Office Settings & Configuration

How to Stop Tips and Recommendations in Microsoft 365 Apps

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to stop persistent recommendations, feature tips, and accessibility notifications from appearing in Microsoft 365 applications.

Product: Microsoft 365 (Excel, OneNote, Outlook)
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Trying to achieve a distraction-free workspace by turning off in-app tips and screen pop-ups.
Observed behavior: Feature tips and accessibility notifications continue to appear across Office apps even after the 'Screen Tip Style' setting is set to 'Don't show Screen Tips'.

Before you start

Verify which specific Microsoft 365 applications are displaying the notifications, as settings like the accessibility checker must be adjusted individually within each app.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Accessibility Checker Notifications

Turn off the background accessibility checker if the prompts are specifically related to document accessibility.

If the pop-ups you are seeing prompt you to investigate or fix accessibility issues, they are generated by the built-in Accessibility Checker rather than the standard Screen Tips engine.

Open Application Options

Launch the affected Microsoft 365 application (such as Excel, Word, or Outlook) and click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Accessibility Settings

In the Options dialog box, click on the 'Ease of Access' or 'Accessibility' tab on the left-hand side.

Turn Off the Background Checker

Locate the checkbox labeled 'Keep accessibility checker running while I work' and uncheck it. Click 'OK' to save your changes and stop these specific notifications.

App-Specific Setting: You may need to repeat this process for each Microsoft 365 application where you want to suppress accessibility notifications.

Solution 2

Manage New Feature Notifications via Feedback

Acknowledge that some Microsoft 365 feature notices cannot be manually disabled and use the Feedback tool to report the issue.

Solution 3

Contact Your Microsoft 365 Administrator

For enterprise users, IT admins can manage update channels and feature rollouts to minimize disruptions.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Distraction-Free Experience

If persistent Microsoft 365 notifications and forced feature tips are disrupting your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a clean, lightweight, and distraction-free workspace while maintaining full compatibility with all your existing documents.

1. Download and Install: Get the free WPS Office installer from the official website and complete the quick installation.
2. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files.
3. Work Without Distractions: Enjoy a streamlined, tabbed interface without intrusive feature recommendations or forced accessibility prompts.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).Clean, distraction-free interface without forced new-feature pop-ups.Lightweight installation that runs smoothly on both new and older devices.All-in-one suite combining documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDFs in a single tabbed window.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Microsoft 365 tips still show when 'Don't show Screen Tips' is selected?

The 'Don't show Screen Tips' setting only applies to the small, standard tooltip pop-ups that appear when you hover your mouse over ribbon commands. It does not affect Microsoft's new-feature announcements, update prompts, or accessibility checker notifications.

Can I permanently disable all feature recommendations in Microsoft 365?

Currently, Microsoft does not offer a universal setting to disable all new-feature prompts across the suite. Most of these tips are designed to display once per feature update. Submitting feedback through the app's Help menu is the best way to let Microsoft know you want this functionality.

How do I turn off the 'Investigate Accessibility' notification?

You can disable this specific notification by navigating to File > Options > Ease of Access (or Accessibility in some versions) and unchecking the box labeled 'Keep accessibility checker running while I work'.

Can a Microsoft 365 admin disable these prompts for the whole company?

While administrators cannot disable all in-app feature tips entirely, they can manage update channels (such as switching users to the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel) through the Microsoft 365 admin center. This significantly reduces the frequency of new feature rollouts and their associated pop-up announcements.

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