In the ever-evolving landscape of Windows 11, users have noticed an uptick in promotional content infiltrating their daily interactions with the operating system. While some may find these suggestions beneficial, many others perceive them as unwelcome distractions. Fortunately, there are several straightforward adjustments that can be made to reclaim a quieter computing experience.
Windows 11: Start Menu Suggestions
The Start menu has become a hotspot for app recommendations, often serving as a platform for promoting Microsoft Store offerings. To silence these suggestions, follow these simple steps:
- Press the Windows Icon Key + I to open Settings.
- Navigate to the top left corner, click on the three horizontal lines, then select Personalization followed by Start.
- Toggle off the option labeled Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more.
Want to Quiet Ads? How to Lock Screen Ads
If your lock screen is displaying ads, it’s likely due to the Windows Spotlight feature. To eliminate these ads, you can disable this feature by:
- Opening Settings.
- Selecting Personalization, then Lock screen.
- If the Personalize your lock screen setting is set to Windows Spotlight, switch it to either Picture or Slideshow.
- Finally, turn off Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen.
File Explorer Promotions
Promotions have even found their way into File Explorer, particularly for OneDrive and Microsoft 365. To turn off these notifications, do the following:
- Open File Explorer.
- Click on the three horizontal dots in the menu bar, then select Options.
- Navigate to the View tab at the top, scroll down in the Files and Folders section, and uncheck Show sync provider notifications.
Taskbar Search
For those encountering ads in the Taskbar Search, the following steps will help you regain control:
- Open Settings.
- Go to Privacy & security, then select Search permissions.
- Scroll down to the ‘More settings’ section and disable Show search highlights.
Want to Quiet Ads That Pop Up as Notifications? Try This
Windows occasionally presents users with “tips” that are essentially advertisements for Microsoft services. To turn these off, follow these instructions:
- Open Settings.
- Select System, then Notifications.
- Scroll down to Additional settings and uncheck the boxes for Show the Windows welcome experience… and Get tips and suggestions…
Last Windows 11 Tip: Microsoft Account Prods
If you prefer not to engage with Microsoft’s online services such as OneDrive or 365, you can stop the persistent prompts to sign in with a Microsoft account by:
- Navigating to Settings > Accounts > Your Info.
- Clicking on Sign in with a local account instead and following the prompts to make the switch.
While not every advertisement can be eliminated—especially those embedded within Microsoft’s free applications—these adjustments should significantly reduce the overall noise. As Microsoft continues to innovate and promote its services, users may encounter new avenues for advertisements, necessitating occasional exploration of the Settings menu for further customization.
Notifications From Other Apps
If notifications from other applications are also cluttering your experience, take a moment to review the list in the System > Notifications section of Settings and disable those that are unnecessary.
