Microsoft PC Manager: The Unwelcome Ads Invasion
In the ever-evolving landscape of Microsoft software, ads have become almost ubiquitous—spanning from the operating system to applications and services. The latest product to fall victim to this trend is the Microsoft PC Manager, which has recently begun displaying advertisements directed at its Microsoft 365 cloud suite, noted for documentation and organizational tasks.
What is PC Manager?
Developed by Microsoft China, the PC Manager has gained considerable popularity in South Asia. This utility is designed to streamline performance by freeing memory, boosting speeds, and cleaning storage effortlessly with a single click. However, despite its practical functionality, PC Manager has struggled to generate significant revenue. Consequently, this led to the incorporation of ads promoting Microsoft 365 in the app itself.
The Advertising Strategy
Microsoft’s aggressive advertising strategy is not a new phenomenon. Following the shift of Office to a subscription-based model, the company has intensified its promotion of the service across various platforms, including within the Settings app. This strategy is now extending to PC Manager:
The image exemplifies an ad masquerading as a tip to encourage users to “Take Microsoft 365 on the go, ” seamlessly leading to the Windows 11 Microsoft 365 page upon interaction. Unfortunately, users cannot simply dismiss this “recommendation, ” as it is integrated into the app’s interface, presenting itself as a legitimate feature rather than a promotional bait.
User Experience under Siege
While we recognize the utility of PC Manager for quick memory optimization and managing resource-intensive tasks, the inclusion of ads is less than desirable. Recommendations should focus solely on enhancing user experience about utilizing the application, rather than promoting Microsoft’s suite of products.
Microsoft’s previous efforts to promote services like Office 365 and Xbox Game Pass through various settings have met with considerable user dissatisfaction. Licenses for the operating system presumably come with expectations of a clean, ad-free experience. Users are now bombarded with promotions through various utilities, and the trend appears to be prioritizing ads over functionality.
The app’s out-of-box experience (OOBE) is noticeably overcrowded with advertisements facilitating OneDrive, Phone Link, gaming, and much more, leaving many frustrated. Microsoft must reconsider how they approach marketing within their applications, specifically when users have already paid for their products.
A Recap of History
This isn’t the first time PC Manager has faced criticism; previously, the app has been observed promoting Bing as the default search engine under the guise of providing a “repair” tip, provoking widespread amusement and irritation among users hoping for a better experience:
The ongoing strategy seems to indicate that Microsoft will continue to pivot aggressively toward advertisements, especially as traditional Windows revenue wanes. Users may find themselves repeatedly faced with nudges to use Edge or switch search engines, accompanied by potential privacy concerns stemming from hidden tracking measures.
This raises the question: what are your thoughts on Microsoft’s current advertising strategies? We invite you to share your opinions in the comments below.
For more details, visit [Microsoft PC Manager](https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/05/01/pcmanager-for-windows-11-is-now-showing-microsoft-365-ads/) for updates and images.
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