1 Permanently remove ads from the Start Menu2 Remove ads from the Cortana search box3 Remove ads from the Lock Screen4 Remove Windows 10 apps ads5 Remove ads from app Live Tiles6 Remove ads from the Windows Ink experience7 Remove ads from Action Center & Notifications8 How to disable the Windows 10 targeted ads9 Windows 10 ads: A nagging but safe way to advertise
However, some of these ads may affect the user experience of those that work with Windows 10 on a daily basis. Thankfully, there is a way to remove annoying ads from every place they can be found in Windows 10, with just a few basic steps. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of how to disable ads in Windows 10. That way you will be able to reduce the number of ads that you see when working on your Windows 10 device. Click on the links below to follow the instructions and remove ads from Windows 10:
Block ads in the Start Menu Remove ads from the Cortana search box Remove ads from the Lock Screen Remove Windows 10 apps ads Block ads in app Live Tiles Remove ads from the Windows Ink experience Remove ads from Action Center & Notifications How to disable the Windows 10 targeted ads
Permanently remove ads from the Start Menu
The Start Menu has been one of the pillars of the Windows operating system. And surely not surprising to many, Microsoft has found a smart way to use the Start Menu for ads in Windows 10. They are called suggestions and they prompt users to get apps and services through the Windows Store based on their behavior using the OS. Here is how you can block ads in the Windows 10 Start Menu:
Return to the top
Remove ads from the Cortana search box
Technically, the suggestions that Cortana will offer you from time to time are not ads. However, they can be as annoying for some users. If a user doesn’t interact with the personal assistant, it will pipe up and will offer suggestions on how to use Cortana. Here is how you can remove ads from the Cortana search box:
Return to the top
Remove ads from the Lock Screen
On the Lock Screen, Windows 10 shows ads in two ways: through Windows spotlight and through your own custom background. When using Windows spotlight, you can’t disable ads. However, you can remove ads from the Lock Screen when you choose to show a custom background picture or slideshow. Here is how you can remove ads from the Windows 10 Lock Screen:
Return to the top
Remove Windows 10 apps ads
In addition to the Start Menu app suggestions, Windows 10 comes with a number of apps that we can consider pure ads. For example, the “Get Office” app and games such as Candy Crush Saga, Age of the Empire: Castle Siege, FarmVille 2: Country Scape, Asphalt 8: Airborne, and World of Tanks Blitz. Of course, the Microsoft Solitaire Collection game is also an ad by itself and also shows you long video ads if you’re not part of the premium offering. Here is how you can remove apps ads:
Alternatively, you can use the Settings app to remove application ads:
It is important to know that some of these tiles are just shortcuts that help you download the app from the Windows Store. That means you can just right-click and select Unpin from Start to remove them. Before the Windows 10 Creators Update, any built-in app that you uninstalled would come back after installing a feature update. However, Redstone 2 changed that and now you can uninstall built-in apps without having to worry they will return after a feature update. Return to the top
Remove ads from app Live Tiles
Despite the fact that you can uninstall apps posing as ads, there are some applications that are part of Windows 10 which you can’t (or shouldn’t) uninstall. These include the Windows Store, Xbox, Groove Music, and Music & TV, and are called Live Tiles. You may not be able to uninstall these apps, but you can delete ads from Live Tiles, following these steps:
Again, you can just right-click the apps and select Unpin from Start. Return to the top
Remove ads from the Windows Ink experience
With the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Microsoft introduced the pen feature Windows Ink. Along with the improvements and new features, Redmond included ads in the Windows Ink Workspace to promote apps that include support for Windows Ink. Here is how to remove ads from the Windows Ink experience menu:
Please note that you can only change that option if you are using Windows Ink on a Surface or another device with pen support. Those using Windows Ink on devices without a touchscreen can’t change the option. Return to the top
Remove ads from Action Center & Notifications
One of the many ways that Windows 10 helps users to easily find and use its features is with tips and suggestions through the Action Center & Notifications. For example, if at some point a user chooses to use Google Chrome, they will receive suggestions to switch to Microsoft Edge. Here is how you can remove ads from Action Center & Notifications:
Return to the top
How to disable the Windows 10 targeted ads
On top of all the ads in Windows 10, Microsoft also assigns every user a unique identification number. Using that number the company can track your moves in Windows Store or on apps, and target you with specific ads. These are called targeted ads and you can disable them as well. To do that you will have to change your privacy settings to turn off your advertising ID. Here is how you can delete the Windows 10 targeted ads:
In case you want to reset the data matched to your advertising identification number, just turn off the option and then turn it back on. Return to the top
Windows 10 ads: A nagging but safe way to advertise
As mentioned in the beginning, for many users the ads that appear throughout Windows 10 don’t cause any problems. However, for users that operate their Windows 10 devices daily and for many hours, they can be nagging. What is certain is the fact that the Windows 10 ads are completely safe. Most ads that we encounter on the Web are unsafe for our devices and some may even cause severe OS malfunctions. Microsoft is promoting apps and services via Windows 10 in every possible way, however, it offers users the ability to disable these ads. And even if you accidentally click on such an ad, the worst thing that could happen is you would be transferred to the Windows Store to download a safe app.
