Mozilla complains that Edge is Windows 10 default browser after upgrade

Mozilla has expressed frustration at Microsoft changing the default browser setting to its native Edge browser when it updates to Windows 10. Mozilla CEO Chris Beard believes that ‘users’ freedom of choice is being taken away’.

The Mozilla CEO writes about his concerns in an open letter to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. In it, he says that Mozilla and Microsoft have consulted about the matter. Beard is aware that the default browser setting can still be adjusted after the upgrade, but calls this process ‘more difficult and less logical than in previous Windows versions’. Beard: “It now takes twice as many mouse clicks, content scrolling, and some technical know-how before users can make the same choices they made in previous Windows versions again.”

His reasoning is that “there are millions of users who love Windows but whose preferences are ignored” and “because of the unnecessary complexity they face when their preference is different from Microsoft’s preference.” The Mozilla CEO said he was disappointed with the ‘significant deterioration’ of the situation.

During the setup of Windows 10, the default browser can be adjusted. In this case, users do not have to choose ‘express settings’ and then click on the link ‘I want to choose my default apps’ on the screen with default programs.

It’s not the first time Microsoft’s browser choice policy has sparked dissatisfaction. In 2009, under pressure from the European Commission, the company introduced a browser selection screen that was displayed with new installations of its operating system. This is because the Commission found that otherwise Microsoft could too easily acquire and maintain a large browser market share. That agreement between the European Commission and Microsoft had a term of five years, and ended about six months ago.