Microsoft to Block Windows 11 Browser Workarounds
- Paul Thurrott
- Nov 12, 2021
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121
The creator of EdgeDeflector said this week that the latest Insider build of Windows 11 now blocks all default browser workarounds. If this functionality makes its way to the finished product, it will mark a new, dark chapter for Microsoft, which told the media at the Windows 11 launch that it was aware that it had made changing app defaults pointlessly difficult, but that it had not done so maliciously and would fix it. This is the opposite of that claim.
“Something changed between Windows 11 builds 22483 and 22494 (both Windows Insider Preview builds),” EdgeDeflector creator Daniel Aleksandersen writes in a new blog entry. “The build changelog … omitted the headline news: you can no longer bypass Microsoft Edge using apps like EdgeDeflector.”
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Microsoft not communicating effectively? I find that hard to believe. Cough. But Microsoft moving to make Windows 11 behave even more maliciously towards its users and browser rivals? That I have a hard time with.
Basically, EdgeDeflector, as well as third-party browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Brave, intercept OS-level URL requests that force you to use Microsoft Edge even when you have gone through the incredibly ponderous steps to make a non-Edge browser the default in Windows 11. But in the latest Insider Preview build, Microsoft is changing how these URL requests work. And it’s no longer possible to intercept URL requests that force users to use Edge instead of their default browser. (In the Insider builds. This functionality will come to mainstream users in the coming months unless we can change Microsoft’s collective mind.)
“You can’t change the default protocol association through registry changes, OEM partner customizations, modifications to the Microsoft Edge package, interference with OpenWith.exe, or any other hackish workarounds,” Aleksandersen explains. “Microsoft … just silently ignores the UserChoice registry keys for the protocol in the registry and opens Microsoft Edge instead.”
It’s even worse than that, really, he continues. “Windows will insist you use Microsoft Edge to a fault even if you brutalize your Windows installation and purge all traces of Microsoft Edge. Windows will open an empty UWP window and show an error message instead of letting you use your preferred web browser.”
Wonderful. So user-centric. So competition friendly. So … Microsoft.
Actually, Aleksandersen says it even better.
“These aren’t the actions of an attentive company that cares about its product anymore. Microsoft isn’t a good steward of the Windows operating system. They’re prioritizing ads, bundleware, and service subscriptions over their users’ productivity.”
Exactly.
Conversation 121 comments
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juan
Log in to Reply<p>I keep reading here how the "new Microsoft" is so different from the way big bag Microsoft used to be. I still don’t see it…</p>
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saqrkh
Log in to Reply<p>They ARE different. </p><p><br></p><p>Old Microsoft pulled this stuff like a bumbling giant.</p><p><br></p><p>New Microsoft’s pulling it with finesse.</p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I suspect Brad Smith would relish a US v MSFT do-over these days.</p>
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david.thunderbird
Log in to Reply<p>You call it finesse, I call stupidly pushing users away from the bare table of innovation called windoze. </p>
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juan
Log in to Reply<p>big bad, not enough coffee yet</p>
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wright_is
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Wow.</p><p><br></p><p>Microsoft are doing their hardest to turn Windows 11 into iOS 4, just as Apple is starting to relax its rules (a little). At this rate, I’m going to go out on a limb and say the new versions of Mail, Contacts and Calendar are going to be skeumorphic. </p>
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polloloco51
Log in to Reply<p>Microsoft, pretending to be a new, kinder and reimagined company. It is like, Chrysler saying their products are better built and more reliable, after being bought by Fiat. </p><p><br></p><p>Just not believable! </p><p><br></p><p>Microsoft will always be Microsoft! </p><p><br></p>
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rob_segal
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Microsoft is not the same company as it was during the 1990s. They’ve made decisions they wouldn’t have made back then. What they’re doing with Edge in Windows 11 isn’t consumer-friendly, but that doesn’t mean they’re the same Microsoft.</p>
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madthinus
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>As Paul likes to joke: "It is like riding a bike"</p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>MSFT can act deplorably without even thinking about it?</p>
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anoldamigauser
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>One more reason to stay with Windows 10. The more we learn, the less attractive Windows 11 becomes despite the eye candy added to the interface.</p>
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winner
Log in to Reply<p>Windows 11 is lipstick on the pig – but the pig is even nastier than before.</p>
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sherlockholmes
