While there is no argument that Microsoft Edge is a decent modern browser with great features and solid performance, everyone seems sick of Microsoft trying to force everyone to use it. Windows 10 is well-known for its shady practices and random resets of default apps, and in Windows 11, Microsoft takes that to a higher level with a messy default app system. Now, instead of using a single switch to select the default browser (one more click to dismiss Microsoft's plea to try Edge), users need to pick a browser for eleven different web formats.
Of course, nobody is happy with those changes. Developers have already raised their concerns, but Mozilla decided to take a more proactive approach to the problem. Developers behind the popular alternative browser managed to reverse engineer Microsoft's security measures that prevent third-party apps from changing default apps without additional prompts (Microsoft says that system ensures apps do not "hijack" settings without users' consent). Now, Mozilla Firefox can set itself as the default browser in Windows 10 and 11 with just a single click inside the app. To try that out, you need to update Firefox to version 91, released in August 2021, or above.
🤨 The folks at Firefox have figured out how to circumvent Windows 10's anti-hijacking protections and can now set themselves as the default browser. pic.twitter.com/wAw3dMVcur
— Eric Lawrence 🎻 (@ericlaw) August 18, 2021
For now, it appears only Mozilla figured out how to let users change the default browser in Windows without Microsoft's shenanigans. Google Chrome, Opera, Vivaldi, and other developers still need to deal with an additional system prompt to change the default browser. It remains unknown how Microsoft will react to the trick from Mozilla, but you can safely say that the Software giant will not be happy.
If you use Windows 11 and prefer Chrome, Vivaldi, or another third-party browser to Microsoft Edge, you can learn how to change the default browser in Windows 11 here.
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