A new change arrived to Windows 10 with one of the recent updates. Many users spotted aggressive, annoying ad popups which appear right in the taskbar promoting Microsoft apps like Edge. The operating system detects that the user is not using Edge and offers him to switch to Microsoft's browser instead of the current one with a special taskbar thumbnail popup.
Users who prefer an alternative browser like Chrome or Firefox over Microsoft Edge are seeing taskbar ads like this:
The senior editor of PCWorld, Brad Chacos, was affected by this issue. He had set Chrome as the default browser and was not running Edge, but the operating system started to show him a popup which promotes Microsoft Rewards and Microsoft Edge.
This is not the first time when Microsoft has promoted Edge for Windows 10 users. Some time ago, toast notification ads were being shown in the Action Center promoting Edge as a more energy-efficient browser for mobile device users, over Google Chrome.
It is not clear how to disable such type of ads in Windows 10. Brad Chacos already mentioned that he disabled app suggestions in Settings. Some Twitter users suggested him to disable the Windows Customer Experience Program, but the required Group Policy setting for it is available only in Enterprise editions of Windows 10, while he is running Windows 10 Pro. Some others suggest turning off the setting "Show me tips about Windows" in System -> Notifications & actions.
There is no guarantee that you will get rid of all the aggressive ads in Windows 10 even if you make all the required tweaks. Windows 10 is well-known for resetting user preferences between build upgrades, so everything you turn off will get enabled again when the next build upgrade occurs.
Personally, I am not happy to see such moves from the company. Windows 10 has turned into a platform for showing ads about apps which the user has no interest in seeing. It only ruins the user experience.
What about you? Do you find these ads acceptable?
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“Earn while you browse”? People are going to think their PC is infected.
Yeah, it looks like some malware!
Actually, I it *is* malware under Wikipedia’s loose definition that includes adware and scareware. It just happens to be a piece of malware that comes with the operating system.
I’m sure they’ll be able to switch them off at some point.
I personally get annoyed when YouTube (Google) recommends I switch to Chrome.
It’s also a shame when Google tells the public about security issues before Microsoft gets a chance to fix them.
I don’t blame Microsoft for switching up their game. Google plays very hard, too.
You don’t have to be a fan boy or hater to notice that both sides play this type of game.
If people don’t like Windows 10, they can switch to another OS.
Insiders get it for free anyway..
Well, I am using YouTube with NoScript, so I never saw such an offer.
But I agree, Google is also playing this type of game.
They stopped the shipping insider builds with keys shortly after launch. You can only get it if you’ve already got a license. They keys that shipped with pre-release builds have also been rescinded.
Actually, it’s Google hompage which displays notification of switching to Chrome.
” Windows 10 is well-known for resetting user preferences between build upgrades…”
That is SO Facebook!
I just hope this do not disturb screen reader users who cannot use Edge after all.
Its not a ad. Its a tip. You can turn it off in settings. Show me tips about windows = off.
Hey guys, it’s yet another outrageous offensive move from Microsoft in Windows 10.
We’ve grown accustomed to this poor treatment. We’re like domestic violence victims.
I have win 10 Pro. and use Firefox. I have never seen these Ads/tips call em what you will. Then again I don’t use any of the “apps” Microsoft in it’s wisdom has provided for our/their convenience. I run a local account and no need for signing up to MS for anything. No Bing, no Edge, no cortana. All telemetry switched off with Spybot Anti-Beacon. Win 10 is now just about tolerable and I have the option of reinstalling my Win 7 Pro retail disc If they get too pushy.
I’ve never seen these on my own computer, and I haven’t used any of the suggested remedies; the only thing I’ve done is unpin Edge from the taskbar.
oh no! :(
I am going to stay away from Windows 10 forever except of Linux (any distro), Windows 7 and Windows 8.1
It defies belief. I’m still waiting for a bad idea they don’t implement but I think they’re determined to prove that we’re all too stupid and malleable to ever reject their offerings. I’m slowly learning to get Mint to do everything I want and one of these days I’ll make the big leap. It’s such a breath of fresh air to have an OS that is easy to customize and is not an adversary.
MS already use to offer rewards on using Bing now it’s with the Edge. I don’t think it is malware.
I never saw this, though I am Windows insider with fast pace builds.
Maybe it is available only for certain countries. I think Bing rewards are only for US.