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Mozilla Says Microsoft Still Blocks Real Browser Choice on Windows
Over The Edge 2.0 is the name of a study by Mozilla that reveals, unsurprisingly, that Microsoft still prevents Windows users from downloading, setting as default, and keeping a browser other than Edge without having to go through a maze of hurdles. And this time, two new players enter the scene: Copilot and Windows Backup.
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Six deceptive patterns, four countries under the microscope
Two years ago, Mozilla published the Over The Edge report. Now, version 2.0 has been released, and the work is signed by the same two independent researchers: Dr. Harry Brignull and Cennydd Bowles.
The goal of the study was to examine browser-choice flows on Windows 10 and Windows 11 across four regions: the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and Germany, with the latter representing the European Economic Area (EEA).
"Microsoft still does not allow users to download, set as default, or continue using an alternative browser without harmful interference.", the report states. In fact, six families of techniques are used to discourage users in all tested regions:
- Deceptive wording
- Obstruction
- Visual interference
- Preselection
- Repeated notification harassment
- Forced action
Changing the default browser on Windows is still an unintuitive operation, and Microsoft does it on purpose. The persistence of these practices, documented by reports like this one, adds weight to criticism of Microsoft's choices.
Moving to Windows 11: Edge quietly takes back control
Since the end of standard support for Windows 10 in October 2025, millions of machines have been migrating to Windows 11, and Microsoft is promoting its Windows Backup utility to make the transition easier. However, when restoring a Windows 10 PC backup on Windows 11 that was using a browser other than Microsoft Edge and had it set as default, the researchers found that this browser was not transferred. As a result, Edge is silently restored as the default.
On one hand, this makes sense: if the browser is missing on Windows 11, it can no longer be associated with Web protocols, and therefore it can no longer be the default browser. Subtle. Edge, meanwhile, benefits from the situation.
The other new element concerns AI. According to the report, the Copilot assistant ignores the default browser and opens links in Edge. The researchers also note that a chain of consent prompts, spread across Windows and Edge, could form a pipeline sending browsing data to Microsoft's advertising systems.
Microsoft therefore also wants to shift the browser battle to the system's AI layer.
In Europe, the DMA forces Microsoft to back down — partially
If you are in France, or more broadly in a country within the European Economic Area, know that you are being treated relatively well. Indeed, where the DMA applies, several methods have disappeared: the Bing panel discouraging the download of a competing browser, or the persistent prompts tied to Windows 10 setup. The researchers also indicate that Copilot data-sharing options are enabled by default in the United States and India, but disabled in the EEA and the United Kingdom.
In other words: same Windows, same Copilot, but different behavior depending on the law. The DMA has clearly forced Microsoft to revisit its choices and is limiting the Redmond-based company. Just look at the table below, which summarizes the Over the Edge 2.0 study, to see that there are fewer checkmarks in the EEA column.
In reality, Microsoft could build a more respectful experience, since it already exists in Europe as part of the DMA-mandated changes to Edge, Bing, and the Microsoft Store. But when regulatory pressure is weaker, everything is done to push Microsoft Edge. Regulation therefore determines how far the Redmond company goes.
Even so, Microsoft Edge is not widely used. Looking at StatCounter, Edge's market share would be around 10%, down from 13% in June 2025. If these practices exist, they are not really delivering the expected results.... Find the Over the Edge 2.0 report on Mozilla's website.