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>One more reason not to go to 11. They never learn. </p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Serious question: if unpleasantness like this has no effect on Windows usage, what lesson would there be for MSFT to learn? If Windows users keep on using Windows no matter how much crap MSFT showers on their heads, what possible reason would MSFT have to alter its behavior towards Windows or Windows users?</p><p><br></p><p>IOW, I put it to you that MSFT has indeed learned the only lesson <strong><em>MSFT</em></strong> needs to learn: whatever they do to Windows, it won’t drive away significant numbers of Windows users. The open question is whether Windows users will recognize this state of affairs.</p>
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Greg Green
Log in to Reply<p>At this point I suspect most windows users are business workers with no choice. it’s only a relatively small group of enthusiasts who are complaining, and MS has repeatedly demonstrated they don’t care about that slice of the pie.</p>
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sentinel6671
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I’m not sure how, collectively as a company, Microsoft thinks there won’t be repercussions over this. It’s truly hostile, plain and simple. Even Apple, the mother of all mothers, let’s you choose your own browser without a fuss.</p>
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atimms
Log in to Reply<p>…true, although they were late to the game allowing that and even now ALL browsers have to use the Safari rendering engine, ie. Chome and Firefox on iOS are reskinned Safari not the real deal.</p>
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fishnet37222
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I think he was referring to macOS. You’ve always been able to choose a browser other than Safari as your default browser on macOS.</p>
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sentinel6671
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I was referring to macOS.</p>
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cnc123
Log in to Reply<p><em>I’m not sure how, collectively as a company, Microsoft thinks there won’t be repercussions over this.</em></p><p><br></p><p>I wonder about this. Microsoft isn’t Facebook, but Facebook has certainly proven that absolutely nothing they do, no matter how egregious, matters to more than a few percentage points of their user base. This especially true when you space the bad behavior out over time. It’s entirely possible Microsoft has learned the same lesson.</p>
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rm
Log in to Reply<p>Not sure if the is a valid reason MS would do this. Maybe to keep malware from making changes. Maybe they are making other changes to make defaulting apps easier and we are not seeing those changes yet. If that is the case, MS is again poorly communicating intent.</p>
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vladimir
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I guess it’s time that regulators look carefully into Microsoft’s anti-competitive and anti-consumer practices again</p>
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wright_is
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>It is as if they are feeling left out that all the other big tech companies are garnering attention at the moment.</p>
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huddie
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>They won’t be left out for long. The EU bureaucrats will notice eventually. I bet Microsoft have the change default browser code ready to drop in a Cumulative Update the minute they’re threatened.</p>
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TheYar22
Log in to Reply<p>Considering that all their major competitors have always done this, to an extent worse than MS ever did, should make it harder to prove any case against them this time.</p>
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longhorn
Log in to Reply<p>Here comes Edge OS!</p><p><br></p>
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wbeck
Log in to Reply<p>Not sure I understand the goal of locking this down to make the user use Edge. I think Edge is a better Chrome browser than Chrome it itself, but unless they intend to keep the user from installing ad-blockers in Edge, I don’t understand what MS gains from it.</p>
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bschnatt
Log in to Reply<p>Agree. I now prefer (and use) Edge, but Windows has always been about user choice, and this behavior is the opposite of that. The nanny-state marches on. Come on, Microsoft, treat your customers with respect. This isn’t respectful…</p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>| <em>Windows has always been about user choice</em></p><p><br></p><p>Only as long as providing user choice maximizes profits from Windows. If MSFT could increase profits from Windows by removing some users choices, they’d do so in a New York minute.</p>
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train_wreck
Log in to Reply<p>I agree with Mary Jo when she says all of this Edge strongarming is to artificially inflate Edge’s usage numbers so they can charge more for ads on Bing.</p><p><br></p><p>And because bad old Microsoft. The company has made praise-worthy strides in being less shitty over the years, but there are absolutely vestigial employees with those attitudes still present.</p>
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navarac
Log in to Reply<p>The goal is simply money.</p>
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munkeybuziness
