I laughed at Microsoft a lot when they basically made Windows 10 beg people to try edge.
You tried to change your default and it was like, this isn’t recommended! And you’re like, idgaf change the default, and Windows is like, are you sure? Yes! But edge can save battery power. Are you really sure?
Fuck off edge. Change the default.
Are you sure?
The problem obviously being that it is not the browser they want you too use, so they create “a problem”.
They don’t even need to go that far. Windows has so many problems all the time, they just have to pick one and attribute this response to it.
Why stop at just one? Someday soon I’m sure they’ll gleefully tell you that Windows couldn’t format your USB thumb drive, so they reset your browser.
“Oops, couldn’t find that file! Better reset your browser. Actually I’ll just go ahead and turn Windows Recall back on, too. Better get your OneDrive trial started also, I know you wanted that…”
make sure to encrypt your drive so only we can spy on you, not scary people who steal your computer!
I hate that Windows is like this
It would be better if people didn’t need to worry about switching.
Microsoft Edge encountered an error: Microsoft Edge is not the default browser. We reset your default browser to Microsoft Edge to resolve the problem
I mean, if the alternative is vanilla Chrome, it hardly matters at this point. They’re both so loaded with tracking your computer will dent the floor, and they have basically the same capabilities.
Obviously FF is better, but what I’m saying is, statistically, for the vast majority, this is only pulling folks off of Chrome.
I mean it goes back and forth so much. I remember when Firefox was the king of browsers 15 years maybe 18 years ago. It then got so loaded with shit that Chrome was the only way to go for about 10 years or so now at this point I think it’s pretty much a wash between the two. If nothing else you can use a lighter browser. I personally prefer Chrome because then I can use it on my phone my tablet my computer and have access to all of my tabs as access to all of my searches everything between the three devices.
because then I can use it on my phone my tablet my computer and have access to all of my tabs as access to all of my searches everything between the three devices.
You can do that with Firefox. If you use Android you can also run uBlock in the mobile version of Firefox, which is why I’ll never use Chrome again.
I remember my Firefox browser got hijacked so badly, that I had to never install it again on one of my computers, because it would pick up the extension I guess that was left behind in app data or something? Anyway, I was afraid to touch it, long after it was cleared.
What I meant is there are tons of alternatives to Google-branded Chrome, that are basically Chrome underneath but at least stripped out. Including ones with browser sync across devices.
I am using DuckDuckGo for mobile/desktop sync at the moment. But mostly Cromite (or Firefox) on desktop, and only because Cromite sadly isnt available on iOS.
It’s not a wash anymore though, it’s not even close. Plain Chrome tracks you so much it definitely eats CPU doing so, no matter how many extensions you install.
The worst part is, firefox isn’t better any more, it’s a bloated mess. I was a firefox user for over a decade and finally ditched it last week.
Why though?
I mean the only reason I could think of is that the number of sites which do not support Firefox increases. So I always need Chrome to get some websites working.
What did Firefox that Vivaldi does better?
What did Firefox that Vivaldi does better?
So far:
- No AI slop
- Lower CPU usage
- Broader set of extensions (old Chrome + Chrome V3 both supported)
- Nicer interface with actually configurable sidebar
- Configurable keybinds for everything
- Mouse gestures
But as I say, I’ve only been trying it for a few days, and there are several others I want to try before I settle on a permanent replacement.
What are you using now
I haven’t settled yet, but I’m trying Vivaldi at the moment and liking it so far.
Microsoft needs to hire a psychologist or something. Their senseless nagging on forcing shit down our throats doesn’t psychologically work the way they think it does.
Except it does work. Its easy to forget that most users dont really know or care that much about their browser or care what their laptop is doing.
They just click things until something with search bar comes up.
The tech savy people are not their biggest customer group so they can risk annoying some people as long as they know they are getting more people in to their enviroment than they are loosing their users.
I love how in their minds this is going to be a win. Like there are going to be all these people out there who just quietly accept that they’ll use Microsoft Edge from now on, and also in addition not form any kind of revision to their brand impression of Microsoft going forward.
I am sure there are some people who just kind of don’t give a fuck about computers who that will be accurate for, but I feel like it’s a much smaller minority than Microsoft seems to think that it is.
