Editing Microsoft

----{{CompanyCargo
| Founded       = 1975
| Industry      = Information Technology
| Logo          = Microsoft_logo.png
| ParentCompany = 
| Type          = Public
| Website       = https://www.microsoft.com/
| Description   = Microsoft is one of the "Big Five" tech giants who has had issues ranging from antitrust issues to monopolies
}}[[Wikipedia:Microsoft|'''''Microsoft Corporation''''']] was founded in 1975 by ''Bill Gates'' and ''Paul Allen'' in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is one of the "Big Five" tech giants, well known for licensing ''Q-DOS'' from ''Seattle Computer Product''s as ''MS-DOS'' prior to purchasing it in 1980, as well as ''Windows'', the graphical extension to ''MS-DO''S. They are also known for developing the ''Microsoft'' ''Office Suite; Access,'' ''Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and'' ''Word''. Additionally, they developed the Xbox under ''the Microsoft'' ''Gaming'' division and the ''Surface'' line of laptop devices and the cloud platform ''Azure''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zachary |first=Gregg Pascal |last2=Hall |first2=Mark |last3=Montevirgen |first3=Karl |title=Microsoft-Corporation |url=https://www.britannica.com/money/Microsoft-Corporation |url-status=live |website=britannica.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Michael |date=August 12, 2021 |title=The Rise of DOS: How Microsoft Got the IBM PC OS Contract |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-rise-of-dos-how-microsoft-got-the-ibm-pc-os-contract |url-status=live |website=PCmag}}</ref>

Through business acquisitions they own numerous other tech-related businesses.{{Citation needed|reason=which companies? why is this relevant?}} They invest heavily in artificial intelligence enterprises, ''OpenAI'' (best known for creating ''ChatGPT'').{{Citation needed}}

==Consumer impact summary==

===Anti-competitive practices===
*'''Monopolistic bundling'''
:Forcing OEMs to preinstall Microsoft software such as Internet Explorer (IE) with Windows, making it difficult for competitors like Netscape to compete.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=January 25, 2002 |title=Competitive Processes, Anticompetitive Practices And Consumer Harm In The Software Industry: An Analysis Of The Inadequacies Of The Microsoft-Department Of Justice Proposed Final Judgment |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/competitive-processes-anticompetitive-practices-and-consumer-harm-software-industry-analysis |url-status=live |website=justice.gov |publisher=Department Of Justice}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Microsoft Antitrust Case |url=https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/management/microsoft-antitrust-case/ |url-status=live |website=corporatefinanceinstitute.com}}</ref>
*'''Exclusionary contracts'''
:Blocking rivals' distribution channels by signing exclusive deals with PC manufacturers and ISPs. <ref name=":0"></ref>
*'''Sabotaging competitors'''
:Deliberately degrading interoperability of competing software (e.g., Java, ''Netscape'') with Windows. <ref name=":0"></ref>
*'''Predatory pricing'''
:Offering IE for free to undercut ''Netscape'', later ruled anticompetitive. <ref name=":1"></ref>

===Cloud computing monopoly abuse===
*'''Discriminatory licensing'''
:Charging higher fees for running Windows Server on rival clouds versus Azure, stifling competition.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Browne |first=Ryan |date=December 3, 2024 |title=Microsoft faces £1 billion lawsuit in UK for allegedly overcharging rival cloud firms’ customers |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/03/microsoft-overcharging-rival-cloud-firms-customers-uk-lawsuit-says.html |url-status=live |website=cnbc.com}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Godoy |first=Jody |date=November 28, 2024 |title=Microsoft faces wide-ranging US antitrust probe |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-faces-wide-ranging-us-antitrust-probe-2024-11-27/ |website=reuters.com }}</ref>
*'''Lock-in tactics'''
:Making it costly or technically difficult for customers to migrate data from Azure to other platforms.<ref name=":3"></ref>
*'''Settlements under pressure'''
:Facing EU and UK lawsuits, Microsoft settled with some cloud vendors but retained practices criticized as unfair.<ref name=":2"></ref>

===Anti-consumer software and hardware policies===
*'''Forced online activation'''
:Requiring internet connectivity to set up Xbox consoles or install physical game discs, even for single-player modes.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=April 12, 2021 |title=DRM or Die. How Anti-Consumer Practices Became the New Norm and the Consumers Are to Blame |url=https://cgicoffee.com/blog/2021/04/drm-or-die-anti-consumer-practices |website= }}</ref>
*'''DRM overreach'''
:Xbox Series X/S games demand online verification for disc-based installations, rendering offline play difficult.<ref name=":4"></ref>
*'''Recurring billing traps'''
:Defaulting users into subscription auto-renewals while making cancellation processes opaque.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-18 |title=Why is MS Software So Predatory? |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3869973/why-is-ms-software-so-predatory?forum=windows-all&referrer=answers |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=learn.microsoft.com}}</ref>

