Bing now shows a large banner ad for its wallpaper app for some users
Microsoft really wants you to try out its Bing Wallpaper app.
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What you need to know
Microsoft’s Bing search engine potentially has a new form of advertisement. This morning when searching for content related to trending news, I spotted a large banner ad at the bottom of the search results page. I can’t say for sure if this type of banner ad is new to Bing. I use the search engine daily and perform hundreds of searches as part of my job each month. Until today, I had never seen an ad like this, especially one that was so large and intrusive.
Specifically, the ad is for the Bing Wallpaper app, which allows you to set your PC’s background to the daily Bing wallpaper. Within the banner are buttons for downloading the app or hiding the ad. Notably, there doesn’t appear to be an obvious way to learn more about the Bing Wallpaper app. You could, of course, search for the app and find out more, but there isn’t a button to an about page for the app.
Clicking the download button opensMicrosoft’s website for Bing Wallpaperbut also starts downloading an EXE file.
The banner ad appears at times regardless of if an adblocker is on or off. Microsoft also has a less intrusive ad for the Bing Wallpaper app that appears on the side of the search results page (shown above).
Microsoft received criticism forshowing ads within File Explorer, though it turned out the feature wasn’t meant to be publicly tested. An ad for the Bing Wallpaper app within the Bing search engine may not cause the same level of backlash.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
