A new unofficial tool ‘Oh Freak Go Back’ lets you remove Windows 11’s ads

The tool is developed by a programmer as well as Linux user named Maddy

3 min. read

Published onMay 5, 2024

published onMay 5, 2024

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A Linux user has created a handy tool that removes annoying ads in Windows 11. Yes, you can also turn off ads in the Start menu of the operating system, too. So, if you also feel betrayed by Microsoft’s decision to add Start menu ads on Windows 11, it is great news.

For those unaware, with the KB5037000 update, the company started showingapp recommendations in the Start menu. Users andformer Microsoft employees criticized the decisionto add ads in Windows 11’s Start menu.

‘Oh Frick Go Back’ is the new unofficial tool that allows removing different types of ads in Windows 11

However, the newOh Frick Go Back (OFGB)tool has changed the same. It allows users to disable different types of ads in Windows 11 with a click of the mouse. Yes, it’s that easy.

Tom’s HardwarereportsMaddy who goes by the username @xMaddyon GitHub developed the OFGB tool. The user happens to be a programmer who uses Arch Linux instead of Windows.

Using the OFGB tool is pretty straightforward. TheOh Frick Go Backtool offers you a simple checklist of all locations Windows 11 can show ads. As a user, all you have to do is checkmark/uncheckmark the listed types of ads. And, based on that the tool disables the ads in Windows 11.

The tool is good and easy to use. With the help of theOh Frick Go Backtool, you can simply remove ads in Windows 11 without replacing the entire part of your OS. It won’t be wrong to say that Maddy’s tool surely takes you to a different era when ads in Windows 11 were not a thing.

Maddy, who created the tool, says seeing ads here and there was quite annoying for her

In a recent interview with Tom’s Hardware, Maddy says that she is pleased that people are using theOh Frick Go Backtool. And, more importantly, it makes disabling ads in Windows 11 a breeze.

Talking more about the tool, Madds says:

I think the most important thing the tool has done is getting people to talk about ads and their place in paid software like Windows. is getting people to consider taking a look at alternative software like Linux. Remember, competition is good for consumers. I only made this after Windows gave me an error when I ran ‘sudo pacman -R ads.

Maddy also replies to a question on why she developed a tool for Windows 11 despite being a Linux user. She adds:

I was getting more and more annoyed by ads in random places and decided to try to find an easy fix. After coming across a .reg file by Shawn Brink, I found my answer. After thinking more about it, I figured it may be accessible to more people if there was a GUI so that less tech-savvy people could easily set the registry keys without needing any knowledge of the registry.

Courtesy of Maddy’sOh Frick Go Backtool, now all Windows 11 users have a way to remove ads. You can now find the latestOFGB version 0.3on GitHub.

Despite the tool offers an unofficial way of removing ads in Windows 11, it is getting great reception from users.

Ads are not the only thing Microsoft has messed up with. More recently, it confirmed that theApril update breaks VPN in Windows 10 and 11.

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

A new unofficial tool ‘Oh Freak Go Back’ lets you remove Windows 11’s ads#

‘Oh Frick Go Back’ is the new unofficial tool that allows removing different types of ads in Windows 11#

Maddy, who created the tool, says seeing ads here and there was quite annoying for her#

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier

A new unofficial tool ‘Oh Freak Go Back’ lets you remove Windows 11’s ads

‘Oh Frick Go Back’ is the new unofficial tool that allows removing different types of ads in Windows 11

Maddy, who created the tool, says seeing ads here and there was quite annoying for her