Microsoft is testing ads in the Windows 11 start menu

Microsoft has begun testing ads in the Start menu on Windows 11 – which will appear in the recommended section of the Start menu.

According to Microsoft, the ads feature will only be available to users in the U.S. who have subscribed for the Windows Insider program in the beta channel and does not apply to commercial devices owned by organizations.

This would not be the first time the tech giant is making such a move. Microsoft has been experimenting with ads on Windows for over 10 years with the latest coming in 2023 when the company tested ads in the File Explorer of Windows 11 – before disabling them in the beta versions of Windows 11.

Microsoft will charge you for using Windows 10 beyond its end-of-support deadline

The price will double every consecutive year, for a maximum of three years.

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Microsoft has stated that the ad promotion isn't compulsory for users, as they can turn it off in the Settings section of Windows 11, although the ads would be activated by default.

With the tech giant having over 1.4 billion active users on Windows 10 and Windows 11 combined, as of April 2022, according to a leaked Microsoft data cited by The Verge, it remains to be seen if subscribed beta users would give the ad feature the go-ahead as this would determine if Microsoft makes it a new addition or not.

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Keeping sensitive files and personal data private is essential, and Windows provides built-in features to help you achieve this. Whether you’re using Windows 10 or have recently upgraded to Windows 11, we will walk you through the steps to hide your folders securely. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll

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