Log in to Reply<p>More reason I’ll be going from windows 10 to Linux once 10 is sunset. Bye MS. </p>
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Username
Log in to Reply<p>> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">going from windows 10 to Linux once 10 is sunset</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="ql-cursor"></span>the smartest choice for most consumers. </span></p>
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pecosbob04
Log in to Reply<p>I think for most consumers the easier, more robust, and complete solution would be to switch to MacOs than to (pick a flavor of) unix / Linux. YMMV.</p>
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Username
Log in to Reply<p>> than to (pick a flavor of) unix / Linux. YMMV.</p><p><br></p><p>no need to pick. Install Ubuntu, and move on.</p>
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pecosbob04
Log in to Reply<p>In your humble opinion. Which may or may not be shared by all -nixers. My guess is it is not.</p><p><br></p>
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Ricktheslickster
Log in to Reply<p>Isn’t MacOS a derivative of Unix? </p>
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LocalPCGuy
Log in to Reply<p>Or, you could install 0patch and keep using Windows 10 after Microsoft ends support for Home and Pro versions. Extended paid support will continue, very likely, for an additional three years. 0patch does a nice job of playing by the rules and releasing micropatches that generally work better then Microsoft’s official security patches.</p>
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rob_segal
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Recommending Linux to most consumers is doing most consumers a disservice.</p>
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StevenLayton
Log in to Reply<p>Steve Gibson, pulling out his coding keyboard – "Hold me beer"</p>
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jchampeau
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>So much for that whole "meet customers where they are" concept Microsoft has talked about over time, like when they killed off Windows Phone or when they released a version of Office for Mac before the PC version was ready.</p>
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lorraine
Log in to Reply<p>We can scream murder when it’s finalized and published to the normal users. For now it’s an Insider build with intentionly or (and that is what I expect – >) UNintentionally a feature to be elaborated upon by Microsoft.</p><p>To think that Microsoft thinks it can get away with it (as the company watched at with huge magnifying glass) is laughable </p>
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navarac
Log in to Reply<p>Trouble is normal users wouldn’t notice or care – until it’s too late.</p>
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navarac
Log in to Reply<p>I’m not surprised at this and wonder anyone else is either. And "people" get at me when I berate Microsoft and especially Windows 11. Sigh!</p>
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bschnatt
Log in to Reply<p>Here’s an idea. Maybe Microsoft could block off certain features if a non-Edge browser is used (which would work really well with that MSN news widget). They could put up a box in place of the feature saying "This feature not available with this browser. Try Edge for the best experience". Granted, it’s not pretty, but it’s a bit more respectful of the user’s machine (it costs money and time to spin up another browser).</p><p><br></p><p>Personally, I think that not giving their customers the full experience with whatever browser they want to use is a real dick move, but it’s their choice…</p>
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cobrickman
Log in to Reply<p>This is just me thinking out loud, but they may be getting some pretty intense pressure from companies like Intuit who rely heavily on using Internet Explorer for Quickbooks to run. With no IE in Windows 11, do you think that Intuit is going to completely rewrite Quickbooks? As of now, no Quickbooks Desktop versions will run on Windows 11 as there is no IE and Quickbooks uses it as its base for the software. </p>
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atimms
Log in to Reply<p>Edge includes IE compatibility mode, does that not work? Damn sure it’ll be Intuit’s problem to solve, MS won’t be re-including IE!</p>
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videosavant
Log in to Reply<p>If it’s true that Quickbooks continues to rely on Internet Explorer in 2021 (or even 2011), then Quickbooks deserves everything it’s getting — and it should get it good and hard.</p>
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winner
Log in to Reply<p>Intiut is the disgusting company that hid the free tax return page they were required to offer by the US Government from search engines, so that people who could use it free instead ended up paying.</p>
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Ricktheslickster
Log in to Reply<p>Not sure where you’re getting your information from but allow me to correct your error as far as "No QuickBooks version will run on Windows 11" I’ve ran 3 version of QuickBooks so far in Windows 11, with absolutely no issues. However I very seldom if at all ever use their on-line features. But as far as the actual software refusing to install in Windows 11 that is NOT true.</p><p><br></p>
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dougkinzinger
