Ever since it finally decided to retire Internet Explorer, Microsoft has been on an aggressive campaign to push its replacement into everyone’s minds. It took its efforts to a subsequent level when it switched its Edge browser from its homegrown edge HTML to Chromium. After experiencing legal penalties over Internet Explorer, Microsoft has been more careful about giving its users the choice to use their browser of choice on Windows. That doesn’t mean it’s to form it easy, though, as changes in Windows 11 seem to suggest.
Changing the default browser has always been possible on Windows 10, but the foremost accurate description of the method is perhaps that it’s annoying. Additionally, to asking if you’re sure you want to modify far away from Microsoft Edge, Windows will remind you each chance it gets that Microsoft’s browser exists, whether it’s after a system update or use a particular application to browse Microsoft websites.
Windows 11 will add “cumbersome” on top of “annoying” by changing the way you modify default apps. For example, windows 10 had high-level categories where you’ll pick which browser, email client, or music player you wanted to form the default. Windows 11 switches that around and instead makes users select an app like Chrome, then choose the default app for each file type that Chrome supports, like .htm, .html, .svg, and even .pdf.
This multi-step process is sure to discourage users from changing defaults, which is perhaps what Microsoft wants. Each change is also met with a confirmation popup, making it even more laborious to change Edge to Chrome or the other browser easily. While Windows 10 always had the choice to vary default apps per file type, Windows 11 seemingly makes it the default and only method.
Unsurprisingly, other browser makers aren’t proud of this alteration and have called Microsoft on its continuing shenanigans. Those browser makers can make things a touch easier by offering one button that will automatically change all the defaults, but it still has to be figured out and polished. Hopefully, this alteration is merely a short-lived thing, which Microsoft will revert to the more respectful behavior by the time Windows 11 finally rolls out.
