How to disable ads for apps in Windows 11’s Start menu

One of the more annoying things about Windows 11 is that the operating system displays ads in the Start menu for promoted apps and services from the Microsoft Store. The good news is, you can turn this off.

To do this, all you have to do is open the Start menu, search for Settings, select Personalization in the left navigation, then scroll down to Start and click into it. Here, look for the setting labeled Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more and toggle the button next to it to Off.

These Windows 11 Start menu ads first started appearing for mainstream users back in April, and it’s a strategy that Microsoft seems keen on pursuing given that Windows 10 is starting to see them now, too.

It’s not surprising, though, that Microsoft wants to push for eyeballs on apps and services in high-traffic areas of the operating system, hoping that users like you and me will buy said apps and subscribe to services like Microsoft 365. They wouldn’t do it if it didn’t work.

So, as annoying as it is that Microsoft keeps pushing ads into different areas of Windows, at least they’ve given us the ability to opt out.

Further reading: How to kill the ads in Windows 11 with a free tool