Ads : Do unsolicited ads from third-party services and pop-up suggestions from Microsoft ruin the Windows 11 experience? Here’s how to remove them.
While there is a lot you can like about Windows 11, there are a few things that Microsoft has not fixed, including its continued emphasis on injecting ads into the operating system. Like Windows 10 before you, launch a brand new Windows 11 machine, and ads will eventually appear. Fortunately, the new OS only needs a few upgrade settings, if you know where to look.
Disable Ads From Bloatware
If you see hackers just above the Windows 11 taskbar, it may be that computer bloatware is urging you to sign up for something you don’t need or to remind you of a feature you don’t want. The name of these programs will vary depending on the manufacturer of your PC, but you can control them under Settings> System> Notifications.
Look in the notification list and see if messages were coming from any of these entries. Windows 11 does a bad job of explaining what each entry is for, so you may need to do a web search to find out more. For example, while working on a Dell laptop, I found that SupportAssist, Suggested, My Dell, and Partner Promo could be shut down.
If you are sure that your PC does not need a specific application, go to Settings> Applications> Apps and features and find the software in question. Click on the three dots menu and select Eject.
Set up Windows tips and suggestions
In addition to the third-party installation, Microsoft will also provide suggestions on how to complete your device setup or its features. If you do not want to see these hijackers, scroll down to the Notification Settings page and uncheck the Provide suggestions on how to set up my device and Get tips and tricks when using Windows.
Close Notifications
You can also take care of annoying criminals from the first notice. Click the time in the lower right corner and find the ad you want to close. Click on the three-dot icon and select Off all notifications to disable ads for that piece of software.
Remove Ads in File Explorer
Microsoft even threw ads in File Explorer to talk about its OneDrive and Office 365 file synchronization services. To delete them, open File Explorer and click the 3-dot icon on the top ribbon. Select Options to open the dialog box and click the View tab. Under advanced settings, retrieve sync provider notifications and uncheck option.
Do not allow personal ads
Windows gives you a unique advertising ID in the name of providing you with the most relevant ads. Nix using Settings> Privacy & security> General. Disable switch next to Allow apps to show me personal ads using my Advertising ID.
