Microsoft 365 ad blocks Windows 10 desktop access for some users
Several Windows 10 users reported that a banner for Microsoft 365 has prevented them from reaching the Windows 10 desktop on boot.
According to the reports, Microsoft displayed a fullscreen Microsoft 365 advertisement on the screen before the start of the operating system. The screen, similar to the dreaded Windows Experience screens, is displayed fullscreen.
Tip: Windows 10 users who do not want to see any out-of-box experience screens on Windows startup may disable "get tips and suggestions when using Windows" under System > Notifications to skip all of them. Another option that Windows users have to avoid these offers is to use a local account instead of a Microsoft account when using the operating system.
It stated "Access granted: We're giving you a free trial of Microsoft 365 Family. Below the title were listed some of the benefits of the subscription. Other users saw a different title, stating that they could save 50% on the first year of a Microsoft 365 Family subscription.
Two button were displayed on the page: Next and No, Thanks. Activation of Next should have opened the account setup page to accept the offer, while no, thanks, should skip the offer and load the desktop of the operating system
It appears, however that Microsoft has erroneously switched the links of the buttons. In other words: users who did not want to accept the offer were taken to the sign-up page when they selected the "no, thanks" option. Users who wanted to accept the offer, on the other hand, were taken to the desktop.
First reported by Bleeping Computer, the issue seems to have affected more than just a few users. One user uploaded a video of the issue to Reddit, stating "Windows tried to pull a fast one on me by switching buttons". At least one user reported that they signed-up for Microsoft 365 to get to the desktop. The user cancelled the subscription immediately after reaching the desktop though.
Windows 10 users who, in their desperation, signed-up for a Microsoft 365 account should sign-in to their Microsoft Account to cancel the subscription before Microsoft is charging the credit card.
The experienced issue is certainly a bug. One has to wonder though how something as obvious as this can slip through the cracks at Microsoft.
Now You: do you use Microsoft 365?
Sometimes people ask me why I don’t want to get stuck doing computer support for people. I left Windows for Linux, and this is yet another example as to why.
I can’t even lower my standards to deal with Microsoft anymore. It just feels slimy, icky, sleazy and dirty beyond all words. Especially over the past decade; their products have taken a massive turn for the worse as far as contempt for the end user is concerned. And I do mean massive.
At least back in the 1990s Microsoft only treated their competitors (Netscape, Stacker), not their users in such an abusive manor.
> I can’t even lower my standards to deal with Microsoft anymore.<
That's a bit rich coming from a Linux user (Linux having hundreds of different flavours but no overall 'standard' OS).
I use Linux myself but recognise we are a tiny tiny minority, and that Windows is the main OS on the vast majority of PCs worldwide – from Home PCs to Business & Industry, to the Banking sector etc etc. Windows is still king by a long way. Ads or no Ads.
When I say standards (as above), I am referring to behavioral and ethical standards, not technical standards. For example, if there was a restaurant where every time I visited, the staff constantly shouted at me and called me nasty names, I wouldn’t go there anymore. I don’t even care if the food is great; if they can’t behave in a professional manor and respect their customers, I’ll switch to a competitor who does.
>… if they can’t behave in a professional manor and respect their customers, I’ll switch to a competitor who does. <
To imply MS isn't acting professionally just because of the occasional advert is silly IMO. If you use Firefox or Chrome or Vivaldi etc out the box, then you'll be exposed to advertising in one form or another.
I use Windows 10 myself but dont see any adverts because Ive turned them off.
Windows is so widely used: that there are free utilities readily available for almost every issue. Simple.
“To imply MS isn’t acting professionally just because of the occasional advert is silly IMO.” No, you’re done – it’s not quite gaslighting but it’s some heavy copium you’re huffing, let’s remind ourselves what the offending article was:
“Microsoft displayed a fullscreen Microsoft 365 advertisement on the screen before the start of the operating system”
That is 110% unacceptable, in a licensed, paid for product – especially when it used to not be this way! We as the users need to call out bad things when they happen, – if Windows was since it’s inception riddled with things like this, nobody would be complaining – the issue is that this is part of new developments in Microsoft becoming more cancerous and annoying to users of their OS.
Maybe you have a really short term memory, let me paint a picture: I use Windows 7, since installing on my PC many years ago, I never had internal advertisements from the OS shoved in my face, I use firefox and there’s a toggle in the settings to disable announcements/other things in the start screen, which i did as soon as I learned about it – I use adblock plus and ublock origin and don’t get advertisements full stop. I don’t run programs that phone home in any way (or I block their internet access).
If I want to support something I pay for it, just like I did with Windows 7 and Office 2007, and many 3rd party bits of software.
The reason Windows 10 is like this is because they are making it like this – and it’s a bad thing! Saying “hur, dur, we all live with adverts anyways, there’s no getting around them” is absolute beta-male, soy behavior. You’re pathetic – it’s people like you that allow things to get to this state, making excuses for the inexcusable.
As with all software you only paid for a license to use the owner’s product. The owner has the right to alter (to your annoyance) their product to suit their needs. The only question is when will you have had enough?
Personally i had enough when win10 updates started to fail or update when I didn’t want it to. (about 3 years ago). I dumped it all. I decided to use the time to learn gnu/linux rather then how to fix the system or shut out ads. Time well spent here. YMMV. Safe seas.
Just in time I disabled Windows 10 updates.
Not a good idea imho, W10 should receive security updates at least.
>”One has to wonder though how something as obvious as this can slip through the cracks at Microsoft.”
Or wonder why Microsoft never thought of this brilliant money-making strategy before now. “Buy this product or it’s the last time you’ll ever see your desktop.”
Aaah the old switcharoo! Just like any con-man on the street. Suits Microsoft perfectly these days, a shameful scam company. No one is surprised at how low they will stoop.
Ransomware and email phishing are pretty low means of enrichment. It is a bottom of the barrel.
This is fraud. Microsoft are now indistinguishable from scammers.
Microsoft and their products like Edge as a prime example act and show behavior akin to malware.
First time you launch Edge it locks your screen with some fancy intro, you can’t even quit except killing it from Task Manager.
You uninstall Edge, after a while it reinstalls itself without you even noticing and without permission.
yes
Ive noticed this week 365 ads inside office apps – word/excel.
I am sincerely looking for alternatives.
Google can be annoying but not as annoying as MS – yet
If docs/sheets have tha sema macro/vba tools, I mgiht start to use them and eventually completely abandon MS.
I dont care about ads if I am getting things fro free, but once I am paying there should not be ads or some other annoyances.
Agreed. Paid for OS / products should not have ads. Was this on Windows Home or Windows Pro ? In your office apps are you on a paid subscription ?