Sick of ads in Windows? This ingenious program eradicates them all

This clever free tool removes all the ads that Microsoft keeps stuffing into Windows 10 and 11.

- HANS-CHRISTIAN DIRSCHERL & BRAD CHACOS

Microsoft is packing more and more advertising into its Windows operating system. In Windows 11, ads now even appear in the Start menu (though Microsoft calls ads for apps or Windows services “recommendations”)—see page 15—and you’ll see full-screen ads for the Edge browser. You can sift through Windows settings and find individual options to turn them all off, but the flood of ads has encouraged resourceful programmers to develop tools designed specifically to eradicate them. Meet OFGB (Oh Frick Go Back).