How To Remove And Block Unwanted Advertisements On Your Windows Computer

Introduction

Windows operating systems have increasingly incorporated advertisements as part of the user experience, appearing in various locations from the lock screen to system settings. These ads can be intrusive and disrupt the computing experience, leading many users to seek ways to disable or block them. The source material provides detailed instructions for removing different types of advertisements built into Windows systems, managing personalized advertising settings, handling ads in applications and games, and utilizing third-party ad-blocking solutions. This article outlines these methods based on the available information.

Disabling Built-in Windows Ads

Windows Search and File Explorer Ads

Windows Search includes an option called "Show search highlights" that adds content suggestions, which function as advertisements. To disable these ads, users can toggle off the "Show search highlights" option in the Windows Search settings. This modification results in a more seamless, ad-free search experience.

In File Explorer, some users may encounter ads or recommendations. To remove these, users should open File Explorer and click the ellipsis icon (three dots) near the top of the menu, to the right of Sort and View. From the menu that appears, click Options, which opens the Folder Options menu. Switching to the "View tab" and scrolling down allows users to toggle off the "Show sync provider notifications" option. Clicking "Apply" and "OK" saves these changes.

Settings Menu Ads

Ironically, Microsoft displays ads in the Settings menu itself, where users go to disable advertisements. These ads typically appear as product recommendations and offers at the top of different pages in the Settings app. To prevent ads from showing in the Settings menu, users can open the Settings app and navigate to Privacy & Security > Recommendations offers. On this page, there is an option called "Recommendations and offers in Settings" that should be turned off to stop ads or promotions from appearing.

Lock Screen Ads

Windows 10 displays ads alongside wallpapers on the lock screen through Windows Spotlight. To disable these ads, users should navigate to Settings > Personalisation > Lock Screen. Changing the background setting from 'Windows Spotlight' to either 'Picture' or 'Slideshow' removes the ads. Additionally, disabling the option 'Get fun facts, tips, and more from Windows and Cortana on your lock screen' further eliminates ad content from the lock screen experience.

Taskbar Pop-ups

Microsoft refers to these notifications as "tips, tricks, and suggestions," which can become intrusive over time. To disable these pop-ups, users should go to Settings > System > Notifications & Actions and turn off the 'Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows' option. This action prevents Microsoft from pushing these notifications through the taskbar.

Notification Ads

Microsoft uses the notification system to suggest updates, tricks, tips, and applications. To control these notification ads, users can navigate to Settings > System > Notifications. At the bottom of the page, under "Additional Settings," users can find options to manage how notifications are displayed and limit unwanted promotional content.

Live Tiles

Windows 10 includes certain apps, such as the Store and Xbox, that deliver advertisements through live tiles that cannot be deleted. To turn off these live tiles, users should right-click the tile in question, select More > Turn live tile off. For additional removal, right-clicking again and selecting 'Unpin from start' completely removes the tile from the Start menu.

Windows Ink Workspace Ads

The Windows Ink Workspace contains a 'suggested apps' section that displays advertisements. To banish these suggestions, users should navigate to Settings > Devices > Pen & Windows Ink and turn off the 'Show recommended app suggestions' option. This modification eliminates the ad-like suggestions from the Windows Ink Workspace.

Managing Personalized Advertising

Disabling Advertising ID

Windows includes an Advertising ID feature that allows third-party apps to show personalized ads based on user activity. To disable this, users can navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Recommendations offers and turn off the "Advertising ID" option. This action blocks third-party apps from using the Windows Advertising ID to deliver personalized advertisements.

Disabling Personalized Offers

In the same Recommendations & offers menu, users can disable "Personalized offers," which shows personalized tips, ads, and recommendations based on user activity. Turning off this option prevents Microsoft from delivering customized promotional content through the operating system.

Disabling Tips and Suggestions

Windows includes numerous tips and suggestions that can be helpful for new users but may become annoying for experienced users. To stop receiving these tips and suggestions, users should go to Settings > System > Notifications and scroll to the bottom of the page where they'll find "Additional Settings." Clicking this reveals three different options related to tips and suggestions that can be configured according to user preference.

