Windows 11 Now Officially Adware as Microsoft Embeds Ads in the Start Menu - You will view ads and you WILL like it!

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Published: Wednesday, 05:38

Microsoft over late-Tuesday started distributing the KB5036980 optional update to Windows 11 users, which effectively makes the operating system adware (software that displays ads to support its author). The update gets the Windows 11 Start Menu to display ads in the "Recommended" section that suggests apps and games for you to download from the Microsoft Store, subscribe to Copilot Pro, etc. While the update is currently optional, the changes contained in it will be made part of next month's "Patch Tuesday" update.

This wouldn't be the first time Microsoft is advertising software, the OEM versions of Windows 11 can be customized by PC manufacturers to pre-install bloatware, or suggest apps or services for users to buy within the Start or Apps menus. You usually uninstall the pre-installed bloatware, and dismiss recommendations. Today's update is different, in that even the Retail versions of Windows (without the bloatware) start receiving ads. Luckily, these ads are not inescapable, you can disable them. Head over to Settings > Personalization > Start, and uncheck the toggle that reads "Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more."

 

[The Repeated Meme]

I'm not even joking when I say it took them until 2021 to let you adjust your volume on Windows by scrolling over the volume icon.

I didn't even know you could do that, I use programmable mouse buttons for audio adjustment.

 

[Lord of the Large Pants]

Microsoft's approach to UI over the past few years is stealing what KDE has been doing and bragging about it.
View attachment 5945747
I'm not even joking when I say it took them until 2021 to let you adjust your volume on Windows by scrolling over the volume icon.

Cool, when will KDE let me drag and drop to reorganize my system tray?

Plasma still dunks all over the competition but holy fuck how do they still not have this.

 

[Day of the Cope]

Cool, when will KDE let me drag and drop to reorganize my system tray?

Last I checked, W11 doesn't even allow you to reorganise your system tray ever since an update in October 2022.
That said, KDE has largely been busy with either getting version 6 out the door and is currently fixing all the bugs. Your best option is putting in a feature request on their forums.

 

[Historical Strelkov]

you just have to man up and put in some elbow grease. It's not as bad as people make it out to be once you tweaked it.

I have to admit at a certain point it just becomes worthless in that archaic sense where NT used to be a semi-decent. I'm probably done with Windows after 10 is no longer supported. I just don't give a shit anymore. If I can't make gaming work with Linux or whatever, Then fuck it. I'll move on. At that point the only reason to use windows is its cheaper than an apple computer for work. Windows 10 is already garbage to me in so many ways.

 

[Ebonic Tutor]

Last I checked, W11 doesn't even allow you to reorganise your system tray ever since an update in October 2022.
That said, KDE has largely been busy with either getting version 6 out the door and is currently fixing all the bugs. Your best option is putting in a feature request on their forums.

look into explorer patcher, should help.

 

[N Space]

I'm using Windows 11 Pro right now and I don't see any ads, could be because I mapped some of Microsoft's hosts to a dead IP or it could be because I deleted Edge, either way, it's easier to debloat Windows than to deal with Linux.

 

[Jet Fuel Johnny]

First they made it so you had to activate that fucking Trusted Hardware bullshit to give them access to everything on your computer.

Now ads.

How soon before they just straight up order shit for you?

 

[Day of the Cope]

look into explorer patcher, should help.

Mate, I've been rocking straight Linux for over a year.

I'm using Windows 11 Pro right now and I don't see any ads, could be because I mapped some of Microsoft's hosts to a dead IP or it could be because I deleted Edge, either way, it's easier to debloat Windows than to deal with Linux.

People still thinking that Linux is nothing but a tty.

 

[Anti Alien Alarm]

I'm using Windows 11 Pro right now and I don't see any ads, could be because I mapped some of Microsoft's hosts to a dead IP or it could be because I deleted Edge, either way, it's easier to debloat Windows than to deal with Linux.

If you read the article then you would know that it's currently an optional update and won't be forced onto everybody until next month.
>Easier to debloat
True, a simple script is easier. But you're playing with fire by using those scripts. Remember the Windows 10 and 11 debloat script that turned out to be a trojan back in 2022? This program, Windows Toolbox, was being shilled by all the mainstream, clueless techtubers at the time.

It's also generally not a good idea to trust scripts written by randos which delete large portions of your operating system.

 

[N Space]

For now.

Then why bother changing your OS now?

If you read the article then you would know that it's currently an optional update and won't be forced onto everybody until next month.
>Easier to debloat
True, a simple script is easier. But you're playing with fire by using those scripts. Remember the Windows 10 and 11 debloat script that turned out to be a trojan back in 2022? This program, Windows Toolbox, was being shilled by all the mainstream techtubers at the time.

You don't need to use scripts, usually you only need to dig deep into configuration menus, use winget (yes Windows has a packet manager just as Linux does), edit registry keys and in the particularly nasty case of Edge, boot up in safe mode and delete all associated directories.

 

[jertzog]

Normalizing contacting businesses with advertising that creeps past your safeguards to ask where you can physically spoil their goods with vandalism.

 

[Anti Alien Alarm]

Then why bother changing your OS now?

You don't need to use scripts, usually you only need to dig deep into configuration menus, use winget (yes Windows has a packet manager just as Linux does), edit registry keys and in the particularly nasty case of Edge, boot up in safe mode and delete all associated directories.

Was not aware of the process of doing it manually, thanks.
But how many users are going to go through this process? You've described a series of steps that 95% of computer users aren't used to doing. As a first instinct, they'll use a potentially malicious script without thinking twice.

 

[Day of the Cope]

Then why bother changing your OS now?

If by now, you mean over a year ago, it's because I got tired of Microsoft's stupid bullshit.

edit registry keys and in the particularly nasty case of Edge, boot up in safe mode and delete all associated directories.

