Microsoft has released the optional March 2023 non-security preview update for Windows 11 with a search box that matches the current color scheme and a new feature the company describes as “notifications for Microsoft accounts.”
Th KB5023778 Windows 11 non-security release also has many improvements and bug fixes with the list, including new Microsoft Defender for Endpoint features and a fix for a Microsoft PowerPoint freeze issue.
As a monthly non-security preview release that helps Windows admins test improvements that will roll out with next month’s Patch Tuesday, KB5023778 is optional and does not contain security updates.
You can only install this preview update from Settings > Windows Update by clicking the ‘Download and install’ button after checking for updates, or manually download it and install it from th Microsoft Update Catalog.
Promoting Microsoft products in the Start menu
As mentioned in the beginning, this month’s preview update also comes with a new set of notifications (that some might describe as ads), which will show up in the sign-out flyout of the Windows 11 Start menu.
“This update introduces notifications for Microsoft accounts in the Start menu. This is only available to a small audience right now,” Microsoft explains.
“It will deploy more broadly in the coming months. Some devices might notice different visual treatments as we gather feedback.”
This “feature” has been under testing since at least November 2022, when Windows enthusiast Albacore first spotted an initial iteration.
Some screenshots Albacore showed Microsoft promoting the OneDrive file hosting service or prodding users to create or complete their Microsoft accounts.
Reactions on social media to the “Microsoft account notifications” (or start menu promotional messages) were adverse (to say the least).
Today, Microsoft also shared a (tiny) screenshot of what these notifications will look like, showing a prompt asking Windows 11 users to backup their files to the cloud (likely using the company’s OneDrive service).
This isn’t the first time Microsoft has dabbled into promoting its products within the user interface of Windows apps.
In August 2022, it displayed ads for Microsoft 365 Family subscriptions to Office 2021 customers and ads for some Microsoft products (including Microsoft Editor) in the File Explorer app, in March, as part of a…
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