Microsoft, the American tech giant, is testing new advertisements within the Start menu on select Windows builds. Reports from Sleep Computer indicate that the operating system is now actively encouraging users to sign in with a Microsoft account. The initiative appears to be part of an ongoing experimentation with how users are guided to connect their local accounts to Microsoft services, aiming to highlight the advantages of logging in with a Microsoft account. [Source: Sleep Computer]
Observers noted that the ad tests first surfaced on pre release versions of Windows starting in November 2022. In the latest wave, a fresh version of the ads has reappeared in the Start menu, signaling continued experimentation with the user experience. [Source: Sleep Computer]
Specifically, the prompt to create a Microsoft account appeared in the March 2023 pre release of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23435. This build is part of the Insider program that Microsoft uses to evaluate new features before they reach the broader audience. [Source: Sleep Computer]
Microsoft has acknowledged the presence of these notifications and invited users to share feedback about the feature. The company described it as an experiment focused on Start menu tips for users with local accounts and noted that the goal is to showcase the benefits of signing into a Microsoft account. [Source: Sleep Computer]
Currently, the prompts display in a drop down submenu that appears when a user attempts to shut down the machine or sign out of a local account. The message directs users to sign in or create an account using a Microsoft account. This design choice places the benefits of logging in at the point of account management actions, rather than in broad system reminders. [Source: Sleep Computer]
In related Windows news, reports also surfaced about a new test build labeled Windows 11 KB5025310. Among the changes noted, Microsoft updated the Print Screen behavior for capturing screenshots, marking a shift after decades of the same function. The update signals a modest but noteworthy shift in how quick capture actions are experienced by users. [Source: Sleep Computer]