Windows 11 users are again having to suffer an odd Bing Wallpaper 'feature'

Date:
Tue, 20 Oct 2026 11:20:58 +0000

Description:
2026 is the year of fixing Windows 11, but Microsoft also needs to fix its marketing department and the excessive promos therein.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The Bing Wallpaper app has seen an annoying feature reintroduced This means those clicking on a blank space
of the Windows 11 desktop will get a Bing search fired up in their default browser Unlike the last time Microsoft tried this stunt, there's no way to disable the ability this time around Microsoft is up to its old tricks again, except even worse this time with a scheme whereby Windows 11 users with the Bing Wallpaper app installed are sent to its search engine with a mere stray click on the desktop.

Windows Latest reports that an old, potentially off-putting shortcut has
been reintroduced to the Bing Wallpaper app, whereby if you click anywhere on the Windows 11 desktop, a search in the (separate) Bing engine is fired up
(in your default web browser ). If you recall, this actually happened a year ago , but Microsoft reversed course, although now appears to be trying to reintroduce this feature. The difference is that this time around, Windows Latest notes that there's no option to turn off the functionality (which was present last year, in the app's settings). Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

However, there are some points to note here: firstly that you must choose to install the Bing Wallpaper app (which cycles Bing images daily for your desktop background ). It's not a default Windows 11 app, so this isn't something Microsoft is piping directly to Windows users.

Secondly, the Bing search doesn't trigger every time you click on a blank piece of desktop (a space without a file, folder or icon). It does this once, and then the Bing search won't be triggered for another 24 hours. You'll only experience this once per day, in other words. You may like Windows 11 desktop becomes a huge Harry Potter ad thanks to Bing Wallpaper Microsoft's latest move to pay people to use Edge smacks of desperation Microsoft sabotages its fix Windows 11 drive with a nasty OneDrive misfire Analysis: Microsoft must
do better (Image credit: Microsoft) Just because this app isn't part of Windows 11 by default doesn't give Microsoft the excuse to push functionality like this. It's just going to annoy or even confuse people if they accidentally click the desktop and end up with a Bing search being loaded.

The search relates to the wallpaper image, in case you're curious, and fair enough maybe some folks might be inquisitive and actually want to know more about the picture by clicking on it. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals,
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However, this should be an ability that's optional and can be turned on, not something that's enabled by default. What's worse still is that in this new incarnation of the click-to-Bing farce, you can't even turn it off if you
want to do so.

Why is Microsoft engaging with this kind of nonsense to promote its own services? I really can't begin to guess given that 2026 is the year of fixing Windows 11 and curing all the ills around the OS, and while this app may not be part of the operating system , it's still a piece of official Microsoft software and there shouldn't be any place for this cynical Bing traffic grab or any other remotely anti-consumer practices.

Whether it's a part of Windows by default, or not or whether you have to be 'foolish' to install the Bing Wallpaper app, as some online commenters argue is besides the point. Microsoft is supposed to be better than this now , but another episode with a recent Harry Potter advert in this Bing app one that provoked a considerable rebellion suggests that it very much needs to try harder. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best laptops for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-has-gone-too-far-promoti ng-bing-search-as-windows-11-users-are-again-having-to-suffer-a-confusing-and- weird-feature-in-the-bing-wallpaper-app


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