Wednesday, May 3rd 2023
Microsoft is Back to its Old Ways—Links in Office Will Open in MS Edge Browser, Ignoring Browser Preference
Windows OS users have been critical of Microsoft's strategy of prioritizing its Edge browser for a while now, and more angry feedback is expected following an announcement that updates to Microsoft 365 Outlook and Teams applications will change how things work with regards to link clicking. Discerning users of Windows have adjusted preferences so that clicked links will always open in their web browser of choice (e.g Chrome, Firefox, Opera etc.). Microsoft will be adjusting behaviors in its Outlook and Teams apps, so links are set to open in Microsoft Edge by default. The changes are advertised as a positive for customers using Windows 10 & 11, as well as Office applications: "Microsoft is always striving to improve and streamline our product experiences—offering a new way to use the classic Microsoft Outlook app on Windows and the Microsoft Edge web browser."
This week's support message explains the upcoming situation shift: "If you have a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription, browser links from the Outlook app will open in Microsoft Edge by default, right alongside the email they're from in the Microsoft Edge sidebar pane. This allows you to easily access, read, and respond to the message using your matching authenticated profile. No more disruptive switching—just your email and the web content you need to reference, in a single, side-by-side view. And we're always optimizing the sidebar in Microsoft Edge to give you useful content and tools while you're browsing so you don't have to toggle back and forth between windows or even other tabs—whether you're shopping online or working in a Microsoft 365 web app." Outlook will be the first application to get updated with the "handy new feature," and the Teams app will be adjusted later this year.
Sources:
Tom's Hardware, Microsoft Support
This week's support message explains the upcoming situation shift: "If you have a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription, browser links from the Outlook app will open in Microsoft Edge by default, right alongside the email they're from in the Microsoft Edge sidebar pane. This allows you to easily access, read, and respond to the message using your matching authenticated profile. No more disruptive switching—just your email and the web content you need to reference, in a single, side-by-side view. And we're always optimizing the sidebar in Microsoft Edge to give you useful content and tools while you're browsing so you don't have to toggle back and forth between windows or even other tabs—whether you're shopping online or working in a Microsoft 365 web app." Outlook will be the first application to get updated with the "handy new feature," and the Teams app will be adjusted later this year.
50 Comments on Microsoft is Back to its Old Ways—Links in Office Will Open in MS Edge Browser, Ignoring Browser Preference
I noticed 3 days ago, a search bar appeared in my system tray, and found out it was an edge system tray addon that put it self there, I was able to disable it, but very sneaky, and edge wasnt even running.
Its also one thing to put edge as the default browser for a new install of office, its another to implement the change on an existing install via an update. Thats going over the line. Also will this be configurable, as it seems now they making office not honour the existing windows default app protocol.
Read the FAQ seems it will be togglable in outlook settings, but I still wouldnt be surprised if EU steps in again.
I think the next fine will be even bigger, because continued failure to break the law proves only that the last fine was an order of magnitude too small.
Defaulting to Edge for hyperlinks in documents, etc. over your default browser is clearly an anti-trust kinda move.
Guess MSFT figured the EU needs more funding for their 15-minute cities and fertilizer regulations :wtf::(:mad::rolleyes::laugh:
tbh id be more likely to use edge if they didn’t keep stooping to this kind of asshattery…
Or, just institute an outright ban of edge installs completely, unless the user choses to download & install it themselves..
When I 'gave in' and moved fully to Win10, I decided to try Edge as my primary browser (it was pretty much msft-branded chromium, so *shrug*).
It might seem 'silly' but I stopped using Edge because of said asshattery.
Bing search is horrible as well. When I have new computer and well install chrome which btw MS says the download is bad. I open it and bang google.com no ads no news no junk way it should be.
Run in background one simple setting and its off for good. My fav in new Edge goto google play store click one button and install google apps in Edge because Edge is Chrome just MS version of it.
MS took the words of steve jobs and did the same thing good artists copy Great artists steal. MS used chromium and just call it there own.
Anyway:
www.libreoffice.org/
I launched Edge the other day to check out the built-in AI feature, and it sucked. The next thing I know, Windows adds a damn Bing search bar to my desktop. I got rid of that but quick. I'm trying out Windows 11 since they are killing 10 and so far, meh... The new start menu changes are AWFUL! I wished they'd stop trying to kill the things that make Windows good.
They are definitely headed for another antitrust suit. The EU will be all over them like white on rice, and the steam is building quickly here stateside. They didn't learn their lesson last time. I say this time, fine them 4X and break them up!
I am at W10 Pro and i never have those problems, i know friends of mine complain of all sorts of stuff like that over the years.
Regardless of system settings.
Would love to see Microsoft get fined. It's stuff like that that's why I rarely, if ever, buy anything from them.
What kind of a question is that? Who would want links to open in Microsoft's choice browser instead of their own?