Microsoft recently released an update (Build 26120.1252) to the Microsoft Store for Windows Insiders, and it comes with a change that might raise some eyebrows: ads in the search box. Nestled at the bottom of your searches now resides a new flyout menu offering app recommendations, thoughtfully presented by Microsoft as “content you might be interested in.”

This isn’t the first time Microsoft has dipped its toes into the promotional waters within the Windows interface. Windows 11 Insiders have also been subjected to “app suggestions” appearing in the Start menu’s “Recommended” section. However, there’s a key difference here – those recommendations are currently absent from commercially available versions of Windows 11.

The Microsoft Store’s search box ads, however, seem to be part of a broader strategy. Whether this will eventually trickle down to everyone who uses Windows 11 remains to be seen, but Insiders now have the chance to offer their feedback on the new feature (or lack thereof, depending on your perspective).

Let’s be honest, these ads are probably a minor nuisance compared to the laundry list of changes some users have dubbed the “Windows 11 enshittification.” If you haven’t stumbled upon this particular phrase yet, it refers to a collection of tweaks and updates that some users perceive as a degradation of the Windows 11 experience.

In the grand scheme of things, the search box ads might just blend into the background noise for many users. They’ll type in their search query, ignore the suggestions below, and get on with their day.

The update for Windows Insiders isn’t all about advertising. Pen users also received some good news. A new Paint update rolling out to Canary and Dev Channel Insiders brings a handy feature: the ability to switch to the erase tool by simply flipping your pen or pressing a dedicated button.

For those with pens sporting a side button, there’s an additional perk. Clicking the button while hovering your pen over the screen will activate the free-form selection tool. These improvements streamline the workflow for pen users and make working in Paint a bit more intuitive.

So, while the Microsoft Store search box ads might be a cause for raised eyebrows, pen users have something to celebrate. The update offers a glimpse into how Microsoft is continuing to refine the Windows experience for specific user groups.