Last Updated:
Redmond, Washington State, USA
Windows 11 beta testers are getting the version which shows ads in the start menu
Microsoft has tried many times to get ads on Windows PCs but all its efforts have failed as consumers clearly don’t fancy seeing them on their screen.
Microsoft is trying new ways to get people to upgrade to Windows 11 but the company could be about to hit the nail on its own feet with the latest decision. The company is looking to bring ads for Windows 11 users that will recommend various apps in the start menu.
The test is not happening at the consumer level so far and is only limited to the Windows Insider community in the beta version for those staying in the US. The company also assures that ads will not be part of its enterprise version, which is understandable since the higher cost of the Windows versions for the businesses.
Ads are never welcomed by consumers, be it Netflix or Windows. Even Apple faced a lot of criticism for showing ads in the App Store with app suggestions plastered across the app listings. As you can see in the clip below, the 1Password listing is clubbed along with the local files in the Recommended section.
The fact that it is being tested in beta for Windows 11 users could be a dangerous game for Microsoft which is hoping for more people to migrate/upgrade to Windows 11 in the near future. The cost of getting a Windows 11 for an old machine is quite high and when they realise that Microsoft is going to put ads on the Start Menu which nobody asked for, the company could have a tough time getting people to pay for the operating system.
In fact, some might even say that Apple MacBook would be a better choice, if they are going to spend big on these AI-powered Windows laptops in the foreseeable future.
Microsoft will surely need a better way to handle these situations, which looks inevitable if the official plan to bring ads on Windows 11 goes ahead. Having said that, we have seen previous beta tests for ads coming to nought, so there is hope that Microsoft could be forced to rethink its plans once again.
You get why some companies resort to ads, which helps them pass on the overhead cost to the consumers in the form of discounts. But what reason could a giant like Microsoft and Apple have when they consider bringing ads? We’ll be keeping a close eye as things take shape over the next few months and to see if Microsoft does bring it to the public versions of Windows 11 for the consumers.
