
Update 3.15.22, 2:45 pm: Microsoft said in a statement that the File Explorer ads were never meant for the public’s eyes: “This was an experimental banner that was not intended to be published externally and was turned off.” Oops!
If you’re a Windows user and feel like you’re just not seeing enough ads lately, we have some good news for you. Microsoft is testing advertising placements in File Explorer — perhaps the single most important piece of proprietary software included with the Windows operating system.