Microsoft started to sneak advertisements into the Windows platform with Windows 8 and they've simply crept upward further in Windows x. Yous may call up, millions of users received Windows 10 every bit a costless upgrade at launch, making the promos more forgiving. From then-called suggested apps in the Start menu, to nagging taskbar notifications and lock screen ads, enough is plenty.

Thankfully it's easy to shut downwards most of these annoyances if you know where to wait. We published this guide when Windows 10 was newly released, we've since revised all content so information technology'due south current with the latest OS updates.

Disable lock screen ads, or bypass the lock screen

To get rid of lock screen ads you'll need to disable Windows Spotlight, which is the default option for the lock screen groundwork and displays different images as you log into the operating system. It also suggests Windows ten features you may have non tried yet, throwing the occasional advertisement in the mix.

To plough off Windows Spotlight caput to Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen and set the background to Picture or Slideshow instead of Windows Spotlight.

Correct below this y'all'll notice an option to switch off "Become fun facts, tips, and more on your lock screen" (this option is not presented with Windows Spotlight selected).

By using the Picture or Slideshow settings, you can still have revolving wallpapers on your lock screen, and you lot tin can even include the lock screen images -- hither's how.

You can also disable the lock screen and then that you load straight to the Windows log-in prompt instead of having to click through the lock screen every fourth dimension you lot sign into Windows 10. Here are two options:

Disable the lock screen via the Group Policy Editor:

  • Enter gpedit.msc via Showtime or Run to open the utility
  • Navigate to Calculator Configuration > Authoritative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization
  • Double-click the policy "Do non display the lock screen" and choose "Enabled" on the window that opens and click Ok

Disable the lock screen via the Windows Registry Editor:

The same can be accomplished by calculation two entries to your registry. Download our reg file package and double-click on the corresponding shortcut to apply the modification.

Make Cortana less prominent or kill it altogether

Microsoft's intelligent personal assistant tin exist annoyingly persistent to get your attention, and will bounce or show notifications and tips from time to time encouraging you to utilize it. The search box on the Windows taskbar takes up too much space for something that you can but as hands practise past pressing the Windows key and start typing.

Microsoft removed the selection to switch off Cortana with the Anniversary Update, but if you would prefer your search to stay focused on local files, settings, and apps, yous can all the same curb her enthusiasm by right-clicking anywhere on the taskbar and hovering over "Cortana," which volition present options to hide the characteristic or reduce the search bar to an icon.

Windows 10'southward banana can besides be shut down through the Windows Registry or the Group Policy Editor, which can be washed manually or past simply downloading and double-clicking on these registry shortcut files we've made (all the files for this article are in the same download).

Banish Get-go bill of fare 'suggestions,' or install a Win7-style bill of fare

Information technology'due south great that the First carte du jour is back in Windows 10 subsequently the Metro interface in Windows eight, but the awarding launcher still isn't perfect. For instance, while the tiles UI makes it convenient to access your most oftentimes used applications and programs, information technology may also serve as prime existent estate for advertisers, taking up valuable space in your Start menu.

To forestall annoying ads and suggestions from cropping up in your Commencement menu, head to Settings > Personalization > Beginning and set "Show suggestions occasionally in Starting time" to Off .

If you are not a fan of Live Tiles (the moving images) yous tin also disable those past right clicking on a tile and going to More > Turn Alive Tile off, or you can select "Unpin from Start" to get rid of the tile entirely. By unpinning all tiles on the right side yous tin can make a single column Start menu and regain some real estate as well.

Those of yous who would prefer a Windows 7-style Start menu may also want to check out these tertiary-party tools: Start10 or OpenShell.

Disable ads in the Windows 10 File Explorer

Along with ads elsewhere around it's operating system, Microsoft has begun plugging services such as OneDrive and Office 365 directly in the Windows File Explorer.

These ads can be disabled by opening File Explorer and going to File > Alter folder and search options > View, then uncheck the box next to "Show sync provider notifications" and click Use.

The File Explorer in Windows 10 also displays recommended downloads from the Windows Store when yous go to share a file. These recommended apps can be hidden by right clicking on the "Share" window and unchecking "Show app suggestions on the share screen."

Disable online tips that announced in the Settings app

The top correct corner of Windows 10'due south Settings app displays tips and assist retrieved from Microsoft'south servers. This tin can be disabled via Grouping Policy or Registry options every bit of the Fall Creators Update (version 1709):

Disable from the Group Policy Editor:

  • Enter gpedit.msc via Showtime or Run to open the Group Policy Editor
  • Navigate to Computer Configuration > Authoritative Templates > Command Panel
  • Double-click the policy "Allow Online Tips" and choose "Disabled" on the window that opens and click Ok

Disable taskbar notifications, information collection and more ads...