I am sure there are some people who just kind of don’t give a fuck about computers who that will be accurate for, but I feel like it’s a much smaller minority than Microsoft seems to think that it is.
You’re definitely overestimating the size of your own bubble. The vast, vast, vast majority of people won’t even notice, forget caring or actually doing anything about it.
https://radar.cloudflare.com/reports/browser-market-share-2025-q1
Check “Market Share by OS” and switch it to Windows. Every one of those 67.359% of people who is using Chrome had it downloaded to their computer on purpose instead of just clicking “Internet” and getting Edge. Obviously they feel strongly enough to do that, so I don’t see how they would be amenable to losing all their bookmarks and settings and just going with Edge when one day their OS tries to trick them into it.
many of those chrome ‘users’ got there after clicking on one of google’s many somewhat misleading ‘advertisements’ or ‘notices’ or ‘warnings’
Citation: It is known
How many of them? How do you know?
“Many. It is known.”
I also like how you put “users” in quotes for some reason. Anyway, good talk.
To be fair, the claim that every single user deliberately installed chrome has the same citation lol
Maybe so. But Chrome got there some way, their computer didn’t come with it. 100% of the computers in that sample came with Edge configured as the browser and nothing else installed, and 81.95% of them are currently accessing the internet using something else. That to me indicates some kind of decisive action to use something else, on somebody’s part, and also that Microsoft’s years-long endeavor to correct the “problem” by just continuing to ask like a drunk man at the bar in the hopes that the answer will change is not a winner for most people who use computers at this point.
Probably it’s only as low as 81.95% because they do stuff like this. Obviously those people do still exist in a big contingent. My feeling is though that it’s no longer 1998 and there’s no longer this supermajority of AOL users out there who are confused by the very concept of a browser. Those people are in old folks’ homes now, their kids who grew up programming are the middle-aged people of today who aren’t hip to apps and TikTok, but they do understand about browsers. That’s just my feeling and a narrative I produced out of my ass, sure, but it does seem to match the data.
Sure, but I’d wager there’s a huge portion of chrome users who got there through the same tactic that Microsoft is deploying here - if you to go the world’s most popular search engine on a non-Chrome browser, it tells you that you should be running Chrome and provides a download link
I think you’re overestimating the degree to which the majority of users are willing to inconvenience themselves over a browser. If Microsoft announced tomorrow that Windows no longer supported any browser other than edge you wouldn’t see a mass migration to Linux. Instead you would see a healthy uptick in complaints about edge.
Maybe not mass migration, but that alone would probably add another percentage point or so to Linux’s market share, while others would just set about breaking the limitation/working around it within probably hours.
I can assure you that the vast majority of users in my footprint, about 600 of them, use Chrome because we set it as default. Many people have no idea the difference between Chrome and edge. I am currently sitting at a desk where the user has opened Chrome, but it is not default.
That’s why I used the specific phrasing “had it downloaded to their computer” instead of claiming that they were the ones to do it. You’ll notice that those users in your footprint also fall into a category of people which this won’t do a damn thing to influence.
Unless enterprise is part of the equation. All those people are simply stuck using whatever thier company uses. Which is usually Edge and Chrome. With no option to change.
The people who wouldn’t notice wouldn’t have changed their browser.
Ding ding ding
There is no end on Microsoft nagging:
- Trying to install Firefox.
- Windows: Why would you need another browser? You already have a browser. Use Microsoft Edge.
That’s why i completely nuked Edge when i was still on windows 11. Including WebView. I simply did not give a fuck if anything used edge.
When i installed (fedora) linux for the first time, i was like:
wait… this really does only what i tell it to! holy shit!
And i never looked back. (And i distrohopped over time. I am currently using arch, and testing NixOS in a VM via virt-manager. If i find it to be good enough, i’ll copy the config and install on my host, alongside arch. And slowly, i’ll nixify my pc.)
Nix made me love my computer. I have everything I want and if anything goes wrong I just rollback. After a taste it’s the only OS that feels right
nix>>>
although have you considered gentoo?
no, no, no, no, no, no, no, and NO.
