Windows 10 Start Menu will soon display ads for Microsoft 365
Windows 10 will reach end of support next year. But, it is gaining a feature, one that you didn't ask for, ads in the Start Menu.
The latest Windows 10 Preview build (19045.4842) has introduced some changes that are likely to annoy users. If you can recall, Microsoft reopened the Beta channel to members in the Insider Program in June this year, to allow participants to test new options as they were made available. Microsoft has been adding various features to Windows 10 over the past year, many of which are things that were backported from Windows 11. Some notable examples are Widgets on the Lock Screen, and of course Copilot.
Microsoft will display ads in Windows 10 Start Menu
Windows Central reports that one of the things that's being changed is the position of the profile button, which is shifting from the top of the sidebar to the bottom of the Start Menu, just above the power button. That doesn't seem so bad, does it? Well, it's not just an aesthetical change, there is a reason why the button is being relocated. Because, Microsoft is testing the Smart Account Manager, which is currently available for Windows 11, on Windows 10 Beta builds.
The change, spotted by PhantomOfEarth, replaces the profile menu in the Start Menu, with a new one, that instead of letting you take actions like signing out of your account, shows you a pop-up with information about how much storage space you have on OneDrive, and your Microsoft 365 subscription information, and a link to your Microsoft Account. To access the option to sign out, you will need to click on the three-dot menu button that appears in the pop-up. Apparently, this change also affects local accounts.
In other words, this is yet another attempt at promoting Microsoft 365. That's what users need, right? Reminders about running low on cloud storage, the benefits of subscribing to the Office apps. More ads are exactly what Windows needs. You see pesky notifications in the OneDrive app, Microsoft Edge, the Settings app, why not the Start Menu too?
The Windows 10 Settings app is also getting a redesign, or should I say, a new coat of paint with newer icons that are slightly more colorful. It also changes the Sign-In button's appearance. The icon's colors will not change if you change the accent color. This is likely to get the attention of users, to make the options stand out, so they will interact with it.
I get why Microsoft wants to promote things on Windows 11, even though I don't agree with the sentiment. But why introduce such ads in Windows 10? It's going away next year, don't ruin it, let it die in peace. I mean, is displaying advertisements for Microsoft 365 such a high priority, even on PCs that may not support Windows 11?
Microsoft has been announcing a string of bad news recently, the Control Panel is going to be removed from Windows 11, Windows Recall is coming back in October, and the Redmond company also found a way to block installations of the operating system on older hardware. On the bright side, Microsoft Teams is now a unified app for all users.
What do you think about these changes?
Dear Microsoft,
Please leave us alone.
Sincerely,
Everyone
I’m only using an Micro account just to have a app that makes surround sound to my headset. I don’t see a reason to use the Micorosft Store, nor Outlook, or OneDrive in my existence. I have had a great time pre-2020 that I used to delete all Microsoft apps, but after some updates and changes, my PC is forced to > have all shitty apps. It’s like a plague. I know there is Linux, but I truly love Windows not Microsoft, I’m not being part of the evil plan The CEO of Microsoft is doing.
Microsoft has been using Windows as a self promoting platform for some time now. Its really frustrating to feel like my PC’s are not mine and just a billboard for Microsoft to use as they see fit.
I definitely relate to those who want to switch or have switched to Linux or something other then Windows OS. I have used Windows from version 3.11 many decades ago and have endured some real flops but Windows 11 just leaves me if it will just get worse from here and its time to move on.
Once again,Windows 10 LTSC 2021 IoT version for the win. Official support through 2031. No “feature” updates, only security updates.
It’s revealing that Microsoft VERY much doesn’t want you to use this version and actively discourage it. I wonder why that is?
Since my PC’s use Open-Shell Menu, I won’t be seeing those ads… until Win 10 dies, and then they’ll be Ubuntu-only, instead of dual boot.
Hopefully this stupid change is reverted. It now requires extra steps to sign out. Messes with everyone’s muscle memory. Whoever believed this was a good idea should be fired and banned from tech.
Keep that Microsoft account adware in the settings app, where it is hidden from sight. Thank goodness there are third-party alternatives for the start menu.
God, they ruined this operating system. I’m feeling extremely encouraged to install Linux and boot Windows as a virtual machine for work-related tasks. This is awful. I still use the control panel, their settings page is garbage. Trying to get to the NIC settings to change IP addresses is terrible. The software removal page is garbage, so much vertical space whereas the control panel add/remove programs page is condensed and easy to sort what was installed and when. I’ve been on Windows since 95, I think I’ve reached the end of my rope with Windows 11. I’m sad.
another nail in windows coffin.
I think the same, even more, I think the same always when I read some weird news about Windows. However my mind is starting to evaluate how big the coffin of Windows is, and how many nails can resist. Anyway, Linux won’t be a whole solution till all distros got some kind of common features. There are so many Linux distros, and the more they are, the worst for the OS.
Learning Linux 20 years ago was the smartest thing I ever did. At first I did it because I was getting bored with video games, it was free, and I noticed that Microsoft’s tyranny was only getting started with Windows XP.
Now, I get to enjoy a free platform that works reliably, respects my personal space and doesn’t try to constantly bully me into accepting stuff I don’t want.
And a hell of a lot of video games will play on Linux today, too.