Windows 10 is configured to show notifications that innovate new features in add-on to displaying other "tips, tricks, and suggestions" which can include ads such as asking you to try Microsoft'due south Edge browser instead of the one you're using. Here'due south how to disable that:

Become to the Settings app > System > Notifications & Activeness and plough off "Go tips, tricks, and suggestions as you lot use Windows"

Similar settings you lot may desire to disable:

  • Disable ads from Windows Ink Workspace: Settings > Devices > Pen & Windows Ink > Uncheck "Evidence recommended app suggestions"
  • Windows welcome experience: Settings app > System > Notifications & Deportment > "Show me the Windows welcome experience afterward updates and occasionally when I sign in to highlight what's new and suggested"
  • Disable Windows 10'south ad-based data collection: Settings > Privacy > General > "Let apps use my advertising ID for experiences beyond apps"

Foreclose settings from syncing & groundwork apps from running

By default the operating organization is configured to sync your business relationship settings to Microsoft's servers when using an online Microsoft business relationship with Windows 10.

The synced data includes your theme profile, passwords, language preferences, every bit well as ease of access and other Windows settings, which can be disabled individually or entirely by going to the Settings app > Sync settings > Settings > Accounts > Sync and turning items off.

Certain Windows 10 apps tin can receive information, ship notifications and be updated when they're not being used, including the Microsoft Store App and Skype.

Hither's where to disable apps from running in the background: Settings app > Privacy > Background apps on the left > Toggle off each app individually. You can also do this via the Windows registry.

At that place are also other settings that may be of interest in this carte du jour if you scroll through the left cavalcade of the Privacy section, including options for Location, Photographic camera, Microphone, Notifications etc.

And here'south some software that improves the privacy of Windows 10: Spybot Anti-Beacon | Destroy Windows 10 Spying | O&O ShutUp10

Shut downwardly OneDrive completely

OneDrive is tightly built into Windows 10. It has its own node in File Explorer, and the OneDrive sync customer runs automatically at startup, asking yous to sign in. Of grade, you don't have to use OneDrive if you prefer a cloud service from another provider, like Dropbox or Google Drive, but you tin can't uninstall information technology like a normal app.

And while yous can change OneDrive settings so that the sync customer doesn't run automatically at startup, that still leaves the OneDrive icon in the navigation pane of File Explorer. Fortunately, there are both registry and Group Policy options to completely disable OneDrive (too encounter this split up guide on removing items from the File Explorer).

Disable from the Windows Registry Editor:

  • Enter regedit into Start or Run to launch the Windows Registry Editor
  • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software \Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive
  • If there is no key for OneDrive, y'all'll need to right click the Windows folder and create a new cardinal named OneDrive
  • Add a new DWORD value equally DisableFileSyncNGSC and set up information technology to 1

Disable from the Group Policy Editor:

  • Enter gpedit.msc via Get-go or Run to open the utility
  • Navigate to Figurer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive
  • Double-click the policy "Prevent The Usage Of OneDrive For File Storage" and cull Enabled on the window that opens and click Ok

Disable 'Go Office' notifications

Windows ten users who don't have Microsoft Office installed are offered to try Office 365, the subscription-based version of the ubiquitous productivity suite, and relish a month-long free trial. This is done past a "Get Office" awarding that sits there for the sole purpose of promoting it.

To stop these notifications head to Settings > System > Notifications & Deportment and switch off notifications for the "Get Part" app.

Simply going back to the Get Office application, you can also uninstall this from the system by going into the Start Menu, right clicking on the app and then selecting Uninstall. To make sure information technology doesn't automatically install itself again after a restart, search for "Windows PowerShell," right-click on the icon and choose "Run every bit Ambassador". Then execute the following command:

Get-AppxPackage|? proper noun -similar MicrosoftOfficeHub|remove-appxpackage

Disable Windows x telemetry

Microsoft notoriously increased the corporeality of user data that is collected by its operating system with Windows x. Yous tin limit the amount of information gathered by disallowing telemetry.

From the Group Policy Editor:

  • Enter gpedit.msc via Outset or Run to open the utility
  • Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds.
  • Double click Permit Telemetry, choose Disabled and click Ok.

From the Registry Editor:

  • Search regedit via Start Windows > right-click and run every bit an administrator to launch an elevated Registry Editor.
  • Get to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection
  • Double-click AllowTelemetry and change its value to 0

More than Useful Tips

  • "Run as Administrator": What Does It Mean?
  • Ways to Complimentary Up Storage Space on Windows
  • Essential Apps You Should Install on a New PC Running Windows or macOS
  • Refresh Windows ten to its default land in a few clicks, keeping your files and settings