Microsoft is spamming users with OneDrive ads in Explorer

[Scorpus]

Microsoft is getting thirsty. They really want people to use OneDrive over more popular alternatives like Google Drive and Dropbox, so they're spamming users of Windows 10 with OneDrive ads in File Explorer.

As spotted by the Reddit community and many others, some users are seeing annoying OneDrive ads at the top of File Explorer's Quick Access section. This is the section that appears when you open a new File Explorer window, so these ads are immediately visible. Buttons in the ad allow users to 'learn more' or simply dismiss the ad altogether.

According to Microsoft in a statement to The Verge, the OneDrive ad in Explorer is not an ad, but a "tips notification" that users can opt out of. "The new tips notifications within the File Explorer in Windows 10 were designed to help Windows 10 customers by providing quick, easy information to enhance the experience relative to storage and cloud file management,” according to their statement.

Despite what Microsoft says on the matter, it's pretty clear this "tips notification" is a simple ad for OneDrive. There's a price listed in the notification, as well as a link that helps you purchase a subscription. Windows 10 users will no doubt feel frustrated that Microsoft can easily spam them with annoying ads like these.

Luckily, we have quick and easy guide to disabling any further ads or "provider notifications" in Windows 10, which you can read here.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/68464-microsoft-spamming-users-onedrive-ads-explorer.html

 

[EClyde]

Not me

 

[Evernessince]

Good thing I switched over to directory opus ages ago. Windows explorer has been behind alternatives for a long time time.

 

[misor]

Why are porn folders with black boxes?
I have no onedrive ads since I am already using it.

 

[captaincranky]

No one using Windows 10 would ever admit it, but every day they miss you more and more..

 

[noel24]

Wait, wait. It's just a beginning. When they gather enough on You from services like OneDrive, Cortana and so on, they will start injecting Your (ooops, I mean their) OS with personalised ads. Electronics, alcohol, vacations, cars, washing powder, toilet paper. Everything opt-out only for now, later compulsory. You start Your work PC at office after overnight update, log to Your selfsyncing account and find Yourself whole screen offers with porn You watched at home night before. Preferably with self starting video samples. LOL.

 

[Onygen]

Windows adware 10
Widnows tablet 8
Windows pc 7
We are for long time messing real pc operating system.

 

[Uncle Al]

And yet, just another good reason to use the 3rd party apps and avoid explorer all together .... won't they ever learn? Oh wait, we're talking about Microsoft ..... never mind!!!

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

Tough for OneDrive users. Although all Windows users gets some form of OneDrive storage gratis, I'm not aware of anyone I personally know who actually uses it. I certainly don't. I guess if you use Outlook then you may unknowingly use a few bytes of it.

 

[MoeJoe]

Haven't seen it.

Who are they targeting? Not me ...

 

[Kibaruk]

I haven't seen either, spam is a big word, they might have gotten a single message and that's it. Anyhow... it's an awesome deal to have Office 365.

 

[paul s2]

This way they can spy on you better

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

I only use Win10 on my Surface tablet because I can't use Win7.... I haven't seen these ads though, probably because we are using enterprise version and maybe M$ has an inkling of intelligence to know you don't piss off your large customers. However this damn OneDrive keeps coming back even though I tell it not to start with the system. Seems whenever I install Windows updates it "forgets" that setting. Fu*kers...

I swear if someone made a fully comparable alternative to Active Directory, businesses would start switching to that an M$ would DIE. That is really the only major money maker for them. I don't even think the M$ store is doing all that well...

 

[Yynxs]

The moon is in the 7th House...

 

[JamesSWD]

Saw this in my File Explorer for the first time last night and chuckled.

 

[Kibaruk]

Saw this in my File Explorer for the first time last night and chuckled.

No conspiracy comment this time? Wow that's refreshing.

 

[JamesSWD]

No conspiracy comment this time? Wow that's refreshing.

What are you babbling about? You have me confused with someone else.

 

[Vefi Uefi]

No one using Windows 10 would ever admit it, but every day they miss you more and more..

I'll gladly admit it. Windows 7 is dated. Windows 10 is much better and will continue to get better. Apps and Games are being optimized for Windows 10. Windows 10 has much more tools and features than Windows 7. Windows 8.1 is also better than 7.

 

[TheBigFatClown]

No one using Windows 10 would ever admit it, but every day they miss you more and more..

Windows 7 is all I've been using lately. It's not necessarily out of a hate for Windows 10. I get along okay using either one these days. Although, I do like some things about Windows 10. The worst thing they could do is turn an OS into a glorified shopping application. That was Windows 8. They figured out that was unacceptable so now they are walking the line trying to figure out what they can and cannot do.
Much like any relationship in life I guess. I should probably use Windows 10 more often, if for nothing more than to continue to fight the good fight for what I want as a user of Windows.
I don't even know what they've been up to lately apart from news postings.

 

[captaincranky]

Although, I do like some things about Windows 10. The worst thing they could do is turn an OS into a glorified shopping application. That was Windows 8. They figured out that was unacceptable so now they are walking the line trying to figure out what they can and cannot do.

We have a slightly different take on their methodology. They're still trying to find out what the can get away with, and figure that an apology is all it takes for an overstep, not a reversal.

Remember all that crap with the Windows 10 banners and the "accidentally or purpose download and installs of Windows 10"? They apologized about it. It's sort of the same principle whereby the murderer apologizes for killing someone at his sentencing hearing. Show remorse, that will make the sentence lighter, (ostensibly).

People say it's not the way to live your life, but I neither forgive nor forget. So, M$ can shove Windows 10 where it would do the most good, up Satya Nadella's a**. After all, he's the one who's managed to shove it up ours, and really, isn't turnabout fair play?

Much like any relationship in life I guess. I should probably use Windows 10 more often, if for nothing more than to continue to fight the good fight for what I want as a user of Windows.
I don't even know what they've been up to lately apart from news postings.

Since I live with 2 cats, it's fair to say that over the years, I haven't done much in the way of compromising with personal relationships either.

BTW though, M$ is fighting "their good fight" too, for what they decide you'll have to put up with, like it or not, and well, they outnumber you. .

 

[captaincranky]

I'll gladly admit it. Windows 7 is dated. Windows 10 is much better and will continue to get better. Apps and Games are being optimized for Windows 10. Windows 10 has much more tools and features than Windows 7. Windows 8.1 is also better than 7.

You can always tell a poster who has been bought off with DX-12.

Besides, as far as it goes, what other choice to developers have but to optimize their games and apps for Windows 10. M$ forced them to do exactly that.

 

[Ben Myers]

And Microsoft is spamming when you launch Chrome and it tells you that Edge is a better browser. If they keep these ads up, ill will will build, and people will seek alternatives.

 

[Ben Myers]

I haven't seen either, spam is a big word, they might have gotten a single message and that's it. Anyhow... it's an awesome deal to have Office 365.

An awesome deal to have Office 365? Why? Compared to? An incomplete thought. What am I missing? I am not missing any money for an Office 365 subscription.