Darn…
On 10Pro, after having
stayed very long with 7Pro,
which I miss so much.
Managed to tame 10 enough
for it to behave like 7 till now.
How they’re going to change
10 again surely riles me.
M$ has no business messing
up with what we actually
need, want.
No… for the life of me, mine–
I’d never go down to any
disgusting, 11-ish crap.
M$-wise, whenever any more
stuff they would force upon
us now… bye-bye.
Otoh, I’d stick to 10 for likely
the not-so-long remainder
of my life.
I would block downloading
any “feature updates”,
whatever such mean or
getting forced upon us
sheeple. I’d explore, deploy
options to live on, such as
0Patch.
From 1983, I lived around
and surrounded by desktops,
because of a job at the
highest levels of gov. Gone.
Those times were great,
secure, trustworthy.
These days I scrounge on the
ground. Not that bad; so
exciting just trying to picture
how things are a-changing.
Whether good or bad, but
with so much to learn. Every
now and then.
I would block downloading
any more “updates” from M$,
because of what could they
potentially be forcing upon
us. With the threat now being
poised even on 10. They don’t
have the right to touch my
finely configured, personal 10!
@ Fish,
Install GRC’s InControl app. https://www.grc.com/incontrol.htm
I’m using it on Windows 11 22h2 to prevent any further upgrades and to resist AI.
Martin wrote an article on it a couple of years ago which you can find here: https://www.ghacks.net/2022/02/16/take-control-of-windows-updating-and-upgrading-with-incontrol/
I am running the 19045.4842 Enterprise build and only thing I see is the profile moved. clicking on my profile does not show anything but the action buttons to sigh out, lock, and change account settings. I also do not see the setting changes either
The terms, end of life, and end of support sound dire. They are intended to, but in fact are the best state of the OS for anyone who wants to stay with Windows.
My workhorse is my Windows 7 beauty which has had updates turned off since long before it reached ‘end of life’. It gives me no grief. It has no ads. It doesn’t interrupt my work or my games. It does my bidding without argument. It is lovely to look at, delightful to behold. My Windows 10 still needs a tad more tweaking, but will only improve when all so-called support ends.
Microsoft is like the government. They are here to help, but all they do at best is complicate matters and at worst wreak destruction. I will not move on from here with Microsoft. In my little computing world, they have reached the end of life.
In addition you can still get security updates for Windows 7 (which I still use as well) through at least Oct. of this year with Simplex pack:
https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/simplix-pack-to-update-live-win7-system-integrate-hotfixes-into-win7-distribution.45005/
Portmaster will block it all: https://safing.io/
Simplewall is another option: https://github.com/henrypp/simplewall
Has been using SimpleWall for few months. It blocks all Microsoft products from connecting to the internet.
Why the “Year of the Linux Desktop” shall soon become a realization.
1. STEAM providing viable gaming through Proton and Linux adoption with Steam Deck.
2. M$FT hiding settings behind 3 layers of crap and adding more bloatware, adware, & spyware by the minute. It’s now a user unfriendly OS.
3. Someone or some group will do for the most popular business apps what STEAM did with Proton.
4. It’s free.
It will be more of digital divide than Mas Migration. The majority of people with Tech skills, hardcore gamers and plenty of companies will migrate to Linux. Software providers that cater to tech-savvy will port their applications too.
But average users and older people will get stuck on Windows because OEMs are not willing to preinstall Linux (Microsoft pays them not to). As someone who is dealing with completely tech novices friends who use Windows for news/entertainment/communication, it is completely impossible for them to switch. They will feel that this is the new normal.
I could potentially see Linux share to go to 8% in 5 years (Now it is reportedly around 5%). It does sound like a glacial speed, but you have to remember that a lot of tech people will have to use both Windows and Linux PCs for quite a while, as some critical programs and games will never be ported.
Linux community needs to make all windows apps that work fine in wine/proton available as Flatpak on Flathub repository and wine/valve devs need to actively work on getting windows apps running in wine/proton and not just games. That will virtually triple the population of Linux users who otherwise can’t switch to Linux due to windows apps they simply can’t replace with open source alternatives.
This guide would allow higher chances of getting windows app working on Linux via conversion to portable version: https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/194kvdy/windows_apps_on_steam_deck_you_might_have_higher/
Linux community just needs to make a comprehensive OFFLINE digital guidebook that ships with the operating system, a specific one for Windows users, with extensive explanations of how to do all the things they could do on windows, how to make windows apps run, where to find linux versions of windows programs.
Something that is user friendly, searchable, one that explains all the different terminology and demystifies Linux, contains examples of how to do things, and explains differences in design and usage philosophy.
Basically the offline help from Windows 7 but on a bit of steroids. Maybe make the Linux a paid thing which comes with 90 days of phone/remote support and provides access to some sort of unified forum where you’ll get useful replies and not berated for doing something wrong. “Hello, i’m trying to get pwm cpu fan control working at the software level, here’s the 3 programs I tried from research, and how they didn’t work, can you remote on and get it working, and show me how to do it?” I would pay for that. If you go back 15 years, Microsoft support used to do that.
When I spend time (minutes, hours, or days) trying to figure out how to do something in Linux which I know how to do in SECONDS on windows (because I already learned how to do it), that is the biggest feeling of time wasted i’ve ever felt.
Not on my Start11 it doesn’t.