The control and choice of your default web browser in Windows 10 is quite easy

Whether you do it during the Windows 10 upgrade process or after the new operating system is installed, dealing with your web browser choice and making it the default is simple on the new OS.

Richard Hay, Senior Content Producer

July 31, 2015

2 Min Read
The control and choice of your default web browser in Windows 10 is quite easy

On Thursday Mozilla's CEO, Chris Beard, penned an open letter to Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella about his concerns that Microsoft's new operating system was rolling back the clock on choice and control.

His specific concern is the Windows 10 Upgrade process and the in system method for selecting a default web browser:

I am writing to you about a very disturbing aspect of Windows 10. Specifically, that the update experience appears to have been designed to throw away the choice your customers have made about the Internet experience they want, and replace it with the Internet experience Microsoft wants them to have.

He continues lamenting the extra work required by users to re-enable their preferences in Windows 10:

We strongly urge you to reconsider your business tactic here and again respect people’s right to choice and control of their online experience by making it easier, more obvious and intuitive for people to maintain the choices they have already made through the upgrade experience. It also should be easier for people to assert new choices and preferences, not just for other Microsoft products, through the default settings APIs and user interfaces.

In reality it is not that hard to change the default web browser on a Windows 10 system.

Earlier today I posted a how to that showed it only takes five steps to perform that action on Windows 10.

One of our regular readers, Aaron Hall, recorded a short video clip this evening of one element of the Windows 10 upgrade process. It shows that it takes just two clicks during an upgrade to de-select Microsoft Edge as the default browser and allow the previous system setting to remain the users choice.

Here is Aaron's video clip:

I am not sure what your definition of choice and control are but it sure seems that it is easy enough to prevent the change to begin with and modify it later if necessary.

What do you think - is Mozilla's CEO over reacting?

But, wait...there's probably more so be sure to follow me on Twitter and Google+.

About the Author

Richard Hay

Senior Content Producer, IT Pro Today (Informa Tech)

I served for 29 plus years in the U.S. Navy and retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer in November 2011. My work background in the Navy was telecommunications related so my hobby of computers fit well with what I did for the Navy. I consider myself a tech geek and enjoy most things in that arena.

My first website – AnotherWin95.com – came online in 1995. Back then I used GeoCities Web Hosting for it and WindowsObserver.com is the result of the work I have done on that site since 1995.

In January 2010 my community contributions were recognized by Microsoft when I received my first Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award for the Windows Operating System. Since then I have been renewed as a Microsoft MVP each subsequent year since that initial award. I am also a member of the inaugural group of Windows Insider MVPs which began in 2016.

I previously hosted the Observed Tech PODCAST for 10 years and 317 episodes and now host a new podcast called Faith, Tech, and Space. 

I began contributing to Penton Technology websites in January 2015 and in April 2017 I was hired as the Senior Content Producer for Penton Technology which is now Informa Tech. In that role, I contribute to ITPro Today and cover operating systems, enterprise technology, and productivity.

https://twitter.com/winobs

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