Tip Of The Week: How To Remove Ads From The Lock screen
Did you notice the lock screen picture on your Surface change after a reset?
Or, did you, perhaps, just start seeing new advertisements?
If so, you’re not alone. One of the updates in February added a “feature” to Windows 10 that allows Microsoft to push pictures and even ads to your Surface which get displayed on the lock screen.
Frankly, privacy issues aside, this behavior really annoys me. Think about it, I paid full price for this device and it wasn’t cheap but now Microsoft is pushing advertisements to my device without even asking for permission, really?
Yes, I know there is legalese that can be twisted into a saying that I agreed to seeing ads somewhere in that giant EULA for Windows 10. Hell, it wouldn’t surprise me if I agreed to be Bill Gate’s towel boy in one of the hundred of EULA’s I’ve signed over the years but it’s the principal of the thing that annoys me.
If it was a deal more like Amazon’s Kindle Paper White, where you can get $$$ off the purchase price in exchange for agreeing to see the ads, I might be a little more accepting. However, since I didn’t get a choice, I want to remove the ads from the lock screen.
Remove Ads from the Lock Screen: The Steps
So, if you’re like me and don’t like that Microsoft, not only removed your favorite lock screen picture, but also started pushing random ads, follow these steps to get rid of them:
- Bring up All Settings then navigate to the Personalization screen then select the Lock Screen tab.
- On the right side, change the Background pull down from Windows spotlight (this is where the ads come from) to either Picture or Slideshow. Pick one option or the other, depending on your personal preference.
- Next, set the Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen option to Off.
Now when your Surface’s screen is locked (like right after a restart), you will no longer see random pictures and advertisements, instead, you can set it to your favorite picture again. Oh, and you will no longer get those annoying screen popups with tips – unless of course you want them, in which case, skip the last step from the list above.
This little tip should help you become less bitter (as I am), regarding Microsoft adding this “feature” to Windows 10 to benefit themselves. Hey, I don’t have a problem with ads, everyone needs to make a living, it’s more an issue with the double-charging model. First for the device and then the ads.
Didn’t I tell you I was a pessimist?
Tim
Kent Beck link to his wiki
