Microsoft adds a new option in Windows 11 enabling ads in Start Menu

Remember when we told you that Microsoft is adding an option allowing users to see app recommendations from the Redmond-based tech giant in Windows 11’s Start Menu?

Well, buckle up, because the company will be adding ads to this option as well, so, you know, your experience of opening the Start Menu can be fully complete.

Spotted by Windows Insider @XenoPanther, and then confirmed by Windows enthusiast Albacore with a screenshot, Microsoft is not shying away from allowing Windows 11 users to plaster their operating system with ads in the Start Menu.

Seems like ads may also be coming to the start menu

"Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, ads, and more" is now mentioned in SettingsAppThreshold. Currently in settings there is only mention of tips, shortcuts, new apps and more

— Xeno (@XenoPanther) April 23, 2024

Looks like outright ads might be coming to the Start Menu in Windows 11, not just the usual recommendations / tips / shortcuts / etc.
After enabling experiment 48797684 the text in Settings changes slightly to accommodate for this 😐 https://t.co/BVEPe0nGgr pic.twitter.com/rTcG4rV8iR

— Albacore ☁️ (@thebookisclosed) April 24, 2024

For now the word ‘ads’ is hidden, but Albacore says it can be uncovered by enabling a special command with the third-party app, ViveTool.

Enabling the command (which we don’t advise if you’re not entirely familiar with the app), will prompt the word to be added to the command which now reads:

Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, ads, and more.

Microsoft

Fortunately, the setting is optional, meaning the Redmond-based tech giant lets users do what they want: they can enable/disable it at will, and Windows 11 will act accordingly.

To showcase ads on Windows 11’s Start Menu, Microsoft will make use of Edge, as Albacore mentions that the feature uses the EdgeMicrosoftUserId command, meaning the Redmond-based tech giant will most likely use data from your Microsoft account on Edge to show you personalized ads in the operating system.

Too early to tell, this feature also enables a new UDK API for requesting the "EdgeMicrosoftUserId" for User Profile Personalization purposes, think there might be more to it

— Albacore ☁️ (@thebookisclosed) April 24, 2024

It would be quite frustrating if it happened. Currently, the setting is in the Windows Insider Program, so there is no doubt Microsoft will release it to the Stable channel one way or the other.

But with Copilot, and the looming presence of an AI File Explorer, Windows getting plastered with ads will infuriate a lot of users who might migrate to other operating systems.

We’ve heard Linux has been having quite a year, thanks to Microsoft, and if the Redmond-based tech giant continues this way, 2024 could be the Linux year for many Windows users.