If you've ever used Windows 11, it's no secret that the OS prioritizes Edge over competing browsers. But Mozilla doesn't think you should settle for a lack of choice. In fact, it's accusing Windows of being full of dark patterns and harmful design techniques that force you toward Microsoft's browser.

Mozilla reps tell me they've met with Microsoft about their concerns, but that the company wasn't responsive. "They'll do the minimum the law requires to respect user choice," explains Kush Amlani, Mozilla's counsel overseeing global competition and regulatory work. Mozilla isn’t the only browser maker criticizing Microsoft, either. Vivaldi lead Jon Stephenson von Tetzsner told me he switched to Linux because Microsoft’s OS is so obnoxious. (I reached out to Microsoft for this story, but it declined to comment.)

As someone who's been using and writing about Windows for many years, I increasingly agree with the above sentiments. I'm sick of all the ways Windows 11 tries to get me to use Edge, so I can't imagine how annoyed more casual users of the OS feel.

Europe Proves Microsoft Can Be Forced to Change

Mozilla recently marked 100 days since it released an 87-page report detailing the ways in which Microsoft pushes Edge on Windows PCs. The organization says Microsoft isn't living up to the "principled approach to app pinning and browser defaults" it promised to abide by in 2023. One example is how Windows often displays a “Let’s finish setting up your PC” pop-up after an OS update. This screen has an enabled-by-default option to “use recommended browser settings,” which makes Edge the default web browser.

However, that screen doesn't appear in Europe. European laws now force Microsoft to make Windows more respectful of user choices.

For instance, in European countries, the Start menu opens links in your default web browser rather than in Edge, as it does everywhere else. Amlani says Mozilla wants Microsoft to release the European version of Windows to the rest of the world. However, he thinks this will require government action. As he puts it, "Microsoft can do better when it's forced."

Beyond government action, Mozilla wants to see the public pressure Microsoft to change its tactics, pointing out that recent changes specifically address user feedback. The company is no doubt aware that many other Windows users dislike the way Windows promotes the Edge browser, but the dissatisfaction clearly hasn't been loud enough.

Mozilla argues that Microsoft's tactics are actively hurting its users. "A lot of ordinary people don't necessarily notice that their browser has been switched," claims Amlani. He says the company hears from Firefox users who are confused about why their bookmarks have vanished after Windows changed their default browser to Edge, for example.

Microsoft Isn't the Only One Trapping You in an Ecosystem

Microsoft isn’t uniquely hostile to user choice. For instance, Apple’s iOS doesn’t let you install true third-party browsers in most of the world; competing apps all still use Safari under the hood. Users, again, have more choice in Europe, where laws force Apple to allow fully alternative browsers. Google’s ChromeOS and Googlebook OS also rely heavily on Chrome. In other words, both Apple and Google go far beyond what Microsoft is doing on Windows to favor their own browsers.

Mozilla acknowledges that it has concerns about large tech companies beyond Microsoft. "They want to steer you to their own search engines, their own applications, and then create this closed ecosystem,” says Mozilla's Ajit Varma, head of Firefox.

Even I'm Exhausted by Edge's Encroachments

Windows 11's constant attempts to make me use Edge are beyond frustrating because I genuinely want to like the OS. I’ve previously written about wanting Microsoft to roll out Windows 11's user-friendly European customizations everywhere, and I fully stand by that. Microsoft has moderated Edge's presence in a few other ways, but these efforts don't go nearly far enough.

It's a shame that something as basic as choosing a default browser is at odds with most tech companies' desires to dictate the software you use. These organizations will always prioritize profits, and pushing their products is one way to ensure that. With Windows as the desktop OS market share leader, Microsoft is potentially under more pressure to appear neutral than Apple and Google, but none of these companies should have such anti-consumer policies.

