After getting Windows users excited with the potential addition of tabs in the OS’ File Explorer, it seems that Microsoft is getting things 'balanced' by also potentially adding a feature that is almost universally loathed. Get this, a Windows 11 Insider build tester recently discovered that Microsoft is testing putting advertisements in File Explorer!
Shared by Florian on Twitter, a screenshot of File Explorer on the Windows 11 Insider build shows a line of ad placed right above the listing of folders and files. Furthermore, it seems that the feature would be putting ads promoting Microsoft products. For this particular instance captured by Florian, he received an ad promoting Microsoft Editor.
This is not the first time that Microsoft tried to embed ads within Windows applications, though based on the backlash it received in the past, it’s quite perplexing why Microsoft is still trying again. Back in 2016, Microsoft was caught showing a OneDrive ad in File Explorer, as shared by Tero Alhonen on Twitter.
Furthermore, in 2020, Microsoft tested putting ads promoting free Office web apps in the menu bar for the Windows 10 Wordpad. Users have also shared how Windows 10 Start Menu showed ads for Microsoft Edge in the past. All of these instances were met with backlash by Windows users.
However, this time around it is likely that this ads feature is only part of an A/B testing experiment conducted to Microsoft to gauge the feasibility of adding such a feature. Well, let’s hope that it will be met with similar backlash and that Microsoft won’t be adding it to Windows 11.
What do you guys think? Would you want to see ads in File Explorer? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest trending tech news such as this!
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