Log in to Reply<p>One thing to remember is that this is still a pre-release version. In a way it’s good that they’ve been able to test it and can get feedback from the community to determine how bad of an idea it is. So I suppose it’s not much different than YouTube (Google) not showing an option for the Edge browser when picking a browser from within the YouTube app on iOS when opening links.</p>
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waethorn
Log in to Reply<p>So, back to the antitrust courts they should go.</p>
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RobertJasiek
Log in to Reply<p>If this becomes part of regular Windows 11, I stay on Windows 10 until the courts will force Microsoft to abide by the laws of user rights and fair competition, and pay its billions in fines.</p>
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LocalPCGuy
Log in to Reply<p>After official support for Windows 10 ends, 0patch will still offer micropatches for it. I’m still running Windows 7 SP1 Pro on a workstation with 0patch supplying my security updates for ~$30 per year. It’s worth it to me as W7 just works.</p>
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Alastair Cooper
Log in to Reply<p>It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they backport the change to Windows 10.</p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>US won’t do anything.</p><p><br></p><p>EU procedures would take most of a decade, so Windows 10 EOS would occur years before a final judgment. What to do in those out years?</p>
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lvthunder
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>My guess is these changes aren’t the complete picture. I can’t see why they would bother otherwise. Let’s see what next week’s build looks like.</p>
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winner
Log in to Reply<p>"We’re gonna shove your ass onto Edge whether you like it or not"</p>
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rob_segal
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>This is user-hostile and anti-competitive. It’s not the worst decision they could make, but this one they should fix. Needless to say, it should be easier to select a default browser in Windows 11 and the default browser should be respected in every feature that opens a browser. I hope they fix this problem.</p>
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MikeCerm
Log in to Reply<p>"in every feature that opens a browser" Devil’s advocate here, but maybe this is the reason for the change? Because browsers <em>can</em> open PDFs and be the default mailto, as well as lots of other things that you almost certain don’t want a browser handling by default, like SVG. Microsoft has ensured that switching your default browser will not override those other settings. I mean, would you be annoyed if you set Brave as your default browser, and then you had to go an manually switch your mailto default to Outlook and your PDF handler back to Adobe?</p>
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smartin
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Me, no. I have no use for Outlook or Adobe. The computer should use my choice for all protocols and file types. End of story.</p>
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joferm
Log in to Reply<p>I’m on Windows 11 and I’m not yet worried. Is it possible Microsoft had done this with malicious intent? Sure, but even if that were true it will only take a day or two until they come out with an explanation and almost certainly a retraction or a new way to do it securely.. depending on that explanation I will judge their original intent.</p>
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blue77star
Log in to Reply<p>You can cleanly uninstall Edge from Windows and problem solved. That’s what I did.</p>
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atimms
Log in to Reply<p>Did you read the article?</p>
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c.hucklebridge
Log in to Reply<p>No, because he is running Windows 10. He openly hates Windows 11, and comes in to any W11 story just to try dragging it through the mud again.</p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Some rule prohibits weekly, daily or hourly mud baths for Windows 11?</p><p><br></p><p>There are some objective grounds (e.g., its taskbar) for finding Windows 11 as publicly released worse than just underwhelming compared to Windows 10.</p>
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ggolcher
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>This is unacceptable. 100% unacceptable.</p><p><br></p><p>I hope they get sued, pay billions in fines, and people get fired over this.</p>
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polloloco51
Log in to Reply<p>Lawsuits, firings and fines is certainly a possibility! Especially, if US and EU regulators view this as anti-competitive behavior.</p><p><br></p><p>This definitely has the appearance as one. </p>
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wpcoe
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>How can it <em><u>not</u></em> be considered anti-competitive?</p>
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rob_segal
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Microsoft can claim they had to do this to counter the anti-competitive practices of Google. That it’s a reaction.</p>
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TheYar22
Log in to Reply<p>Because Microsoft is the only company that ever got called out for it. Everyone else does this as a matter of course and no one cares.</p>
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rob_segal
