The number of advertisements within the Microsoft Weather application on Windows 11 is on the upswing, as users notice more ads cropping up.
In a reversal of a previous decision taken about a year back to reduce advertisements, Microsoft has not only brought them back but has also increased their presence in the weather forecast page. The current version of Microsoft’s Weather application has transitioned from the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app to an app based on Edge WebView, mirroring the MSN.com/weather webpage in function. You can witness the identical ad placements by disabling your ad blocker on the MSN Weather site through your browser – these ads will correspond with what’s shown in the desktop app.
Ad Influx within Microsoft’s Weather Platform
Recent findings from Windows Latest have brought attention to the influx of ads within the Weather app, which sadly stay on-screen throughout navigation. Confirmed by Ghacks, the ads appear mostly on the right side of the main page and do not disappear as you navigate the app, appearing in every corner of the application. For example, in the maps tab, the ads can be seen on the left side. So far, it appears that there’s no built-in option to get rid of them; potentially, a more complex solution involving modifications to the system’s hosts file might be needed for determined users.
However, there is a bit of good news. The ads are only present when the app is in full screen, so resizing the window to a smaller version hides the ads on the forecast page, but they will still show up in other areas of the app.
Furthermore, the Weather app also aggregates news stories that might not match your interest unless you modify the region settings of the app. For those seeking to block ads across the system in Windows 11, third-party solutions like Safing’s Portmaster, AdGuard, or utilizing a Pi-hole via Docker might be necessary.
Despite the unwanted advertising, the Weather app has seen some visual improvements with the integration of the Fluent Design system, which introduces blur, transparency, and new sidebar features that improve navigation and provide easier access to different forecast and map data.
Microsoft’s tendency to push promotions has been perceived as overbearing and not consumer-friendly, with ads making their way into several areas of the operating system, including the Settings app, the Start Menu, and even Windows Defender security prompts that nudge users towards OneDrive for protection against ransomware.
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