===Privacy and data exploitation===
*'''Collaboration with surveillance'''
:Working with the NSA and FBI to bypass encryption (PRISM program) and access user data (Skype, Outlook).{{Citation needed}}
*'''Unauthorized data collection'''
:Contractors reportedly listened to Xbox/Skype/Cortana audio without clear user consent.{{Citation needed}}
*'''Dark patterns in Windows'''
:Manipulative UI designs to nudge users toward data-sharing opt-ins.{{Citation needed}}

===Ethical and legal controversies===
*'''Censorship compliance'''
:Removing content from Bing/LinkedIn to appease authoritarian regimes (e.g., China).{{Citation needed}}
*'''Military contracts'''
:Developing ''HoloLens AR'' tech for the U.S. Army to "turn warfare into a video game," contrary to employee expectations.{{Citation needed}}
*'''Patent aggression'''
:Threatening open-source projects like calling Linux a "cancer" and suing small entities such as MikeRoweSoft.com.{{Citation needed}}
===Market manipulation and stifling innovation===
*'''Artificial price inflation'''
:Overcharging consumers by $20–30 billion for Windows licenses in the 1990s by hiding costs in PC bundles.<ref name=":0"></ref>
*'''Acquisition dominance'''
:Buying competitors like GitHub, VS Code, and LinkedIn to absorb markets and limit alternatives.{{Citation needed}}
*'''Delaying competitors'''
:Intentionally slowing development of rival products like IBM and Apple through contractual or technical barriers.<ref name=":0"></ref>

===Monopolization===
*Exclusive licensing agreements with ''IBM'' and other PC manufacturers ensured that ''MS-DOS'' became the dominant OS.{{Citation needed}}
*Priced ''MS-DOS'' significantly lower than competitors, making it the default choice for PC makers.{{Citation needed}}
*Launched ''Windows 1.0'' in 1985, as a graphical extension of ''MS-DOS''. They had over 90% of the PC market by the 1990's.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 29, 2002 |title=Competitive Processes, Anticompetitive Practices And Consumer Harm In The Software Industry: An Analysis Of The Inadequacies Of The Microsoft-Department Of Justice Proposed Final Judgment |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/competitive-processes-anticompetitive-practices-and-consumer-harm-software-industry-analysis |website=justice.gov }}</ref>
*Integrated ''Internet Explorer'' (IE) with ''Windows'', making it difficult for users to choose alternatives like ''Netscape Navigator''. This led to the U.S. vs. Microsoft antitrust case (1998), where the company was found guilty of illegally maintaining a monopoly.{{Citation needed}}
*Allegedly used "embrace, extend, extinguish" tactics; adopting open standards, extending them with proprietary features, and then pushing competitors out.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=January 25, 2002 |title=Competitive Processes, Anticompetitive Practices And Consumer Harm In The Software Industry: An Analysis Of The Inadequacies Of The Microsoft-Department Of Justice Proposed Final Judgment |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/competitive-processes-anticompetitive-practices-and-consumer-harm-software-industry-analysis |website=justice.gov}}</ref>
*Charging higher fees for running ''Windows Server'' on rival clouds (e.g., ''AWS'', ''Google Cloud'') versus ''Azure''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Browne |first=Ryan |date=December 3, 2024 |title=Microsoft faces £1 billion lawsuit in UK for allegedly overcharging rival cloud firms’ customers |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/03/microsoft-overcharging-rival-cloud-firms-customers-uk-lawsuit-says.html |website=CNBC}}</ref>

===Consumer harm===

*Slowed browser innovation for 14 years by blocking out competitors like ''Netscape''.<ref name=":6" />
*Studies estimated that their monopoly led to consumers being overcharged by as much as 30 billion dollars in the 1990s.<ref name=":6" />

==Controversies==

===Windows 3.1 AARD code===
[[File:Windows 3.10.068 setup AARD code.png|alt=Windows 3.1 beta setup with a gray square in the middle in red text coloring that says "Non-fatal error detected: error #4D53 (Please contact Windows 3.1 beta support.). Press ENTER to continue"|thumb|Windows 3.1 AARD code]]
Users trying to install a beta release of Windows 3.1 on a machine running [[wikipedia:DR-DOS|DR DOS]] would receive an error message stating "'''Non-fatal error detected: error #4D53 (Please contact Windows 3.1 beta support . )'''", the error code was discovered by Geoff Chappell on April 17 1992<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chappell |first=Geoff |date=8 May 1999 |title=AARD code |url=https://www.geoffchappell.com/notes/windows/archive/aard/index.htm?tx=57 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112155815/https://www.geoffchappell.com/notes/windows/archive/aard/index.htm?tx=57 |archive-date=12 Jan 2024 |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |website=Geoff Chappell, Software Analyst}}</ref> 


