How to Quiet Ads & Suggestions in Windows 11

If it seems like you’re seeing more suggestions from Microsoft creeping into your Windows experience, it’s not your imagination. They’ve been steadily increasing the presence of promotional content across their operating system.

From the Start menu to File Explorer to pop-up Notifications, their "suggestions" might be helpful to some, but they’re often just ads in disguise. The good news is that you can quiet the noise with a few tweaks to the Settings in various places.

Start Menu Suggestions
Windows likes to suggest apps in the Start menu, but these are often just promotions for Microsoft Store apps. To disable them:

1. Open Settings by pressing the Windows Icon Key + I
2. Click the three horizontal lines in the top left side, then on Personalization and then on Start
3. Toggle off Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more

Lock Screen Ads
If you’re seeing ads on your lock screen, it’s likely due to the Windows Spotlight feature. You can disable it by:

1. Opening Settings
2. Click on Personalization then Lock screen
3. If the Personalize your lock screen setting is set to Windows Spotlight, change it to either Picture or Slideshow
4. Next, turn off Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen
    

File Explorer Promotions
Microsoft has even slipped ads into File Explorer, pushing OneDrive and Microsoft 365. To turn them off:

1. Open File Explorer
2. Click the three horizontal dots in the menu bat, then select Options
3. Click the View tab at the top, then in the Files and Folders section, scroll down and uncheck Show sync provider notifications

Taskbar Search
If you're seeing ads in your Taskbar Search:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Privacy & security then to Search permissions
3. Scroll down to the ‘More settings’ section and turn off Show search highlights

Notification Ads
Windows will sometimes present you with helpful “tips” that are just ads for Microsoft services. To turn these off:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to System then Notifications
3. Scroll down and open Additional settings then uncheck the Show the Windows welcome experience… and Get tips and suggestions… boxes.

Microsoft Account Prods
If you don’t use any of Microsoft’s online services like One Drive or 365, you can stop them from nagging you to sign in with a Microsoft account:

1. Open Settings > Accounts > Your Info
2. Click on Sign in with a local account instead and follow the instructions to switch

While not all ads can be removed (such as those burned into Microsoft’s free apps), these steps should significantly reduce the clatter.

Microsoft will continue to use new ways to push its services, so expect to see them pop up elsewhere over time.  The exact setting to disable them may also change around or get moved, so it may require some extra digging in the Settings down the road.

Notifications From Other Apps
If you’re also getting notifications from other apps you don’t care for, take the time to scroll through the list in the System > Notifications section of Settings and turn them off.