Microsoft pushed Microsoft 2021 promotional ads to some Office 2021 users: "get a 90-day subscription for $0.99."

CTOnews.com Microsoft is showcasing Microsoft 365 ads for Office 2021 users, offering discounts on Microsoft 365 Family Plan subscriptions.

Lee Holmes, chief security architect for Microsoft Azure Security, shared a screenshot showing an ad bar under the Office menu, commenting,"This is disappointing. According to the Bleeping Computer report, beginning Aug. 10, some users reported seeing these ads.

The screenshot clearly shows that Microsoft labeled this ad as a "limited-time offer," allowing users to "get a 90-day Microsoft 365 Family Plan for just $0.99." Interestingly, Microsoft uses differently worded buttons that prompt users to click the button to get huge discounts on subscriptions.

Other Office users see the ad slightly differently, which reads "For $0.99, get 90 days of Microsoft 365 Family Plan and share with up to 5 people, terms apply."

This isn't the first time Microsoft has shown promotional ads in Office apps or other Windows apps. Two years ago, the company also displayed promotional ads in the menu bar of its Windows 10 WordPad app. Microsoft also displayed ads in Windows 11 File Explorer, although it later called these "experimental."