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Let’s not overreact. Must people overreact to everything. No one should be fired for this decision. Microsoft shouldn’t lose billions of dollars because of this. It should just be reversed. Quietly undo the change in the dev branch and this will be fine.</p>
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wpcoe
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I did an in-place upgrade from Win10 to Win11 on my Surface Pro just to see if it worked. (After all, it’s easier than wiping Win10 and doing a clean install.) In the back of my mind I expected I would do a clean install eventually, regardless.</p><p><br></p><p>However, I found that keeping Vivaldi as my default browser, and keeping Internet Explorer alive might be worth keeping the in-place-upgraded version. (I keep IE to test how my personal web site looks because I know some folks still use IE as their default browser. Yeah, I know…)</p><p><br></p><p>Unless MS manages to hack the code enough to kill default apps from an in-place upgrade of a configured/tweaked system, I think to do a "clean install" in the future might involve first installing Win10, installing apps and tweaking defaults, and then in-place-upgrading to Win11.</p>
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cr08
Log in to Reply<p>Playing devil’s advocate here, but maybe this is being done for security and user safety reasons? If a random third party app can change these defaults, malware can come in and do just the same thing.</p><p><br></p><p>That said, they really should have sorted out USABLE options to change these defaults on their end first. Implementing this block and leaving the existing horrible functionality in place is definitely going to cause headaches.</p>
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VMax
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I strongly agree, and am not playing devil’s advocate. There should absolutely be a straightforward way for users to change browser defaults, though I’m not entirely convinced that needs to be reflected in built-in things like the store. Making a change to defeat any non-standard ways to change browser defaults should also be communicated clearly.</p><p><br></p><p>With that said, labelling as "malicious" a fix for a way to change the default browser in a non-standard or unapproved fashion is ludicrous. Changing the default browser is something that carries an extremely high security risk, and it certainly should not be something that third party software can do with ease except through clear, controlled methods that ensure the end user is in control and has a full understanding of what they’re doing.</p><p><br></p><p>Are there issues around what’s happening here? Sure. Is it something that can be automatically labelled as anti-consumer, anti-competition, anti-choice etc? No, and anyone who does so has not fully thought things through.</p>
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smartin
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>There is no reason that a browser needs to be baked into an os. Time has proven again and again that Microsoft software is neither safer or more secure than third party software. The only reason to do this kind of thing is anti-competitive and anti-consumer.</p><p><br></p><p>Microsoft’s actions have proven to be nefarious often enough that it has to be held in suspicion whenever it does this kind of thing. Period. Doing otherwise is being blind to history and the facts.</p>
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TheYar22
Log in to Reply<p>And yet ironically, Apple’s platforms routinely force you you to use their entire ecoystem of end user computing commodities and no one bats an eye.</p>
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jblank46
Log in to Reply<p>Agreed. All this hysteria seems like click bait nonsense, particularly for something that’s in development. This does look like a security nightmare, allowing third party apps to hijack the browser choices and is bad design on Microsoft’s part that they appear to be trying to course correct. My sense is that they will solve the browser choice issue while also ensuring security.</p>
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dnationsr
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>they haven’t yet…i removed mine this morning</p>
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omen_20
Log in to Reply<p>So this has just taught me to never use any built in Windows features like widgets, etc. Windows will continue just being a glorified shell for a web browser. Stuff like this just makes me think a Chromebook or iPad Air makes more sense as my next personal device. I already don’t need Win32 apps around the house, and if they’re going to do stupid stuff, I might as well just dodge Windows 11. </p><p><br></p><p>The best part about Windows 11 is that they skinned it to look like other OSes anyway.</p>
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MikeCerm
Log in to Reply<p>Not defending what Microsoft is doing here, but you might be surprised to learn that switching your default browser on Chrome OS is literally impossible. At least Microsoft gives you a choice. The fact that switching your browser defaults takes 30 seconds instead of 5 seconds like it used to is not really user-friendly, but it’s also not that huge a hurdle. And when their closest competitor offers no choice at all, it’s hard to say Microsoft is the only bad guy here.</p>
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TheYar22
Log in to Reply<p>Apple does this with everything. You can install a different map app, but you can’t make it your default.</p>
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captobie
