Why Is Windows 10 Showing Ads? How To Hide Annoying 'Spotlight' Feature

Windows 10 users woke up to a nasty surprise Friday morning. Microsoft has started placing giant ads on the lock screen, as part of the company’s Windows Spotlight initiative. Those switching on their PC to get started for the day were greeted by a giant picture advertising “Rise of the Tomb Raider.”

Windows Spotlight is meant to include fun facts, information and cool pictures. The feature is intended to display tips that will help users get the most out of their Windows 10 PC. Unfortunately, this also means unexpected adverts.

To switch off Windows Spotlight, go to the Start menu, then “Settings,” then “Personalization,” then “Lock Screen.” Under the “Background” selector, choose something other than “Windows Spotlight,” like a picture from a personal collection. Once an alternative has been picked out, uncheck “Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen.”

Windows Spotlight is meant as a way of engaging users with tools and features they may not have otherwise tried. In an August 2015 interview with The Verge, Microsoft Vice President Joe Belfiore said that the idea is to suggest ideas based on what the user’s already tried. If the user’s never tried Cortana, for example, Spotlight might put tips on how to get the most out of the personal assistant directly onto the lock screen.

If the “tips” are going to be more adverts, however, there’s likely to be a large group of people who would rather not bother with it.