Windows 11 wants to hide session changes behind ads

Microsoft intends to hide the session switching buttons in Windows 11 behind a new menu. The latter will first show ads for Microsoft subscriptions and then allow access with a small button to change the session.

Microsoft isn’t done flooding Windows 11 with ads just yet. The Redmond-based firm now plans to add ads that are not only annoying, but also detrimental to existing features. In Insider Preview build 22635.3500 “exit” is now hidden behind a menu containing Microsoft 365 advertisements.

Switching sessions in Windows 11 can be annoying

Microsoft calls this new feature “Account Manager” in Windows 11 Beta. This is a drop-down menu containing Microsoft-related subscriptions, account settings, and related notifications such as adding a backup phone number. First of all, this is Microsoft 365 advertising.

Noteworthy is the absence of two buttons “exit” AND “Change user“. To get to them, you now need to open the submenu hidden behind the small three-dot button. According to Microsoft’s logic, displaying the expiration date of your Xbox Game Pass subscription and the amount of OneDrive storage is more important than access to the session switch button.

On a shared family computer, the pain will be especially felt. Moreover, you will have to explain to all family members how to achieve your session. Here’s what the menu looks like, sourced from our colleagues at Neowin. The red color indicates a new button to access session change, the green color indicates a (potential) Microsoft 365 advertisement:

Read > Windows: Don’t panic if Copilot appears in your programs without warning

Advertising, Microsoft’s new favorite tool for Windows

For Microsoft, this menu is nothing more than an improvement that “allows you to quickly see the benefits of your account and makes it easy to manage your account settings“. The return of Insider users who signed up for the beta may contrast with this description. In this case, the buttonLock” is now located next to the options “Stop“, “Anew” AND “A day earlier» in the food menu.

Advertising seems to have become Microsoft’s favorite tool, which notably pushes Windows 11 through full-screen ads in Windows 10. It would be preferable if Windows developers centralized them in one place, such as Settings. This is something that seems to have started to take shape with the adverts for AI co-pilot appearing in this menu. The intrusion seemed minimal as long as it didn’t affect useful Windows 11 features like the “button” button.exit“.