Microsoft is starting to enable ads in the Start menu in Windows 11 for all users, it says 24 Channels. After a brief test with Windows Insiders earlier this month, the company this week began rolling out the KB5036980 update, which includes “recommendations” for apps.

what to do with it

The “Recommended” section of the “Start” menu will now show some apps from the Microsoft Store. Since these apps are created by a small select group of developers, the ads will not include anything harmful or inappropriate.

The ad is ostensibly designed to help Windows 11 users find more apps, but will mainly benefit developers, whom Microsoft is trying to encourage to develop more apps for Windows.

Fortunately, you can turn off these ads or “suggestions”As Microsoft calls them. If you installed the latest update, KB5036980, go to Settings – Personalization – Start and turn off the “Show suggestions for tips, app offers and more” switch. This will disable all additional content and app recommendations.

This is what the key looks like in the English version of Windows 11 / Photo: Florence Ion

You can also select the “More Shortcuts” option to have more slots to quickly pin the apps you need.

Although KB5036980 is currently optional, Microsoft will roll out this feature to all Windows 11 PCs in the coming weeks. There are a few more components to this update, but they are minor. The taskbar and lock screen widgets have been improved and are no longer pixelated and blurry. Animated icons have also been added.