Windows 10 brought a number of improvements over its predecessors in terms of security, speed and connectivity, but it also pissed off advanced users by removing features found in previous versions or adding annoying prompts and ads throughout the OS. So if you’re angry Unwanted ads on your Windows 10 PCTo regain control over your computer, you should check out our tutorial below.
Note: If you are tired of activating the Windows watermark, check our article on how to get Windows 10 keys for free or cheap to fix the problem.
How to Remove Built-in Ads in Windows 10
All versions of Windows 10 contain ads, but the good thing is that you can disable most of them permanently. Here’s how you can remove ads from the Windows 10 Start Menu, Lock Screen, File Explorer, and Notification Prompts. We’ll also tell you how to turn off Windows Advertising ID for enhanced privacy and turn off all distracting ‘Live Tiles’ in the Start Menu. Click the button below to go to the topic you want.
Remove Ads from Windows 10 Start Menu
1. To remove ads from Start Menu, Go to Windows 10 ‘Settings’ By clicking the lever icon in the Start Menu.
2. Next, Click on ‘Personalization’.
3. Now select ‘Start’ To customize the Start Menu
4. Finally, turn off the setting that says “Show suggestions on startup from time to time”.
This much. Now you have successfully disabled all ads from the Start Menu.
Remove Ads from Windows 10 Lock Screen
1. To get rid of lock screen ads, Go to Settings > Personalization as previously described. Then click on ‘Lock Screen’.
2. Now, from the drop-down menu, set the background to ‘Picture’ or ‘Slideshow’ instead of Windows Spotlight.
3. Also “Get fun facts, tips and more from Windows and Cortana on your lock screen” for more peace of mind.
No more ads, annoying ‘tips’ and ‘fun facts’ on your Windows 10 lock screen.
Remove Ads from Windows 10 File Explorer
Microsoft ran ads in File Explorer with the Creators Update in 2017, but gave up after a massive backlash from users. However, this option still remains ‘On’ by default, so it makes sense to turn this option off in case the company changes its mind.
1. To remove banner ads from Windows 10 File Explorer, Click on the ‘View’ tab as seen in the screenshot below.
2. Now Click on ‘Options’ top right and choose “Change folder and search options”.
3. In the pop-up window (see below), Click on the ‘View’ tab on the hill.
4. Now scroll down and deselect “Show sync provider notifications”. Finally, click on ‘Apply’ or ‘OK’ to apply the changes to your system
Now you have banned ads in Windows 10 File Explorer forever.
Remove Notification Ads in Windows 10
1. To disable notification ads (Microsoft calls them ‘recommendations’), go to settings as previously explained. Now click on ‘System’.
2nd row, Select ‘Notifications and Actions’ in the left pane.
3. On the screen that appears, uncheck the option that says “Show me the Windows welcome experience…”.
Note: This option is available as a toggle in some versions of Windows 10, in which case you should set the toggle to ‘Off’. The rest of the process will remain the same.
4. You can also uncheck “Get tips, tricks and suggestions…” and close “Get notifications from apps and other senders” for an even cleaner Windows experience.
Turn off Advertising ID in Windows 10 for Better Privacy
1. Windows 10 sends app developers and advertisers a unique advertising ID for each user, but this is a privacy issue and should be permanently disabled. To do this, Go to Settings > Privacy.
2nd. Click on ‘General’ and turn off all toggles as seen in the screenshot below to provide better privacy.
Bonus: How to Disable Live Tiles in Windows 10
The ‘Live Tiles’ bundled with the Windows 10 Start Menu can also be a source of annoying ads. To disable them, right click on such a tile and select ‘Pin from Start’.
Note that you can unpin all Start Menu tiles, regardless of whether they are ‘live’ or not. That way, you’ll be left with only the ‘All Apps’ list on the left, but a much cleaner and leaner Start Menu that many users prefer.
Remove All Annoying Ads From Your Windows 10 Computer
Windows 10 may be a great all-purpose operating system, but persistent advertisements spreading throughout the operating system can be a major annoyance for most users. However, following our guide above will help you permanently remove most ads in Windows 10. So give it a chance to improve your experience on your PC and let us know how it goes.
