In a move that has stirred the pot among Windows 11 users, the Edge web browser has begun to launch automatically, seemingly disregarding users’ preferences for their default browser. This tactic appears to be part of Microsoft’s ongoing strategy to nudge users towards adopting Edge, echoing a similar incident earlier this year when the company faced criticism for allegedly accessing Chrome data to facilitate the transition.
Reports from Neowin indicate that Edge now prompts users to enhance their browsing experience with Copilot, Microsoft’s AI assistant designed to streamline various tasks on the PC. However, user enthusiasm for Copilot has not matched Microsoft’s expectations, leading to a more aggressive push for Edge.
Users have encountered a full-screen notification that not only suggests importing data from their preferred browser but also pre-selects this option, making it all too easy to inadvertently agree to switch to Edge. The only escape from this prompt is a subtly placed ‘x’ in the corner, raising eyebrows about the design choices behind this notification.
A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed to The Verge that this notification was indeed intentional, framing it as a choice for users to import their data from other browsers. However, as Neowin highlights, opting out of this auto-start feature requires a series of steps that include launching Edge, dismissing various reminders, signing into a Microsoft account, and finally disabling the autostart function.
Microsoft: The Great Nag of the Software World
This latest maneuver aligns with Microsoft’s historical pattern of aggressively promoting Edge. The company has previously resorted to tactics such as displaying pop-up ads on the Chrome website and conducting surveys to understand why users prefer Chrome over Edge. Such strategies have drawn ire from competitors and consumer advocacy groups, who have voiced their concerns to regulatory bodies, yet Microsoft remains undeterred.
Interestingly, despite these efforts, Edge has not seen a significant uptick in users, suggesting that the heavy-handed approach may not be yielding the desired results. It seems likely that Microsoft will continue to explore alternative methods to promote Edge, especially if regulatory scrutiny intensifies. For now, users may find themselves navigating a landscape where Edge’s presence is more pronounced than ever, whether they like it or not.
