Windows 11 File Explorer might be getting ads

Ads in File Explorer. You read that right. According to a Windows 11 Insider, Microsoft might soon be making ads a part of the Windows 11 File Explorer experience. The user of the Windows 11 Insider build, and notable Insider MVP, shared a screenshot that clearly shows an advertisement placed prominently above the list of files and folders within the Windows 11 File Explorer app. File Explorer is Windows 11’s default file manager, but the inclusion of ads might be more of a deterrent than the enticement Microsoft seems to be going for. 

The ads in question aren’t random products or services from companies who’ve bought advertising space from Microsoft. In fact, we highly doubt Microsoft would turn one of its most essential Windows 11 apps into a virtual billboard. It does, however, seem that Microsoft is using the dedicated space to advertise products and services from within its own stable. So you would expect to see such ads as how to ‘write with confidence across documents, email, and the web with advanced writing suggestions from Microsoft Editor.’

While this type of internal marketing is not much different to companies highlighting features of an app within the app or including guides on how to use a program inside the program itself, there is still concern amongst users that this could sully the Windows 11 experience. It’s an experience that, up until now, has focused on streamlining and decluttering the modern operating system interface. 

Critics point out, however, that Microsoft is no stranger to self-promotional ads within its operating systems. Such was the case with Windows 10 in 2016 when Microsoft added promotional content for OneDrive directly in the File Explorer window. Microsoft is even guilty of trying to push its free Office online functionality suite within the menu bar of Windows 10’s Wordpad. 

It is also pertinent to mention that not all Insider users experienced the same feature. While this could mean Microsoft is testing the feature on a smaller scale within its Insider build, it could also mean it’s a purely Insider feature for a certain percentage of users and might not even be considered as a feature of the official software. 

While you wait for Microsoft to bring a little clarity to this potentially upsetting situation, why not check out what’s new in the latest Windows 11 build? We assure you, there are no ads in this one.