Why Does Windows 10 Show Ads on the Lock Screen?
Windows 10 frequently displays “fun facts, tips, tricks, and more” directly on your lock screen. While Microsoft presents these as helpful suggestions, they often include promotional content, advertisements for Windows Store games, or suggestions to use Microsoft Edge and Bing.
If you prefer a clean, distraction-free lock screen without promotional interruptions, you can completely disable these suggestions in the Windows Settings app.
How to Disable Lock Screen Ads in Windows 10
The setting to disable lock screen ads is tied to the type of background you are using. You must first ensure you are not using “Windows spotlight” for your background, as spotlight inherently includes these tips.
- Click the Start button and open the Settings app (the gear icon).
- Select Personalization from the main Settings menu.
- In the left-hand sidebar, click on Lock screen.
- Look at the Background dropdown menu. If it is set to “Windows spotlight”, change it to either Picture or Slideshow.
- Once you have selected Picture or Slideshow, a new toggle switch will appear below.
- Look for the setting labelled Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen.
- Toggle this switch to the Off position.
Additional Step: Disabling Start Menu Suggestions
Microsoft also places similar promotional content within the Start menu, often labelled as “Suggested” applications.
To disable these as well:
- In the Settings app, go to Personalization > Start.
- Find the setting labelled Show suggestions occasionally in Start.
- Toggle this switch to the Off position.
By making these changes, your Windows 10 lock screen will only display the image you selected, along with your chosen notifications, without any unwanted Microsoft advertisements or suggestions.