don't know how to ask this

Question

don't know how to ask this

kirbster 1 120

Windows 11 25H2 26200.7840 Release preview

Went to shutdown my system and after clicking on Start, I noticed there was a red dot by my user photo. So I clicked on that and noticed a bunch of "garbage" there.

Why is MS doing these, in my mind, Unnecessary implementations?

Screenshot 2026-02-14 093139

Neil D 34,200 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-02-19T15:47:07.5333333+00:00

As you have posted in the Insider Preview forum I assume you have a preview installed. Preview builds may have extras shown as Microsoft trial different info or settings.

If you don't want to see things like this you should probably use the consumer prelease and not a preview.

What channel are you using or give details about the current build of windows.

2 answers

Your answer

Neil D 34,200 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-02-19T15:47:07.5333333+00:00

As you have posted in the Insider Preview forum I assume you have a preview installed. Preview builds may have extras shown as Microsoft trial different info or settings.

If you don't want to see things like this you should probably use the consumer prelease and not a preview.

What channel are you using or give details about the current build of windows.

Answer 1

Hello kirbster 1, welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

I understand your frustration. Unfortunately, this seems to be the way Microsoft designed it.

All these extra fluffs you're seeing are part of the Account Manager feature that Microsoft introduced to promote OneDrive and Microsoft 365 subscriptions.

There is a toggle you can try: Settings > Personalization > Start > turn off "Show account-related notifications". However, the general consensus is those things will stay unless you actively use OneDrive sync.

I understand this feels like unnecessary clutter and many users share your sentiment. Unfortunately, this appears to be Microsoft's design direction for promoting their cloud services.

Answer 2

after googling it, seems it's been around for awhile. After I click on Start I usually select an app or shutdown/restart. The red dot by my user profile picture is what captured my attention this morning, and FOR THE 1ST TIME EVER I clicked on my user name just to be suprised by all the extra junk there. Cloud storage? 1st thing I do is to unsync my computer and uninstall One Drive....Microsoft 365 went there and found 1 pic from years ago when they had the free trial. Backup to the Cloud...sorry...the PC that I found that on just backed up to this pc that I'm typing this on.

Maybe I'm just a Dinosaur....but what happened to the "Good ole days" with MS?