The Browser Choice Alliance released a 46-page report detailing ten methods Microsoft allegedly uses to push the Edge browser on Windows users. The document claims these tactics restrict user choice and force the adoption of Edge as the default browser.
Key practices identified include displaying intrusive banners when users search for other browsers via Bing and forcing Windows search queries to open exclusively in Edge. Additionally, the report notes that Outlook and Teams links ignore user-defined default browser settings unless users manually opt out.
The report highlights that changing default settings only applies to HTTP and HTTPS links, while file types like PDFs require separate manual configuration in Windows 11. Furthermore, Microsoft reportedly blocks third-party tools like EdgeDeflector that offer alternative default browser management.
Other identified issues include the persistence of devices running Windows S mode, which prohibits non-Edge browsers, and the automatic redirection of browser tabs to Edge upon login. The alliance argues these strategies disproportionately affect users with limited technical knowledge.