Log in to Reply<p>You’ve been able to change default apps since iOS 14 was released. Even Apple is begrudgingly moving in the right direction.</p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>| <em>begrudgingly</em></p><p><br></p><p>Nothing like the increased odds (even if still remote) of 10-figure or higher punitive damages to get a rapacious corporation’s attention.</p>
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rejohnson
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Why do you automatically jump to slamming MSFT when it could just be a mistake as Windows 11 is going through its development cycle? The dark side always speaks first and loudly. The light is soft and speaks quietly. Cool your jets, breathe and give constructive feedback.</p>
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navarac
Log in to Reply<p>Mistakes will occur, but this? A mistake? I don’t think so, somehow. It’s a marketing thing.</p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p><em>Mistake</em> is an ambiguous term. There are innocent mistakes, and there are negligent mistakes in pursuit of malicious ends. Whatever, this would have required a helluva lot of programmer effort for it plausibly to have been an innocent mistake. There was clear intent here. Which, I suppose, could lead to the question whether the apparent ends (which have been met) were themselves an innocent mistake. Given MSFT, unlikely.</p>
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1Dragoon
Log in to Reply<p>It seems very likely to be deliberate. They hardcoded the microsoft-edge:// references to point directly to Edge, rather than referring to the registry. That isn’t something you "accidentally" hard code, it has to be deliberate as they’d literally have to enter the references into the C++ sources and then compile it.</p>
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Greg Green
Log in to Reply<p>You act as if they haven’t been making OSes for almost 40 years.</p><p><br></p><p>in order for this to be a mistake they’d have to have abandoned all institutional knowledge from their first 35 years.</p>
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Alastair Cooper
Log in to Reply<p>The frustrating thing is that Edge is actually an excellent browser (in my opinion). I don’t need to be strong-armed into using it but the anti-competitive approach is putting me off.</p>
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jdawgnoonan
Log in to Reply<p>How very Applesque of them. Another good reason to use Linux since the web browser is the most important piece of software on a computer. </p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>| <em>Microsoft, which told the media at the Windows 11 launch that it was aware that it had made</em></p><p>| <em>changing app defaults pointlessly difficult, but that it had not done so maliciously and would</em></p><p>| <em>fix it. This is the opposite of that claim.</em></p><p><br></p><p>Purely sematics, but not all <strong><em>intentions</em></strong> are <strong><em>malicious</em></strong><em>.</em> MSFT could believe it was doing something beneficial for some users by restricting certain default browser activities only to Edge.</p><p><br></p><p>That was intentionally playing Devil’s advocate. Seriously, I can’t work up even minor irritation if MSFT makes it impossible to use anything other than Edge to interact with the MSFT Store. But that’d be the full and exhaustive extent of what I’d consider reasonable. Well, I suppose I could also accept MSFT insisting on Edge for all financial transactions involving MSFT-branded hardware as long as using Edge entailed additional guarantees about personal data security compared to the same transactions using other browsers under other OSes.</p><p><br></p><p>IOW, I can see MSFT being willing to argue in court that Edge and only Edge is reliable in some situations, that Edge has been <em>built into Windows</em> in the same sense Internet Explorer had been built into Windows 95 and 98 during US v MSFT, and probably convincing some courts that, given the changes in what’s expected from an OS and browser with respect to security and privacy in the 2020s vs the 1990s, for some things the default browser bundled with the OS is a (from the legal perspective) necessary OS component.</p><p><br></p><p>That is, I figure MSFT will be able to get away with this LEGALLY. Meaning anyone who doesn’t want MSFT to get away with this IN THE MARKET PLACE needs to be prepared <strong><em>TO USE AN OS OTHER THAN WINDOWS</em></strong> for however long it takes to force MSFT to recognize <strong><em>AND PUBLICLY ADMIT</em></strong> it did something wrong. Anyone unwilling to continue using Windows 10 until MSFT relents is a sheep gladly lining up for a fleecing or worse (mutton, anyone?).</p>
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dashrender
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>The 90’s called and they want their Microsoft back.</p><p><br></p>
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BobClarke
Log in to Reply<p>Isn’t it just a case of some sort of script that monitors if edge opens then copies the URL and modifies it by removing the Edge part then closes edge and opens Brave and paste and go the URL in brave? I’m no tech geek but surely this should be possible?</p>
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darkgrayknight
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>This may be possible, it’s just on the other side of when they were intercepting it originally. So it is more complicated than it was.</p>
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Maverick010