Handling Ads in Applications and Games

Free Game Limitations

Many free games, including "Words With Friends" by Zynga Mobile, display advertisements as their primary revenue model. In the case of "Words With Friends," ads appear between turns and cannot be turned off through in-game settings. This limitation exists because advertising is how many free mobile games generate revenue for developers. Additionally, these games often incorporate in-game purchases as another monetization strategy, where players can buy virtual currency to unlock special features.

Workarounds for Game Ads

While ads in free games cannot be completely eliminated, users have found limited workarounds to manage their impact. One approach is to turn off the sound of the advertisements, which reduces their intrusiveness without eliminating them. Another method involves closing and reopening the game application to terminate an ad. This approach may also provide feedback to the game developer about which ads users are unwilling to watch, potentially encouraging the development of shorter or less intrusive advertisements in the future.

For specific games like Microsoft Solitaire, which shows 30-second video advertisements, the only way to remove these ads is by paying a subscription fee of $10 annually. However, users seeking an ad-free solitaire experience can play Google's Solitaire instead, which is available for free without advertisements.

Using Ad-Blocking Software

AdGuard

AdGuard is a free ad-blocking service that blocks various types of advertisements across websites and applications. According to testing, it blocked every ad on the websites evaluated, including those on YouTube and other ad-supported streaming sites. By default, the tool is designed to block all possible types of ads, though users can whitelist specific sites by accessing "Settings" and then "Whitelist."

Key features of AdGuard include: - Blocking all types of advertisements - Removing ads in videos - Additional features such as warnings against spam and scam links - Cross-platform compatibility with Chrome, Safari, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Android

However, some of AdGuard's best features are locked behind a paywall, and the complete blocking of all ad types requires the paid version. The service has recently become completely free, though the company now promotes other products such as a VPN.

Adblock Plus (ABP)

Adblock Plus is another free ad-blocking option that allows users to disable "acceptable ads" in its settings. While it blocked most ads during testing, it had difficulty with certain advertisements on specific websites like Orlando Sentinel. Despite this limitation, ABP remains a strong option with several advantages:

• Completely free for all features
• Provides a "block element" feature for ads not automatically blocked
• Offers language settings for international users
• Allows users to build custom lists or upload pre-built block lists from third parties

ABP works with multiple browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser, iOS, and Android.

Poper Blocker

Poper Blocker has been recognized by several tech sites as one of the best pop-up blockers on the market. This tool effectively blocks not only pop-ups but also website overlays that are increasingly common. During testing, it successfully blocked the ad-blocking overlay used by Orlando Sentinel and the age verification overlay used by Tubi.

The Chrome and Firefox versions of Poper Blocker work well for most ad-blocking needs, though it may leave some ads unblocked that other top free ad blockers consistently catch. Despite this limitation, it remains a recommended option for general ad-blocking purposes.

Conclusion

Removing unwanted advertisements from a Windows computer requires addressing multiple sources of promotional content. Built-in Windows ads appear in various locations including the search function, file explorer, settings menu, lock screen, taskbar, notifications, live tiles, and specialized workspaces like Windows Ink. These can typically be disabled through specific settings adjustments within the operating system.

Personalized advertising features such as Advertising ID and personalized offers can also be disabled through the Privacy & Security settings, reducing the amount of targeted advertising users encounter. For tips and suggestions that Microsoft delivers through Windows, notification settings provide options to limit or eliminate this content.

When it comes to applications and games, users should recognize that free software often relies on advertising as a revenue model, making complete ad removal impossible without payment. However, some workarounds may help mitigate the impact of these ads.

For comprehensive ad blocking across websites and applications, third-party ad-blocking software such as AdGuard, Adblock Plus, and Poper Blocker offer effective solutions with varying features and compatibility. While some advanced features may require payment, these tools provide significant value in reducing unwanted advertisements throughout the computing experience.

Sources

1. How to Get Rid of Windows Ads
2. Tech Q&A: How to Get Rid of Ads (or at Least Some) on Free Game
3. How to Turn Off Windows 10's Built-in Advertising
4. Best Free Ad Blockers