The future of Windows may feature a reduction in advertisements and distracting upsell promotions.

      Microsoft is striving to make the operating system more "calm" by reducing upsells and distractions.

      Microsoft appears to be taking steps to tackle one of the most irritating aspects of Windows 11: the persistent advertisements and upselling efforts. Scott Hanselman, one of the engineers spearheading the initiative for these new Windows updates, mentioned that the company aims to create a Windows 11 experience that is “calmer and more relaxed with fewer upsells,” particularly in areas such as the Start menu and system prompts.

      This intention follows years of user feedback, with many expressing frustration over frequent prompts encouraging them to use services like Edge, OneDrive, Microsoft 365, and even Copilot, often in unexpected contexts.

      What is prompting Microsoft to cut back on ads?

      Over time, Windows 11 has evolved into a platform that not only runs applications but also promotes them aggressively. From recommendations in the Start menu to prompts during setup and full-screen nudges, Microsoft has actively pushed its ecosystem. Even those within Microsoft have recognized this concern. The push for a “calmer” experience indicates that the company acknowledges the noise levels of Windows have become excessive and require adjustment.

      That said, users should not anticipate a complete elimination of ads. The objective appears to be a reduction in clutter rather than a total removal.

      What changes can users expect?

      The primary adjustment is straightforward: Windows will aim to promote fewer products. Microsoft is looking to minimize promotions in the Start menu and throughout the OS while also enhancing performance, tidying up the user interface, and decreasing unnecessary prompts to create a smoother and less intrusive overall experience.

      In addition to these changes, Microsoft is exploring other user-friendly improvements, such as potentially eliminating the mandatory Microsoft account sign-in during setup, restoring the movable taskbar, optimizing Windows 11 for better performance on devices with 8GB of RAM to remain competitive with products like the MacBook Neo, and re-evaluating the aggressive integration of Copilot AI into the OS. Overall, it seems that Microsoft is finally putting less emphasis on pushing its services and more on refining the core user experience.

      Varun is a seasoned technology journalist and editor with more than eight years in consumer tech media. His work covers…

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