Log in to Reply<p>Maybe I am missing a little something. This update only affected the Dev channel build, but not the official release channels. Could this possibly be to keep insiders on the dev build built in apps for testing purposes and to get as much data back about any issues with their own software and to that degree built-in apps? I would also suspect since it is not in the main channel, it cannot raise any concern as far as legal ramifications Paul, not that I am an expert?</p>
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txag
Log in to Reply<p>I think I will stay with my Windows 10 computers until it expires, and then – finally – I’ll be Microsoft-free forever.</p>
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winner
Log in to Reply<p>Bastards.</p>
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Hector Lugo
Log in to Reply<p>I can’t get over how short their memories are! And how little these corporations seem to learn from their own pasts. Maybe it’s time the justice department was allowed to make their fines truly punishing. Even the likes of MS and Google couldn’t ignore a 200 billion dollar fine, after all!</p><p><br></p>
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anoldamigauser
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>And Treasury could use the money.</p>
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Greg Green
Log in to Reply<p>Old designers and lawyers leave or retire, new ones come in and think they know everything.</p><p><br></p><p>good judgement comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgement. The ‘new’ MS will have to experience that bad judgement themselves apparently.</p>
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yaddamaster
Log in to Reply<p>To be frank, I was completely surprised. Not by this move by Microsoft. But by the fact that I just.don’t.core.</p><p><br></p><p>I just don’t care about Microsoft anymore. </p><p><br></p><p>Fanboy since Windows 2.0. But after living through Windows 8 and now the Windows 11 debacle I can honestly say – I don’t care. My professional career is no longer tied to Microsoft technologies. There’s a vast world out there……and Microsoft makes it easy to simply move away and never look back. Amazingly easy.</p>
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ejuly
Log in to Reply<p>Microsoft, Apple, and Google all want to create walled thorny bushed gardens. This is from the 3 most valued companies in the western world. Why do WE let this happen?</p>
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rob_segal
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Because it creates a more integrated and a better experience across all the devices a person owns.</p>
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ghostrider
Log in to Reply<p>This isn’t about security or consistency or what’s ‘best’ for the user. This is about MS seeing Edge market share not getting above 5% since launch. Infact, according to Statcounter, it’s currently 4% (about the same as Firefox), while Chrome sits at about 65%. If MS can effectively guide the user into using Edge by making using anything else too difficult, that’s fine for them (they do the same in Azure as they cattle-herd Enterprises towards it whether they want it or not). This is MS using carefully crafted tactics (not like the in your face <em>GWX</em> app) to make it awkward for you <em>not to use</em> what they want you to use.</p>
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crfonseca
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Oh, I’m sure they’ll claim it’s for some unspecified security reasons, but the real issue is why does Windows ignore the default browser settings to begin with?</p><p>I mean, what’s the point of having a "default browser" if Windows always uses Edge anyway?</p><p>Also, before Microsoft dropped "classic" Edge, if you installed Chromium Edge and set it as the default, Windows 10 would still use the other Edge and would still nag you to set Edge as the default browser. That was definitely not confusing at all!</p>
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ponsaelius
Log in to Reply<p>After spending close to a decade of Microsoft reinventing itself as "new Microsoft", devoid of the monopolist practices that caused angry "Mico$oft" posts, the "new Microsoft" does a 180 degree move. Old Microsoft is coming back with emphasis on ads, sorry "recommendations", restrictions on software defaults, while proclaiming, as Nadella did, that Windows is the most "open platform".</p><p><br></p><p>In one place you can have a whole linux sub-system and in another you can’t make Brave your default browser. </p><p><br></p><p>Ultimately, whatever the reason, it’s a brand reputation negative. Most users use the default anyway. It makes no sense that you make knowledgeable users less willing to advocate for your product. </p>
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Donte
Log in to Reply<p>You can’t make Brave your default browser?</p>
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scovious
Log in to Reply<p>What’s the method for changing browsers on iOS again? On Windows 11, people actually might have to use the most popular open source and stable browser in the world, dang it! But don’t get mad at the companies that act how they act, get mad at the laws that enable them. Otherwise you’re just practicing favoritism.</p>
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txag
Log in to Reply<p>(1) Download Brave (2) Go to "Settings", open Brave settings (3) Choose Brave as the default browser.</p>
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mi1984
