those embedded in Microsoft’s free applications—implementing these adjustments should significantly reduce the noise. As Microsoft continues to explore new avenues for promoting its services, users may need to stay vigilant and revisit their settings periodically.
Notifications from Other Apps
For those receiving notifications from other applications that are less than desirable, it is advisable to review the list in the system notifications section of settings and disable any unnecessary alerts.
Ken Colburn is the founder and CEO of Data Doctors Computer Services. For any tech-related inquiries, feel free to reach out on Facebook or X.
