Microsoft is testing advertising in new places within its operating system. If you open the new Windows 10 settings menu in the future, you may see a kind of banner ad – which, however, does not advertise for external advertisers, but refers to other functions of Windows.
As the developer and Microsoft specialist Rafael Rivera announced on his Twitter profile, he recently came across a new banner in the right area when opening the “Windows Settings”, the Windows app for modifying the various operating system settings. Under an image showing different backgrounds in stylized form, the possibility of individualizing Windows 10 is mentioned.
Microsoft is apparently trying to draw attention to the fact that there are various ways to adapt the appearance of Windows to the user’s own taste. Below it there is a button, over which one can get to a selection of the Windows themes. There is no way to deactivate the advertising at this point.
When Rivera published a screenshot of the new ad space in the settings app, she pointed out that the display of advertisements for changing the settings seemed a bit strange to her. After all, the user is already in the settings menu at this point. Whether the advertising can only be seen here, or there are other new advertising spaces, is currently not known. It is also open whether the advertisement is also displayed in languages other than English or other countries when using Windows.
Fortunately, it is quite easy for the user to disable ads like these if desired. In our extensive FAQ article on this topic, you will learn how to take action against advertising in detail. All you have to do is adjust your privacy settings so that Microsoft will no longer provide you with any unwanted “tips” and “hints” in other places.