Microsoft Finally Offers a Way to Disable Some Windows 11 Ads

Windows 11 has faced plenty of criticism for the increasing number of advertisements and “recommendations” appearing throughout the operating system. From the Start menu to the Settings app, Microsoft has been finding new ways to nudge users toward its own services and third-party apps. While the company hasn’t shown much interest in removing these promotions entirely, a new discovery suggests they are at least giving users a bit more control.

According to information shared by the reliable Windows leaker @phantomofearth, Microsoft is preparing an update for the “Nearby sharing” settings page. The section is expected to be renamed simply to “Share” in a future update. More importantly, this refreshed page will include a long-awaited toggle switch that addresses a common annoyance.

The new setting, labeled “Show me suggested apps in share surfaces,” will finally allow users to turn off the app recommendations that appear when sharing files. Currently, when you open the sharing menu, Windows often displays icons for apps like WhatsApp or Instagram even if you haven’t installed them. These suggestions are essentially advertisements designed to drive downloads, cluttering the interface for users who just want to transfer a file.

This change implies that Microsoft is listening to some degree of user feedback regarding system clutter. While it doesn’t solve the broader issue of ads in the Start menu or lock screen, it cleans up the sharing experience significantly. Users will be able to uncheck the box and see only the apps they actually use.

It remains to be seen when this specific change will roll out to all users in a stable release. For now, it is a small but welcome step toward a cleaner, less commercialized operating system environment.

We are curious if this change is enough to improve your experience or if you think Microsoft needs to do more to reduce ads in the Comments.