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Get rid of ads in your Windows 10 Start menu

Windows 10 occasionally sneaks unwanted app "suggestions" into your Start menu.

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal Freelance Writer
Sarah is a freelance writer and CNET How To blogger. Her main focus is Windows, but she also covers everything from mobile tech to video games to DIY hardware projects. She likes to press buttons and see what happens, so don't let her near any control panels.
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Sarah Jacobsson Purewal
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Your Start menu could contain not-so-helpful "suggestions" from Windows.

 Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

If you're running Windows 10 with default settings, you've probably noticed apps creeping into the right (tile) side of your Start menu -- apps you didn't put there. Clicking on these "apps" opens up the Store, where you can purchase and download them. Microsoft calls them "suggestions," but they're actually just ads.

That's right, Microsoft is putting ads in your Start menu. Is nothing sacred?

Luckily, ridding yourself of these ads -- sorry, suggestions -- is a quick fix.

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Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET


Open Settings and go to Personalization > Start. You'll see several toggles, but the second one should say "Occasionally show suggestions in Start." Turn this toggle to Off and close the Settings menu.

That's all you have to do! No more Start menu ads for you!

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