Windows 11, más publicidad en el sistema operativo.

Microsoft seems intent on expanding the presence of advertising within Windows 11. The company is testing a new feature that would allow the display of promotional apps in the Recommended section of the Start Menu, an area previously reserved for newly installed apps and related suggestions.

The news was recently discovered by the observant account X PhantomOcean3, who noticed a subtle change in the description of a Windows 11 setting. The new wording reads «app promotion» within the Recommended section, whereas before it simply referred to «new apps.»

More advertising coming to Windows 11?

Although app promotion in the Start menu is not a new practice for Microsoft, as it was also adopted in Windows 10, this decision has stirred some discontent among users. Advertising in areas of the operating system commonly used for functions has long been a topic of debate, but the company does not seem to heed this type of user feedback.

Despite the protests, it appears that Microsoft is determined to continue down this path, given the increasing importance of services as a source of income for tech companies. Introducing app promotions in the Recommended section would represent another advertising channel within Windows 11, in addition to the apps already offered in the system at the time of installation with the first boot.

The very definition of «advertising» within an operating system has become a subject of debate, with many users viewing it as an unwanted form of intrusion. It is important to note, however, that while the new feature has been identified, it is not yet clear if Microsoft will decide to implement it in stable versions of Windows 11. Nevertheless, its presence in testing suggests that there is interest in expanding advertising presence in its OS.