In recent years, Microsoft has consistently incorporated advertisements for its own products within the Windows software platform. This trend seems poised to continue, with reports indicating that Windows 11 users can expect to encounter more ads soon. The latest development suggests that the Start menu will soon host promotions for third-party software products.
Start Menu Advertising Feature Testing Underway
According to Phantom Ocean, a social media user, Microsoft is currently in the testing phase for a feature that will promote third-party apps within the Start menu. This innovation is expected to debut in forthcoming builds of Windows 11. Users will encounter advertising content within the “Recommended” section of the Start menu, which typically showcases recently installed or frequently used apps.
Preview of the New Advertising Feature
Accompanying these reports is an image illustrating the proposed advertising feature. The image displays a promotion for the Opera browser, labeled with a “Progressing” tag. Adjacent to this advertisement is a recommendation for installing the Windows Game Bar, akin to the app recommendation functionality already present in Windows 11.
Future Outlook and Integration Timing
While the specifics remain undisclosed, it is likely that more promoted apps will populate the recommendations section in subsequent iterations, notes NIXsolutions. However, Microsoft has yet to announce a definitive timeline for integrating this innovation into stable versions of the operating system. As developments unfold, we’ll keep you updated on the progress of this feature and its implications for Windows 11 users.