Microsoft tries to sell cloud service OneDrive subscriptions with new ad within Windows 10’s File Explorer, to the annoyance of customers

Users are complaining about Microsoft inserting adverts for its OneDrive cloud service directly into Windows 10’s File Explorer.



The adverts pop up while a user is trying to manage files in a dedicated pane at the top of the Quick Access view within File Explorer, and are part of what Microsoft calls “sync provider notifications”.

Windows 10’s new OneDrive advert in File Explorer

The advert is part of the new Windows 10 Creators Update, which is currently beta testing with early adopters but is scheduled to roll out to all Windows 10 users this year.

A Microsoft spokesperson told the Verge that users could opt out of receiving the ads. They said: “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.”

While Microsoft may see them as helpful tips, some users have been less enamoured, calling them “disgraceful” and “disgusting”.

This is not the first time Microsoft has displayed ads within its Windows operating system. Prior to upgrading to Windows 10, Microsoft injected nagging ads and notifications into Windows 7 and 8, was forced to pay out compensation over automatic Windows 10 installs and even attempted to pay people to use its Edge browser instead of Google’s Chrome or Mozilla’s Firefox.

Once installed, Windows 10 is also permeated with adverts masquerading as tips. Reddit user MorallyDeplorable said: “The Start menu is plastered with pinned ads, it randomly injects ads into the start menu program list, it’ll pop up asking about Office 365, and it’ll whine about OneDrive when you open Explorer or accidentally click on the OneDrive link, or even if you highlight the OneDrive link with the keyboard.

“Some of the preinstalled apps have ads and it’ll nag you when you launch Chrome or Firefox the first time about using Edge by saying flat-out wrong ‘facts’. Sure, all of these can be turned off but they’re all on by default. It’s pretty ridiculous.”

Many of these adverts can be turned off. Microsoft’s promotion of Edge, which pops up at certain points when people use other browsers, can be turned off by disabling the “get tips, tricks and suggestions as you use Windows” option in Windows 10’s notification settings.

To turn off the new OneDrive adverts within File Explorer, users will need to turn off “Show sync provider notifications”, which is buried four successive menus deep within the Advanced Settings of File Explorer’s Folder Options, as explained by Windows guru Paul Thurrott.