Mozilla Has Motives, Too—But It's Still Right

Of course, Mozilla has a financial interest in competing with Edge on Windows. Recent annual reports show the Mozilla Foundation earns more than $600 million per year in revenue, most of which comes from Google paying to be the default search engine in Firefox. Although Mozilla is attempting to diversify its revenue with products like the Firefox VPN, the company’s income largely depends on its contracts with Google. These agreements are confidential, but I'd bet that Mozilla can likely negotiate higher payments from Google if Firefox has more active users.

I understand that both Mozilla and Microsoft are large organizations pursuing their business incentives, but I still side with the former here. If the only way Microsoft can get people to use Edge is by forcing or tricking them, it really needs to build a better browser that more people prefer. I've gotten good enough at thwarting these shenanigans, but no one should have to fight their OS this hard on something as simple as a browser preference.

man, this news reads like Mozilla is struggling. i can honestly tolerate that windows opening system links in Edge. that is so non-issue.

my current default is Firefox on windows, and i am seriously considering switching to Brave. if i have to guess, Mozilla is hemorrhaging users.

You're moving in the wrong direction. Brave already has shown signs of enshittification.

Also Mozilla is right to make a stink here. Perhaps you are not familiar with what happened to Netscape?

Brave gives me better ads control, straight out of the box, that is better than my firefox+ublock.

Brave gives me Tor access, without having to download their web browser, and keeping yet another browser up-to-date.

Brave is based on chromium, which gives me better compatibility with websites, it also allows me to use web serial without having to keep using another browser for that (i currently use Edge for that).

look, i use several browser each for its own use, firefox as default, edge for google accounts+web serial, brave for Tor access. but i find myself thinking about how the only reason i use firefox, is because i love them. maybe i should follow what i preach, and stop this nonsense with what is effectively brand loyalty.

i will still keep google accounts in a separate browser (probably Edge since it is there), as i truly fear google.

For all of those you can just use firefox addons?

Like, I would still recommend to use the tor browser instead of brave's build in connection thingy or a firefox addon if privacy is the goal, but firefox does have the ability for tor connections.

For compatibility you can use an user agent switcher.

...M y current default is Firefox on windows, I am seriously considering switching to Brave.

Out of curiosity, why?

I ask because I'm moving in the opposite direction, as I have technical/missing feature issues with Chromium-based browsers on Windows/Linux. I currently have both installed (Helium/Firefox), but I find myself using Firefox more and more.

If I have to guess, Alphabet - their main sponsor - doesn't like Edge.

Wait are you saying you’re considering abandoning your position because you fear others are? May I please take a look at your portfolio?

Microsoft has been doing this since the invention of the PC. Janet Reno laid the smackdown on them for it back in the 90s but in the lawless world we live in now, no one does anything about it.

and its absolutely right

Are you fucking kidding me? M$ has been doing this literally for decades now. IIRC, they pulled this shit pre-2000 and pinky promised to never do it again and then just went on because they don't give a shit

The Alphas living right now didn't see that shit, the History needs to be retold to be remembered.

I’m calling Mozilla for forcing AI to users and it’s shady fucking data selling business practices since the leadership change.

How can you force something onto users while also offering a really easy way to disable it?

There was a period of time when Windows had to offer the choice of browser on first start or use. It would present a list of browsers and then automatically download and install it as default on selection. This made people aware of choice and alternatives, if they cared to. When did Microsoft remove this functionality? I thought they were forced to do this.When was it? During Windows 7 or 10? I don't remember details...

I’m calling Mozilla for forcing AI to users

This is false information. It's not forced, as you can disable it in the settings. And there is a kill switch for Ai, so that any new Ai functionality is disabled by default. Mozilla is not forcing Ai to the users at all.

I don't think Mozilla said Microsoft started doing this right now. I mean Mozilla is right about the allegations (or better yet: "evidence"). What's wrong fighting against it, even if its late? Better late than never.