Log in to Reply<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The default browser and any program for that matter has been a pain from the start. I always just suggest users start with the program or browser then the OS default doesn’t matter much. </span></p><p><br></p><p>Wasn’t I just reading about "html smuggling" ? </p><p>It’s pretty difficult to separate the issue of the Default browser and how Windows handles opening internet file types such as html. And to use a third party app to change how windows handles these file types is beyond reckless. </p><p><br></p>
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nbplopes
Log in to Reply<p>This is a natural side effect of governamental agencies lineancy with Apple and other regarding their policies. </p><p><br></p><p>I other Apex’s can use similar if not more agressive tactics reducing using choice towards their services so can Microsoft.</p><p><br></p><p>Customers will be pushed to a less interoperable world of technology and more expensive using technically fake pretexts like Privacy and Security.</p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>If the government won’t prosecute or sue, there is no crime or legal liability.</p><p><br></p><p>If Apple or MSFT were nevertheless doing wrong, people retain the option of refusing to use their goods or services. If history is any guide, boycott is an empty threat.</p><p><br></p><p>Which makes it unfortunate that Paul Thurrott doesn’t devote some time to what to use if Windows becomes intolerable. Sadly, there’s more money to be made from updating the Windows Field Guide.</p>
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rob_segal
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Liking, disliking, or tolerating Windows is a personal choice. There is coverage of Macs and Chromebooks on this site for those who want to learn more about those systems if they are thinking about purchasing one of those devices.</p>
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nbplopes
Log in to Reply<p>Don’t understand your point. If users couldn’t by any means not use or consumer something would be a dictatorship. Is that you hallmark for choice?</p><p><br></p><p>People did not stop smoking because they had a choice of not smoking … but because law and legislation came … against many many corporate interests. Just an example of how Apex companies play with the illusion of choice.</p>
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brettscoast
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Paul, this is unconscionable behavior from Microsoft. You have discussed this major issue for all windows users widely on WW, FRD and now this post. By forcing users down this (unacceptable, no choice path) when choosing your preferred\default browser is indeed malicious & terrible behavior, there is no other polite way to put this. Does Microsoft seriously want to go down the well worn (costly) anti-trust path again or fix this mess once and for all so we can celebrate choice and the arrival of Windows 11. </p>
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rob_segal
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>This isn’t extremely unjust or overwhelmingly one-sided or unreasonable. Most users may not even notice this behavior. They should reverse this decision and make it easier to set default apps, but this doesn’t rise to the level of anti-trust. It’s also not in the public release version of Windows 11. It’s in the Insider Channel and can easily be undone. Microsoft doesn’t even have to say a word about it. Like a lot of things on the internet, I feel like some people are really overreacting to this.</p>
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justme
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>The cynic in me wonders if this really isnt about Edge market share – which isnt all that great – and more about telemetry. I wonder if EdgeDefelector was somehow interfering with some telemetry collection Microsoft was doing.</p>
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bitmasher
Log in to Reply<p>Agree that this issue shows up right now only in a private dev channel so we need to see how this develops.</p><p><br></p><p>Having said that, it appears that Windows 11 does not like other browsers. To start edge you simply click on it. Starting Chrome, one has to give UAP permissions each time. Unless UAP is turned off which is a bad idea methinks. At least that is my experience on a fresh install for a Surface Pro 8</p><p><br></p><p>Oh, and you can’t customize new tab to open to your favorite spot (which for me would be google not bing). It was customizable briefly but then that option seems to have gone away with one of the updates.</p>
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bitmasher
Log in to Reply<p>By the way, this whole "I will quite Windows and go Mac" is cool if you like Apple’s ecosystem approach. I would probably give in to Mac if they allow touch input. He He He I am holding my breath for that.</p>
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whiplash55
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Microsoft is quickly becoming a joke. Windows 11 is awful, Can’t type in pin half the time when machine wakes up and now it won’t fully charge my battery on my laptop. They can shove their browser too. 2022 will be the year I get a new MacBook Pro and rid myself of them once and for all. Fortunately the few games I play now run fine on POP OS Linux thanks to Steam and others who’ve developed Proton DB in recent years. Running Windows seems like sticking with an abusive relationship. And now that even the low end Mac’s smoke most PC’s, who needs them. #Win11sucks</p>