GoKawiilMicrosoft's Bing Wallpaper app starts showing full-screen ads to users
A long-time Bing Wallpaper user reported that the desktop app displayed a full-screen advertisement for a Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts box set instead of the usual daily wallpaper image. The user said this was the first time they had encountered such an ad after years of regular use, and initially suspected their system had been infected with adware.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Bing Wallpaper is a free Microsoft utility that many users trust as a simple background-image tool, so injecting shopping ads into it blurs the line between legitimate software and adware, risking user trust. It also reflects a broader pattern of Microsoft inserting promotional content into first-party apps and OS surfaces to drive revenue, which could push users toward third-party alternatives.
- Bing Wallpaper displayed a full-screen ad instead of a wallpaper image for at least one user.
- The ad promoted a Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts box set, unrelated to the app's core function.
- The incident raises concerns about Microsoft monetizing free utility apps at the expense of user experience.
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See Harry Potter Complete 8-Film Collection Blu-ray on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: thurrott.com, 2026-09-07
Published there as: “Bing Wallpaper showing Ad for Harry Potter and Fantastic beasts box set”
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