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How to Turn Off Ads in Windows 11: Declutter Your Screen Without Extra Software
Learn how to turn off unwanted ads and suggestions in Windows 11 using built-in system settings. Customize your Lock Screen, Start Menu, File Explorer, and Microsoft Edge for a smoother and more focused user experience.
Have you ever felt that Windows 11 sometimes displays suggestions, promotions, or unused applications in various places, whether on the Lock Screen, Start Menu, or even in notifications? This article from SyncTech Solution will guide you on how to turn off these distractions using Windows' existing settings, allowing you to fully focus on your work.
### Understand Before You Fix
First, it's important to understand that what we refer to as “ads” in Windows are mostly not viruses or malware, but rather “Suggestions” and “Tips” that Microsoft includes to promote its own services and products, such as Microsoft 365, OneDrive, or new features in the Edge browser.
Microsoft's goal is to help users discover new features and utilize its ecosystem to its full potential. However, for some users, especially in organizations that require a streamlined work environment, these notifications can become a distraction. Fortunately, Windows 11 allows us to turn off these suggestions ourselves.
### Before You Begin
Changing these settings carries very low risk and can be reverted at any time if you wish. The only thing you need to do is understand what each setting affects, which we will explain in detail in each step. No special data backup is required for these settings.
### How to Safely Proceed
Follow these steps to turn off suggestions and ads in various parts of Windows 11.
**1. Turn Off Suggestions on the Lock Screen**
- **WHAT:** Turn off trivia, tips, or promotional images displayed over the Lock Screen background image.
- **WHERE/HOW:**
1. Right-click on the Desktop and select `Personalize`, or go to `Settings` > `Personalization`.
2. Select the `Lock screen` menu.
3. In the `Personalize your lock screen` section, set it to `Picture` or `Slideshow` (This setting does not apply to Windows Spotlight).
4. Uncheck the box for `Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen`.
- **WHY:** To ensure your login screen displays only your chosen background image, date, and time, making it cleaner and more private.
- **EXPECTED RESULT:** When you lock your screen (press Windows + L), no more suggestion messages will appear on the background image.
**2. Reduce Unwanted Suggestions in the Start Menu**
- **WHAT:** Turn off the display of recommended applications, tips, or shortcuts that the system randomly shows in the "Recommended" section of the Start Menu.
- **WHERE/HOW:**
1. Go to `Settings` > `Personalization`.
2. Select the `Start` menu.
3. Turn off the toggle for `Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more`.
- **WHY:** To ensure the Start Menu area only displays applications you use frequently and files you've recently opened, without being interrupted by system promotions.
- **EXPECTED RESULT:** The "Recommended" area in the Start Menu will be clearer or only show your recently used files and folders, with no strange applications or shortcuts appearing.
**3. Turn Off Notifications for Tips and Promotions**
- **WHAT:** Turn off pop-up notifications that often suggest completing device setup or encourage trying new Windows features.
- **WHERE/HOW:**
1. Go to `Settings` > `System`.
2. Select the `Notifications` menu.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on `Additional settings`.
4. Uncheck these two options:
- `Show the Windows welcome experience after updates and when signed in to show what's new and suggested`
- `Suggest ways to get the most out of Windows and finish setting up this device` (Some versions may use the name `Get tips and suggestions when I use Windows`).
- **WHY:** To reduce the number of unnecessary notifications that might pop up and interrupt your work.
- **EXPECTED RESULT:** You will no longer receive notifications inviting you to explore new features or subscribe to additional Microsoft services.
**4. Turn Off Promotions in File Explorer**
- **WHAT:** Turn off the display of promotional message bars for Cloud services like OneDrive that may appear at the top of the File Explorer window.
- **WHERE/HOW:**
1. Open `File Explorer`.
2. Click the three-dot icon `(...)` on the toolbar and select `Options`.
3. In the Folder Options window, go to the `View` tab.
4. In the `Advanced settings` box, scroll down to find the `Show sync provider notifications` option and uncheck it.
5. Click `OK` to save.
- **WHY:** To keep the File Explorer workspace clean and free from other message bars obstructing your files and folders.
- **EXPECTED RESULT:** No blue or other colored message bars inviting you to use Microsoft Cloud services will appear in File Explorer.
**5. Customize New Tab Page in Microsoft Edge**
- **WHAT:** Customize the new tab page of the Microsoft Edge browser to not display unwanted news feeds, articles, or ads.
- **WHERE/HOW:**
1. Open `Microsoft Edge` and open a new tab.
2. Click the gear icon `(Page Settings)` in the top right corner of the page.
3. In the `Layout` section, select `Focused` for the simplest display.
4. For an even cleaner look, select `Custom`, and in the `Content` section, set `Content` to `off`.
- **WHY:** To make the new tab page load faster and display only essential elements like the search bar and your pinned websites, reducing distractions before you start searching for information.
- **EXPECTED RESULT:** The new tab page will be clean, with no news feeds or other content displayed, except for the search bar and any Quick Links you have set.
### Verify Results
After making all the settings, try to verify the changes as follows:
1. **Lock the screen:** Press `Windows + L` to lock the screen and see if the suggestion messages are indeed gone.
2. **Open the Start Menu:** Click the Start button and observe whether the "Recommended" section displays as you intended.
3. **General use:** Use your computer for a while and observe if unnecessary notifications have decreased.
### If It Persists
If you have followed all the steps and still see ads or suggestions, it might be due to other reasons:
- **Restart your computer:** Some settings may require a computer restart to take full effect.
- **Other programs:** Ads might not be from Windows but from free programs you have installed. Try checking recently installed programs.
- **Organizational policy:** If you are using a company computer, some settings might be controlled by the IT department through organizational policy (Group Policy), preventing you from changing them yourself. In this case, you should consult your IT department.
### Conclusion
Turning off ads and suggestions in Windows 11 is not difficult and doesn't require any special tools. By simply taking a few minutes to adjust the existing settings, you can create a clean and distraction-free digital work environment, helping you and your team focus better on the important tasks at hand.