Microsoft plans to put ads in Windows 11 File Explorer

Windows 11 already displays ads on the lock screen and start menu, but now Microsoft seems to be getting more aggressive and has started testing Office 365 service ads in local File Explorer.

The introduction of ads in File Explorer is actually not new. Microsoft experimented with File Explorer OneDrive ads in 2017, a move that was harshly criticized by Microsoft watchers and ultimately halted by the company. It looks like Microsoft is running another A/B test with a new banner at the top of Explorer.

As you can see in the screenshot below, a new Microsoft Editor ad appears as a banner at the top of Explorer designed to remind users that Microsoft Editor can help them reduce spelling mistakes.

The banner ad says that users can "write with confidence in documents, email, and the web with advanced writing suggestions from Microsoft Editor," and it includes a link to Microsoft Link to Microsoft documentation about the Microsoft Editor extension. You can accept Microsoft's suggestion or reject it.

However, the banner may reappear later, so closing it will not permanently disable ads in Explorer. Some users have reported seeing Microsoft's Office.com PowerPoint templates feature in File Explorer, along with some flagged ads disguised as help suggestions.

We haven’t seen the ads on many machines yet, so this is most likely an A/B test before being rolled out to everyone else through the Windows Insider program.

It’s worth noting that we’ve also seen Microsoft Editor ads popping up on the taskbar in Windows 10, and the ad incidence has been on the rise over the past month or so.

More ads, more bloatware

In addition to File Explorer ads, Microsoft is adding more bloatware (Inbox app) to Windows 11 .

In Build 22572, Microsoft has added a new video editor called Clipchamp, which is believed to be the company's replacement for Movie Maker. However, Windows 11's native video editor, now integrated into the context menu, doesn't come cheap.

Users can edit their devices using a selection of free templates and export videos in 480p, as 720p (HD) and 1080p (FHD) are only available to paying customers.

As mentioned at the beginning, this isn't the first time Microsoft has added ads to the Windows UI - there are Start menu ads and even full-screen pop-ups asking users to switch to Edge from Chrome or Firefox.

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