The Bing Wallpaper app arrives for free on the Microsoft Store in Windows 11, although there may be hidden costs.
The application arises amid complaints that it is being used as a means to annoy Windows 11 users.
Microsoft has launched its Bing Wallpaper app in the Microsoft Store for Windows 11 users, generating some controversy. This tool, which allows users to automatically set Bing's daily image as their wallpaper, has been available since 2020 through direct downloads from Microsoft's website, making its arrival in the store somewhat curious.
Michael Schechter, vice president of Bing, promoted the app, emphasizing that it is free and criticizing other wallpaper apps that charge for their services. However, despite the app being free, some users have reported concerns about its functionality.
A Microsoft developer and MVP, Rafael Rivera, has pointed out that the app not only installs "Bing Visual Search," but also contains code that examines and decrypts cookies from Edge and Chrome browsers, including Firefox in this practice. Additionally, the app is aggressive in promoting the use of the Bing search engine, opening new tabs in Chrome to offer the corresponding extension.
It has also been discovered that a process called ‘BGAUpsell’ runs in the background, prompting users to change their default search engine to Bing in Chrome. These aspects have raised serious concerns about user privacy, leading many to consider whether it is worth installing the app or if they can already achieve similar functionality through Windows Spotlight, which allows for automatic wallpaper settings.
Some reports from platforms like Reddit suggest that the app used to be more user-friendly and less insistent in recommending Bing, but in recent months it has adopted a more aggressive approach. With all this information circulating online, experts and users are cautious about using Bing Wallpaper, looking for alternatives that do not compromise their privacy.