My laptop already suffers enough when compiling stuff through the AUR, i won’t even try it.
Aww, I found you. My green twat tag buddy! See, it works great. Hope you have an excellent day!
oh yeah i made that one comment - what was the original comment i was replying to again? i can’t remember and the post seems to have been deleted. (also do i actually have that tag or are you kidding? i can’t see it)
The post was about mod abuse, I think, and I mentioned my process for tagging annoying users and adding arbitrary downvotes to them in the Voyager app! You wanted the same tag, but I didn’t want it to get confused with the same tag for frustrating users, so I colored it green instead of red!
I’ve been using Firefox for over a decade, and Windows has never complained about it. What are you talking about?
I think this started with Windows 10, don’t know which version though. A couple examples from the net:
Install MSEdgeRedirect to solve this problem.
I also recommend O&O Shut Up 10 and StartAllBack to disable ads/AI/bloat and restore removed Start menu functionality (like vertical taskbars). Also, always build the ISO in Rufus so you have the option to disable the Microsoft account requirement.
Alternatively you could* switch to Linux.
Install MSEdgeRedirect to solve this problem.
I also recommend O&O Shut Up 10 and StartAllBack…
Me: Why go through all that trouble, just install Linux
Alternatively you would switch to Linux.
Welp
Damn it, could*
I just finished migrating our last windows holdout in my house. Honestly very painless and while everyone is different we haven’t had any regrets. Eol for Windows 10 was a fantastic bogeyman.
What distribution did you migrate to? (Not trying to start a fight, I’d just like to switch myself)
oh jeez lol I’ve never had a Linux fight. I picked kde neon because I love the ui and neon is bleeding edge for plasma updates. being based on Ubuntu which I was already familiar with sealed the deal. it’s very comfortable for Windows users out of the box,and can be customised further into a visual clone of Windows 10/11. I’ve had a great time gaming on it, very little set up for amd.
Thanks mate, I appreciate all the info
Glad I could help, if you’re looking to try it out and have a spare usb lying around you can try a live version. That loads the OS into ram and allows you to try out the os. most(maybe all) linux distros have one. Fair warning it will be noticeably faster than everything due to running off ram. if you like it enough you can install it alongside Windows, then if you’re completely sold you can use the live disk again to expand the Linux partition over Windows.
Here is the neon download page. It has instructions for making a live usb.
ps. i may have also undersold kde, they also have a whole suite of neat applications they’ve made for their os
Finally managed to get my dad to switch his laptop
nice, my wife was super hesitant. I had to remind her she only uses libreoffice and firefox anyway hahaha
Or, if you must stay on Windows, you could switch to Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC, which is Windows 11 without the shitware and with ten years of guaranteed updates. The Mass Grave has the details.
For those contemplating a shift to Linux, this site lets you kick the tires on different distros.
Translation.
We found a problem and its that you made the Wrong choice.
Set Microsoft edge to default browser
It’s not your choice, it’s Spacer’s Choice!
Switched to Ubuntu completely this year and I think it’s finally ready. There are still issues, there are always going to be issues, but at least I get to choose which apps I want to use.
Windows 11 is just objectively terrible. It’s Microsoft turning your power bill into their profit.
New 3400$ laptop this year. I’ve had it for 5 months.
Sometimes the display driver wigs out and my cursor is permanently glitched until reboot.
Other times my browser is so sluggish until I close and restart it.
Sometimes my keyboard and mouse cut out, and I get repeated keystrokes for a few seconds or a brief period where it ignores my key presses.
I have so many more complaints about windows but I’d probably reach a character limit.
You know it’s bad when I boot my manjaro Linux desktop for the first time in months and the first thing I notice is how fast everything is to load.
The “app” is called Windows. :)
Would it work to just delete edge.exe and rename firefox.exe to it?
Nope. Not that simple. Windows will complain left and right and “repair” it self. Their are ways to fully remove edge how ever.
Oof. So that’s why Windows 10+ has almost 400 background services and is so slow.
Funnily enough, I got an email from MS plugging their Copilot shit.
I don’t give a fuck about what I’m subscribed to, I give a fuck about the link to unsubscribe from it.
Hmm is that illegal (missing unsub link) in this case?
