Eliminate Distracting Ads on Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide
Key Notes
- Disable features in Settings to reduce ads.
- Remove promotions from the Start menu and File Explorer.
- Customize Edge and Widget settings to optimize ad experience.
How to Effectively Eliminate Ads in Windows 11
Windows 11 offers a modern interface and enhanced features, but many users find the persistent advertisements intrusive, distracting from their productivity. Whether it’s in the Start menu, the Widgets dashboard, or even within Microsoft Edge, these promotional elements can disrupt a smooth user experience. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to disable and remove these ads, giving you a cleaner and more streamlined Windows 11 environment.
Disable the Home Page in the Settings App
The Home page of the Settings app can often serve as an advertising platform for Microsoft’s services. If you know where to find your necessary settings and wish to remove these advertisements, you can disable the Home page.
Step 1: Open the Registry Editor
Click on the Start menu and search for regedit, then select the Registry Editor from the search results.
Step 2: Navigate to the Explorer Key
Browse to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Step 3: Create a New String Value
Right-click on the Explorer key, select New, and choose String Value.
Step 4: Set the Value for SettingsPageVisibility
Name the new string SettingsPageVisibility and set its value to hide:home.
Step 5: Restart Your Computer
After making these changes, restart your computer to apply the changes.
Once completed, the Settings app will directly open on the System page, bypassing the ad-heavy Home page. If you want to revert this change, delete the SettingsPageVisibility string and restart your PC.
Remove Ads from the Start Menu
The Start menu can display advertisements from both Microsoft’s services and third-party apps. Here’s how to remove them.
Disable Account Notifications
Step 1: Open Settings
From the Start menu, open Settings, select Personalization, and then Start.
After these changes, notifications about Microsoft services will cease to appear, allowing for a cleaner Start menu experience.
Remove Promoted Apps
Step 2: Uninstall Unwanted Apps
Right-click any promoted app in the “Pinned” section of your Start menu and select Uninstall.
Disable Recommended Apps
Step 3: Turn Off App Suggestions
Go back to Settings > Personalization > Start and toggle off the setting to receive app recommendations.
Disable Ads in Windows Search
Windows Search may display highlights that act as ads. To prevent these from cluttering your search results:
Step 1: Access Search Permissions
Open Settings, navigate to Privacy & Security, and then click on Search Permissions.
Step 2: Turn Off Search Highlights
Disable the option to Show Search highlights to eliminate Bing search suggestions.
Turn Off News Feed from Widgets Dashboard
To focus on your widgets instead of news, you can disable the news feed:
Step 1: Open Widgets Settings
Press the Windows key + W to access Widgets, click the Settings icon, and toggle off My Feed.
Eliminate Ads from File Explorer
To suppress OneDrive ads in File Explorer:
Step 1: Access Folder Options
Open File Explorer, click on the three dots in the command bar, and select Options.
Step 2: Modify View Settings
In the View tab, uncheck the Show sync provider notifications option, then hit Apply and OK.
Turn Off Ads in Microsoft Edge
To declutter Microsoft Edge from annoying ads:
Step 1: Access Edge Settings
Open Edge, click the three dots in the upper-right corner, and select Settings.
Step 2: Customize the Sidebar
Disable Show sidebar button, Always show sidebar, and Allow sidebar apps to show notifications.
Step 3: Adjust New Tab Settings
Open a new tab and click the settings gear icon. Set both Quick links and Content options to Off.
Disable Ads from the Lock Screen
To simplify your lock screen and remove promotional info:
Step 1: Open Lock Screen Settings
Navigate to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
Step 2: Configure Status Settings
Set the Lock screen status to None to remove all non-essential widgets and promotional content.
Disable Ad Personalization
To stop Windows from tailoring ads based on your activity:
Step 1: Modify Privacy Settings
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > General, and toggle off Let apps show me personalized ads using my advertising ID.
(Optional) Also, consider turning off additional settings to fully minimize data tracking.
Manage Ad Notifications from System and Apps
To limit disruptive notifications about ads:
Step 1: Navigate to Notifications Settings
Open Settings, select System, then click on Notifications.
Step 2: Customize Additional Settings
Uncheck options related to suggestions and notifications to reduce ad-related interruptions.
Additional Tips
- Regularly check for Windows updates that may change how ads are displayed.
- Explore third-party privacy tools to enhance ad blocking.
- Educate yourself on privacy settings across different applications.
Summary
Managing ads in Windows 11 is crucial for a distraction-free experience. By following the steps outlined above, users can effectively control and minimize unwanted advertisements across various features and apps, ensuring a smoother and more streamlined workflow.
Conclusion
With the outlined methods, you can take control of your Windows 11 experience by reducing or eliminating distracting ads. Embrace these settings for a more seamless interaction with your system. Should you encounter ongoing ad disturbances, consider sharing your experiences or questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ads be completely removed from Windows 11?
While you can significantly reduce ads through settings adjustments, some native app features may still promote content.
Are these settings permanent or reversible?
Most settings can be easily reverted by following the same steps and re-enabling features as desired.