Experiments of CoPilot QR Code Ads Banned on Windows 11 Due to Backlash (Image Copyright: Microsoft)

Here’s what was happening: When turning on or waking up a Windows 11 PC, some users were greeted with a giant QR code plastered across their lock screen instead of their normal background image or slideshow. This QR code, when scanned with a smartphone camera, would redirect people to download Microsoft’s new AI assistant app called Copilot. 

Now, to be fair, lock screen advertisements and “suggestions” are nothing new in Windows. Microsoft has done this before to promote things like Bing search trends, fun facts, tips, and so on. But subjecting users to an unavoidable, full-screen QR code ad caught a lot of people off guard and rubbed them the wrong way.

Comments on Reddit Site Push QR Ads Ban Campaign Forward

Complaints and backlash quickly flooded sites like Reddit. People were understandably miffed about having their lock screens essentially hijacked for a grotesquely oversized advertisement before they could even log in. It felt like a breach of trust and personal space on one’s own computer.

One Reddit user described it as a “lovely QR code plastered across my lock screen“. dripping with sarcasm over how displeased they were by the unwanted ad intrusion. Other comments were, well, let’s just say people didn’t mince words about how terrible of an idea this was from Microsoft.

To their credit, Microsoft did respond relatively quickly by pulling the plug on this QR code ad experiment for Copilot. In a statement, they said the “notification was simply a way to educate users and has since been paused.”

How to turn off Microsoft’s advertising on Windows 11

However, that statement also left the door open for similar ad tactics in the future by saying. But thankfully, for those fed up with Microsoft’s ad antics, there is a way to permanently disable all those pesky lock screen “suggestions” altogether in Windows 11’s settings:

How to turn off Microsoft’s advertising on Windows 11

1. First, open up the Settings app and click on “Personalization“, then select the “Lock Screen” option. Up at the top, you’ll see choices to have your lock screen show a “Picture” or “Slideshow” – choose either of those options. (Settings > Personalization > Lock screen)
2. Next, look for the toggle that says “Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen”.Turn that off by sliding it to the left.
3. And that’s it! With those few simple clicks, you’ve now blocked Microsoft from displaying any more ads, tips, or other unsolicited content on your Windows 11 lock screen going forward.

Your lock screen will revert to showing just a clean, standard image or rotating slideshow of your choice, free from distracting advertisements. No more dealing with garish QR code eyesores before you can even log into your own computer.