Microsoft is once again under the microscope for allegedly using aggressive strategies to push Windows users toward its Edge browser while simultaneously making it harder for them to opt for competing browsers. A recent analysis from Mozilla Research, titled “Over the Edge 2.0,” accuses the tech giant of deploying design tactics that hinder users from downloading, setting as default, and maintaining the use of alternative browsers on their Windows devices.
The report outlines that Microsoft actively promotes its Edge browser through various platforms including Windows, Bing, and Copilot. It describes how these features reportedly discourage users from switching to other browsers, citing instances such as promotional banners urging Chrome users to switch to Edge, links that open in Edge regardless of users’ default browser settings, and scenarios where browser preferences are not consistently preserved during system upgrades.
This issue has caught the attention of the Browser Choice Alliance, an industry group that includes companies like Opera, Vivaldi, and Google Chrome. The alliance argues that Microsoft’s practices pose a significant impact on browser competition globally, calling for the company to respect user preferences and ensure a more equitable browsing environment.
Despite these concerns, Google Chrome continues to dominate the global browser market, holding nearly 70% of the user base. Apple’s Safari secures the second spot, while Microsoft Edge lingers in third place with a market share of just over 5%. The researchers emphasized that the scenario appears more favorable within the European Economic Area, where the Digital Markets Act has compelled Microsoft to eliminate some of the criticized practices. However, they point out that such tactics still persist in other regions like the United States, India, and the United Kingdom.
Industry advocates are now calling on Microsoft to streamline the process of switching browsers and to cease actions they describe as detrimental to competition and consumer choice. They urge the company to facilitate an environment where user autonomy in choosing a web browser is genuinely supported and respected.