It’s official: Ads are coming to the Windows Start menu [Video]

Do you like dealing with advertising, even in software that you’ve already paid for? Of course you do! According to Microsoft, anyway, which continues to shove ads for its own products into every corner of Windows. A new glimpse at an upcoming Windows 11 “feature” from a prolific leaker said that the Start Menu was going to get some ad injections soon.

And now it’s official, Microsoft added on Friday.

Phantom Ocean, a Twitter leaker who’s been rock-solid on Microsoft topics, previously said that the Windows 11 Start Menu is testing “app promotions” in an upcoming build. They’ll appear in the Recommended section of the menu, which at present includes applications that have recently been installed or frequently run by the user. This area of the Start menu also shows tips and shortcuts.

The Twitter user’s leaked photo shows Opera Browser with a “Promoted” tag indicating that it’s an advertisement, along with the “browse safely” promo text. The …