Users have mixed feelings over Microsoft’s most recent optional update for Windows 11, KB5036980, since it included ads on the Start Menu.
Many people are upset that the optional upgrade, available for Windows 11 versions 23H2 and 22H2, adds advertisements to the Start Menu. The update can be downloaded straight from the Update Catalogue or installed through Windows Update.
While Windows 11 22H2 will update to Build 22621.3527, Windows 11 23H2 will be upgraded to Build 22631.3527 upon installation. Notably, Microsoft’s April 2024 update cycle ends with this patch.
One of the update’s most controversial features is the addition of advertisements to the Start Menu, which will be visible to all users by the end of May. These advertisements, which also include marketing for other apps like the Opera browser, are hidden away in the “Recommended” area. Many have complained about this modification, saying they find it too intrusive.
However, there’s a silver lining for users who wish to disable the ads. By navigating to Settings > Personalization > Start, users can turn off the option labelled “Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more.”
The update introduces app recommendations in the Start menu, with a section dedicated to “promoted” apps, which essentially serve as additional adverts. While the update also includes improvements such as a refined taskbar widget icon and enhanced lock screen management options, the inclusion of ads remains a focal point of criticism.
Some people find Microsoft’s decision to place advertisements in key user interface elements invasive and disruptive to the user experience. An additional worry has been the possible spread of advertisements to other apps, such as the Settings app, where Xbox Game Pass advertisements are now being tried.
Many users hope that Microsoft will reconsider its choice in future upgrades and give the user experience more weight than ad money.
