Microsoft is testing ads (recommendations) in yet another location of its Windows 11 operating system.

When is an ad an advertisement and not a recommendation? Microsoft clearly likes to use the term recommendation for what others may see as an advertisement.

There are recommendations in the Start menu, Settings app, Lock screen, File Explorer, Get Help app, and other areas of the operating system already. These are often not that useful. App recommendations in the Start menu are limited to Microsoft Store apps.

Now, Microsoft is testing recommendations in the Microsoft Store app. If you never use the app, you won’t be exposed to these. If you do, you may notice recommendations popping up when you try to use the built-in search.

First spotted by phantomofearth on X, two or three recommendations are shown whenever search is activated in the official Microsoft Store app.

  • @folekauleEnglish
    4•30 days ago

    Most of these reports are about preview builds of Windows.

    That said, surely you have seen recommendations from Microsoft to try their Office package and such oil up. It’s like that, but more intrusive.

    I can’t believe Microsoft is making me switch from Windows to Mac and Linux, but here we are.