But god forbid you use the terminal, huh?

But how many users are going to go through this process? You've described a series of steps that 95% of computer users aren't used to doing. As a first instinct, they'll use a potentially malicious script without thinking twice.

For real, most people didn't even know adblockers were a thing until Google started kicking up a fuss. The average user is going to use the default experience.

 

[XANA]

SaaS was a mistake. I loathe Microsoft for jamming ads everywhere, and especially so for disabling some options outright (ie: you can't click "no" for some settings, just "not now"). What is the point in purchasing a product, when you're still being data-mined? At this point, why not just pirate the OS and deal with the "activate windows" watermark?

 

[N Space]

Was not aware of the process of doing it manually, thanks.
But how many users are going to go through this process? You've described a series of steps that 95% of computer users aren't used to doing. As a first instinct, they'll use a potentially malicious script without thinking twice.

To be fair, I just look up guides to delete X thing or disable X feature, I just shared the commonly used methods to do so. Regarding scripts, I agree they're an unnecessary risk.

But god forbid you use the terminal, huh?

For real, most people didn't even know adblockers were a thing until Google started kicking up a fuss. The average user is going to use the default experience.

Winget is used through a terminal but regardless, what I don't like about Linux is the proliferation of way too many distros making software compatibility and troubleshooting a nightmare. Regarding average users, I'd assume average users barely even know Linux is a thing, let alone consider transitioning to a distro.

 

[Man at Arms]

Anyone dumb enough to install GoySoft's win 11 doesn't deserve to complain.

When they make linux viable for gaming without having to run an emulator then most of us will do that.

Til then I'm with windows 10 pirated

 

[Day of the Cope]

what I don't like about Linux is the proliferation of way too many distros making software compatibility and troubleshooting a nightmare.

Yeah, that's not really an issue. As long as you pick a distro that is popular and regularly maintained, you're fine. Literally the only major issue I had since the start of the year was when KDE Plasma rolled out 6.0 and caused a few issues that eventually got patched; it just meant I was stuck running X11 for two weeks. I had a minor issue today that was like a 5 minute fix that involved searching "[distro name] [some of the error output]". It would have been 4 minutes if I wasn't being fucking lazy and using my file explorer to go into the needed file folder.

Really, though, the only major difference between distros is your choice of desktop environment (though, everyone is using KDE Plasma these days since GNOME is off their fucking rocker and no one else seems to care about Wayland), your mother branch, and your package manager. Even then, most of the distros you see are hobby distros that only the most turbo of autists run as a daily driver. You're either going to be using Mint, EndeavourOS, Pop!_OS, openSUSE (Tumbleweed if you're gaming), and maybe Nobara or Garuda. Avoid Manjaro/Ubuntu, though. The rest of the distros you see are either hobby projects or just an existing distro with a community desktop environment. Trust me, you're never going to run into posts about Ubuntu Muslim Edition.

 

[Dick Mason]

I would use Windows 10 LTSC but I find the menus and navigation a lot easier in Windows 11, not to mention better looking. I use Ghost Spectre OS Superlite SE w/o Defender, 22H2 Build 22621.1848 Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22642.1000.0 with Windows Updates disabled until 2077. Also comes with StartAllBack which is fucking AMAZING.

Not defending Windows 11 by any means, and certainly not defending this practice, but this is just my personal preference. Superlite SE rips out all of the bloatware and telemetry for you. I'm probably going to continue to use this particular custom version of Windows 11 until long, long after support has dropped unless something better comes along, but honestly, I just don't see that happening.

My setup

View attachment 5945835
This is what I mean about the menu navigation
View attachment 5945838

If I could somehow get the better menus and navigation from windows 11 and the startallback features grafted onto windows 10 ltsc, I would switch to that in a heartbeat.

That is the worst thing I've ever seen. That is gore.

 

[Geddy Lee's Fee and See]

Sure there was, many of them, but you gotta keep the "Windows bad, Linux good" circlejerk going forever, one thread is never enough. Just don't ever make threads about any sorts of shortcomings of Linux or else you'll cause a nuclear copium meltdown.

Because Windows is becoming generally worse than Linix. Even a decade ago, there were pros and cons to each system that depended on your use case and made both reasonable choices. But why the fuck is an OS that doesn't respect its users and displays ads to then while selling yheir data a good OS? If we are talking bad UI designs like with Windows 8.1, that would be a minor nuisance. But we are at the point where you the average user has to do hurdles to make sure their OS isn't spying on them and they are morr involved and difficult then just burning a Linux Mint or Ubuntu iso to a USB and doing the very basic installs for that system.

At this point, yes, Windows is worse than Linux. It's not even Linix evangelism like when they tried back in the Win9x days. It's imperative you use an operating system that respects your freedoms, especially since all thr utilities and programs the average person uses are essentially web browsers and office suites, something that Linux has working perfectly well ay this point. It just comes down to whether you respect yourself enough not to let globohomo corporations force random shit down your throat. If you don't, you'll stay with MacOS and Windows. If you do, you'll switch to any operating system that at least gives you the option of not being spied on. Even older versions of Windows are more sensible choices of OS than literal fucking spyware.

 

[indigoisviolet]

Yes, but what does Windows 11 actually offer compared with 10? Bugger all. It's like trying to pin down what the European Union actually provides for citizens, it gets extremely vague very quickly when you ask even the most simple of direct questions. What do you do, Windows 11? Why do you need the computational power of an autonomous drone squadron to run? What could you possibly be calculating that needs that much oomph under the bonnet? Win 10 already spammed up the taskbar with propaganda widgets and thinly veiled adverts for MS Store products. It even tried to embed a fucking AI spybot the other week, and I'm not too sure if I've completely removed it.