Microsoft Is Promoting Apps Inside The Windows 11's Start Menu

The recent news of Microsoft testing app promotions in the Windows 11 Start menu has sparked a heated discussion among users and made them voice disappointment in implementing advertisements in the system that could use better functions such as advanced search syntax, because typing not exact file name will still lead you to Edge browser tabs instead of your own computer files.

However, this isn’t the first time Microsoft has placed ads inside its OC. There are already ads on the Windows lock screen as a part of the Windows Spotlight feature as shown in the image above, and back in 2022, the tech giant was experimenting with a new type of banner ad in Windows 11’s File Explorer. While the ads can be easily disabled, they’re still a frustrating experience in paid software.