Windows is not a free operating system, far from it. Although it is possible to upgrade to the new system without having to pay, and even download and install it from the Microsoft website at no cost, the Microsoft system is a money machine for the company. And this is possible because Microsoft not only collects valuable information from users, but also because all of Windows is a showcase where it shows its users all kinds of advertising, both its own and, of course, from third parties.
He use of Windows to display ads and advertisements It started with the arrival of Windows 8, although it wasn’t until Windows 10 that the company began to make it much more aggressive. And of course, with the arrival of Windows 11, these announcements are reaching many more parts of the system.
One of the latest places where Microsoft has made you see ads is inside the start menu. Specifically in the shutdown menu of the computer. Within it, some users can enter banners and notices related to other company services. With this, Microsoft intends to self-advertise its services (mainly cloud) so that users sign up for them.
But the ads and advertising within Windows does not stop there. And it is that the latest Insider versions (remember, the “betas” of Windows) have revealed that, very soon, you will see even more announcements in the Microsoft operating system.
Ads in the Windows 11 Settings menu
As shown by the Twitter user Albacore, The latest version of Windows 11 brings with it new banner panels within the Windows 11 settings panel.
Albacore
@thebookisclosed
Updates were made to the Microsoft Account portion of the upcoming Settings Homepage, here’s how it looks now + a preview of end of product support notices that can appear in the Account page https://t.co/DwYEKqOb9n
May 06, 2023 • 00:38
These announcements are related, of course, to Microsoft cloud services, specifically with Microsoft 365. In them you will be able to see how they offer you a trial version of this suite, with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other services from the company, as well as view the status of OneDrive and Microsoft account security settings.
Microsoft will also show information about its services within other parts of this settings panel, such as within the “Accounts” section, where, in addition to information about Microsoft 365, you will also see advertisements for other company services, such as , for example, a Office 2013 end of support notice.
When will these announcements arrive?
At the moment, as usual, Microsoft is only showing these new ads on Insider builds of Windows 11. So, unless you have one of these test builds of the operating system, you won’t see the ads on your system. At least for now.
It is possible that, if your implementation goes well, these announcements will arrive with the next Windows 11 update, the Moment 3, which should arrive very soon. Otherwise, we will not see them until the end of the year, when 23H2 of the operating system comes out, an update that will undoubtedly give a lot to talk about.
What is clear is that Windows 11 is becoming a perfect platform to promote services, both from Microsoft and from third parties (in case Microsoft wants to do it). And we’re sure they won’t be the only new announcements coming to the operating system.
