It is clear Microsoft needs to do something to stimulate use of Edge, but the change is likely to be extremely unpopular with both testers and regular users, if it is not altered before becoming default for all versions of Windows 10 going forwards. When you attempt to change the default browser to Google’s Chrome in the Settings app, Windows 10 asks users to make sure they really want to switch and whether they wouldn’t rather try Edge.īut Microsoft does allow users to force the change making Chrome, or any other browser, the default choice, opening links from other apps in their choice rather than Edge.ĭespite Windows 10 being installed on 36% of desktop computers globally, according to data from StatCounter, Edge is only used by 4% of desktop computer users, behind Internet Explorer with 6.9%, Firefox with 11.5% and Google’s Chrome with a market-leading 67.5% share of users. This isn’t the first time Microsoft has tried to force users to at least try its new browser, which replaced Internet Explorer with the release of Windows 10 in July 2015.

The reason for the change is because “Microsoft Edge enables you to be more productive, organised and creative without sacrificing your battery life or security”, the company says. Windows Mail is the default email client that comes pre-installed on Windows 10 supporting various different email providers including Google’s Gmail. The change will ignore the wishes of the user, opening links in Edge regardless of which app is their designated default browser. In the release notes for Microsoft’s latest early version of Windows 10, sent out to its so called Insiders, the Redmond-based company said: “We will begin testing a change where links clicked on within the Windows Mail app will open in Microsoft Edge, which provides the best, most secure and consistent experience on Windows 10 and across your devices.”

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