Convince IT to let us use Firefox. They are so far up Microsoft’s ass they are still forcing copilot into everything.

i honestly don't know what you are talking about. but i wish you the best ❤️

i already said that in another comment, i am copying it below. i might be too lazy to switch, but i really believe i should. i could use Brave and Edge, instead of Brave, Edge and Firefox. also i would be able to use web serial (i need that for my drone) directly from my default browser. mening i would only use edge for my google account, and Brave for everything else.

Brave gives me better ads control, straight out of the box, that is better than my firefox+ublock.

Brave gives me Tor access, without having to download their web browser, and keeping yet another browser up-to-date.

Brave is based on chromium, which gives me better compatibility with websites, it also allows me to use web serial without having to keep using another browser for that (i currently use Edge for that).

look, i use several browser each for its own use, firefox as default, edge for google accounts+web serial, brave for Tor access. but i find myself thinking about how the only reason i use firefox, is because i love them. maybe i should follow what i preach, and stop this nonsense with what is effectively brand loyalty.

i will still keep google accounts in a separate browser (probably Edge since it is there), as i truly fear google.

Don't use windows, problem solved.

It would be great if ai off was the default, but I definitely appreciate have the option to turn that crap off.

windows and brave... win you do not.

How can you force users to use Edge while also offering a really easy way to use something else?

sad

Bad example.

Yes it would be better, but it is literally a toggle off for everything Ai related. And it won't add new Ai tools without your knowledge, because this is disabled for the future too. Not a big deal.

The issue with it is that most people don't ever look in their settings.

Then they don't care. You can't fault an application for user error, if they don't care to check settings. It's easily one time setting to turn off forever. It's not a forced setting, its a suggestion.

What year is it?

I remember when the EU made it so you didn’t have to get Windows 10 with the media player bundle, but then I had to install it to play Metal Gear Solid 5 anyway.

This happened with Netscape and when billsoft lost the legal battle the bubble burst and the market died overnight.

That isn't user error, that is very deliberate opt in as default, knowing that most people are zombies.

Opted out should be the default, those who wish to use ai should have to opt in, but also lose their right to vote, breed, or drive.

But if they don't care about the settings, and don't disable it, then its not wrong. Clearly anyone who does not like it can go and disable it. It makes no sense to be angry that there is an option. Any zombie does not care, so it is user error in that case. I am not even disagreeing with the fact that it should be opt-in; to protect those who don't care, who are zombies, and those who do user error. But it is user error in my opinion.

those who wish to use ai should have to opt in, but also lose their right to vote, breed, or drive.

wtf?

Being ignorant does not make someone wrong

'wisdom is knowing that we know nothing' ~ captain spinach

If someone does not care, then nothing is wrong. But its the users own fault and error not caring. Off course being an ignorant makes someone wrong. Not knowing is no excuse for mistakes.

Off course being an ignorant makes someone wrong.

#irony

Because giving the user any choice is bad for business. They removed the coding to move your start menu and it took years for them to even contemplate putting it back in which they didn't.

Microsoft has windows 10 iso available for download, I installed it with my wifi card pulled out of my computer, no internet access given, it still installed windows dogshit (11).

They want to force any and all to use it.

For fucking real!!!!!

Don't use immutable Linux systems. They're gonna put defender in them.

No irony.

Your struggle is very real.

I only use mutable linux systems, otherwise they never shut up.

What are you talking about?

No fucking way it installed Windows 11, that's diabolical

Shit you not, I was super excited and happy that they still offered windows 10 as a free download, did all the shit to my spare flash drive, only to get windows 11. Debian and Ubuntu didn't work on my desktop 🫪

I want to download windows 10 again from the windows site and try again at some point but I feel like it's just gonna do the same.

You could try Windows 10 IoT LTSC from masgrave

Ai ass title

The year is 2026. Computer users are still "fighting" Microsoft. Battered person syndrome.

Micro$lop still has the same practices

Take a look at Linux Mint, maybe that could be a solution for you.