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If Windows 11 will go down in history for anything besides the constant updates that broke pretty much everything, it will be the unsolicited workday-intrusive Microsoft PopUp Ads on corporate PCs with Microsoft constantly pushing MS-related gear, software, and services. Good thing there are ways to minimize this invasion of your workspace.
1. Start Menu Ads
Disable Recommendations:
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager" -Name "SubscribedContent-338388Enabled" -Value 0
Go to:
Settings > Personalization > Start → Toggle off “Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more”.
2. Widgets Ads
Hide or Show Feeds:
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager" -Name "SubscribedContent-338389Enabled" -Value 0
Open Widgets (Win + W) → Click Settings (gear icon) → “Show or hide feeds” → Toggle off unwanted feeds.
3. Privacy Settings
Advertising ID
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AdvertisingInfo" -Name "Enabled" -Value 0
Go to:
Settings > Privacy & Security > General → Toggle off “Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID”.
Tailored Experiences
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Privacy" -Name "TailoredExperiencesWithDiagnosticDataEnabled" -Value 0
Go to:
Settings > Privacy & Security > Tailored experiences → Move slider to Off.
Notifications
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Notifications\Settings" -Name "NOC_GLOBAL_SETTING_TOASTS_ENABLED" -Value 0
Go to:
Settings > System > Notifications → Under “Additional settings”, uncheck:
– “Show the Windows welcome experience”
– “Get tips and suggestions”
File Explorer Ads
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" -Name "ShowSyncProviderNotifications" -Value 0
Open File Explorer → Click three-dot menu → Options > View → Uncheck “Show sync provider notifications”.
Device Usage Tracking
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DeviceAccess\Global{52079F78-CB6A-4B84-AD73-3B76887E6D2E}" -Name "Value" -Value "Deny"
Go to:
Settings > Personalization > Device usage → Toggle off all listed items.
You Should Know:
- Disable Telemetry (Linux Alternative):
sudo systemctl disable --now apparmor.service sudo systemctl mask apparmor.service
- Block Microsoft Ads via Hosts File (Linux/Windows):
echo "0.0.0.0 ads1.msads.net" | sudo tee -a /etc/hosts echo "0.0.0.0 telemetry.microsoft.com" | sudo tee -a /etc/hosts
(Windows: Edit `C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts` as Admin.)
- Check Running Background Services:
Get-Service | Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "MicrosoftAds" } | Stop-Service -Force
What Undercode Say:
Windows 11’s aggressive ad integration is a privacy concern, but with registry tweaks and PowerShell commands, users can regain control. For Linux users, similar telemetry controls exist (systemd services, `journalctl` logs). Always verify changes via:
Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager"
For deeper control, consider Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) or third-party tools like Winaero Tweaker.
Expected Output:
A Windows 11 system free of intrusive ads, with minimal telemetry and a cleaner workspace.
References:
Reported By: Charlescrampton If – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
