Now Microsoft is bringing Start menu ads to Windows 10, too

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https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-start-menu-ads-windows-10/

Key Takeaways

Windows 10 users will soon see ads in their Start menu, mimicking the unwelcome trend in Windows 11.

A new “Account Manager” section is appearing in the Start menu, replacing previous profile options.

Concerned users can find relief in ad-blocking apps created to combat Microsoft’s increasing use of ads….

https://x.com/phantomofearth/status/1827093328485048790

“The Start menu account manager from recent Windows 11 updates is being backported to Windows 10. (present in Beta/RP build 19045.4842, disabled by default.)”

3 users thanked author for this post.

Cybertooth, Fred, NaNoNyMouse

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Hey Y’all,

IMHO don’t use the Windows Start Menu! Switch to StartAllBack or OpenShell. They both give you a familiar menu setup without all the clutter or ads.

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

3 users thanked author for this post.

Cybertooth, bbearren, PL1

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That is my start menu on Win 10 Pro 22H2

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So my posts are being removed again, 😡
Good heavens how unfortunate these adds, and what can I do about these adds?

* _ ... _ *

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Your posts aren’t being removed?

I always like to wait to discussed released products or nearly released.  Often after these headlines occur Microsoft backs down.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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@joep517 –

Have you seen any indication of this in your testing in the Beta/Release Candidate channel for Windows 10? The latest Insiders blog for 19045.4842 doesn’t say a THING about the “feature”.

Alex quotes part of a feed on X that says that the “feature” is present in the latest build released to Beta/Release Candidate channel, but disabled by default.

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I don’t run Windows 10 anymore. So, I haven’t tested this release. I just saw the release notice and posted it. Microsoft has several sneaky ways to change how Windows works beyond just an update that activates everything. They can supply features and fixes that are not activated for everyone immediately but over time.

--Joe

2 users thanked author for this post.

Alex5723, Bob99

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I still use Classic Shell 4.3.1 (the latest version before the original author abandoned its development) on Windows 10 21H2 IoT LTSC and Windows 10 22H2 Enterprise (only the start menu part). It still appears to work fine there and I probably won’t see these unwelcome ads.

I echo the calls above : Do not use the Windows Start Menu if you can. Use an appropriate replacement.

Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Cybertooth

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I switched from Classic Shell 4.3.1 to Open Shell quite a while back because it’s kept “up-to-date” and there have been a lot of fixes, updates and added features since 2017,

I’m currently running version 4.4.191 and it still works just fine on Windows 10 22H2 Pro.

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Open Shell for Win10, StartAllBack for Win11.
NO ADS at all.

2 users thanked author for this post.

bbearren, PL1

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Widows 10 22H2.
No 3rd party menu app at all.
No ads.

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