Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 6:27 p.m
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Windows 11 started showing additional ads in the user interface, especially in the Start Menu, after the last update released by Microsoft.
The update, known as KB5036980, was distributed automatically through Windows Update and added app suggestions and sponsored posts that can clutter and slow down the operating system’s interface. Although the update is optional, many users may have difficulty blocking or uninstalling it manually.
For users who prefer an ad-free experience on Windows 11, a solution comes in the form of a free app called OFGB (Oh F**k Go Back). This app enables disabling system ads through a simple interface, allowing users to easily stop various types of unwanted ads and suggestions built into the operating system, Tomshardwer writes.
What features can be disabled with the OFGB app
Features that can be disabled include ads in File Explorer, tips and ads on the lock screen, ads in settings, general suggestions, “Finish Setup” and “Welcome Experience” ads, personalized ads, “Tailored Experiences” and Start Menu ads .
Using the OFGB app is simple: users just need to check the appropriate boxes in the app and restart the operating system. Once these settings are applied, the ads should disappear and the spaces where they were displayed will remain empty.
Disabling these features may also benefit system performance by eliminating unnecessary resource consumption that would otherwise be used to serve ads.
The OFGB app was created by Maddy (@xM4ddy), a well-known developer in the Linux community, who intended to give Windows 11 users an example of what a completely ad-free operating system could look like
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