===Court cases up to the early 2000s===
In a major antitrust case brought by the ''US Department of Justice'', ''U.S. v.'' Microsoft Corp'''''.''','' 253 F.3d 34 (D.C. Cir. 2001),{{Citation needed}} Microsoft argued that there was no barrier to entry in the market they were in. A central issue at that time was whether Microsoft could bundle the web browser ''Internet Explorer'' with the Microsoft Windows operating system. The ''District Court'' stated the following in the court case: <blockquote>"The District Court condemned a number of provisions in Microsoft's agreements licensing Windows to OEMs, because it found that Microsoft's imposition of those provisions (like many of Microsoft's other actions at issue in this case) serves to reduce usage share of ''Netscape''<nowiki/>'s browser and, hence, protect Microsoft's operating system monopoly."</blockquote>The court specifically identified three main license restrictions for [[Original Equipment Manufacturers]] (OEMs) that were considered problematic:

#The prohibition upon the removal of desktop icons, folders, and Start menu entries
#The prohibition for modifying the initial boot sequence
#The prohibition of otherwise altering the appearance of the Windows desktop

The case was eventually settled,<ref>[https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/503541/dl "Final judgment of US v. Microsoft"] - justice.gov - accessed 2025-01-29</ref><ref>[https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/373/1199/474311/ "Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Ex Rel., Appellant, v. Microsoft Corporation"] - law.justia.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> and did not result in a company breakup.<ref>[https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft/long-antitrust-saga-ends-for-microsoft/ "Long antitrust saga ends for Microsoft"] - seattletimes.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref>

Section III.H of the Consent Decree<ref>[https://www.justice.gov/atr/microsoft-consent-decree-compliance-advisory-august-1-2003-us-v-microsoft "Microsoft Consent Decree Compliance Advisory - August 1, 2003 : U.S. V. Microsoft"] - justice.gov - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> required ''Microsoft'' to "allow end users and OEMs to enable or remove access to all middleware products, including web browsers, e-mail clients, and media players through a readily accessible, centralized mechanism." End users and OEMs should be able "to specify a non-Microsoft middleware product as the default middleware product to be launched in place of the corresponding Microsoft middleware product." 

In the case ''United States v.'' Microsoft Corp'''''.''','' 87 F. Supp. 2d 30 (D.D.C. 2000),<ref>[https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/87/30/2307082/ "United States v. Microsoft Corp., 87 F. Supp. 2d 30 (D.D.C. 2000)"] - law.justia.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> Microsoft's conduct taken as a whole was described as a "deliberate assault upon entrepreneurial efforts that, could well have enabled the introduction of competition into the market for [[Intel]]-compatible PC operating systems". Further, "Microsoft's anti-competitive actions trammeled the competitive process through which the computer software industry generally stimulates innovation and conduces to the optimum benefit of consumers."

===Xbox 360 Defect - The "Red Ring of Death"<!-- I don't know for sure if we should have a dedicated Company article for Xbox, or if we should just redirect red links for Xbox to this article (Microsoft). Personally, I think what they do is MS's responsibility because MS is the parent company, so Xbox's issues should be mentioned here. Either way- I'm just going to place this info here for now for folks to edit or change appropriately. -->===
{{Main|Bumpgate}}
In 2005, Microsoft released the ''Xbox 360''. Not very long after, consumers started reporting problems with their consoles- three red flashing lights on the ring around the power button. This was coined by consumers as the "''Red Ring of Death''", and by 2007, ''Xbox''<nowiki/>'s hardware engineers eventually discovered that th<!-- I don't know for sure if we should have a dedicated Company article for Xbox, or if we should just redirect red links for Xbox to this article (Microsoft). Personally, I think what they do is MS's responsibility because MS is the parent company, so Xbox's issues should be mentioned here. Either way- I'm just going to place this info here for now for folks to edit or change appropriately. -->e reason for it was a defect in the ''Xbox 360''<nowiki/>'s GPU.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Power On: The Story of Xbox {{!}} Chapter 5: The Red Ring of Death |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch? |url-status=live |access-date=June 4, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

For the first several months of this incident's height of prevalence in 2006, consumers had to pay to get their consoles fixed by Microsoft if the console was outside of its one year warranty. However, by September 2007, they chose to extend the warranty to three years from the date of original purchase, and refunded anyone who had previously paid to get this issue fixed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Peter |date=2007 |title=Open Letter from Peter Moore |url=http://xbox.com/en-ca/support/petermooreletter.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023004948/http://xbox.com/en-ca/support/petermooreletter.htm |archive-date=23 Oct 2007 |access-date=4 Jun 2025 |website=Xbox}}</ref> Judging from current and former employees' comments in the ''Xbox'' documentary, ''Power On: The Story of Xbox'', Microsoft seemed to have primarily done this to rescue the ''Xbox'' brand.<ref name=":2" /> Nonetheless, this was still beneficial to consumers who had made an investment in and enjoyed games from Microsoft's console.

===Windows (Win 9x - Win 10)<!-- Reluctant to add this one unless we have more reports of this online, but I did find some microsoft support articles that mention Factory Resets happening with windows updates:  https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/216587/why-a-factory-reset-without-my-permission-during-a -->===
{{Main|Windows}}

====Forced Updates====
Beginning with [[Windows|''Windows'' ''10'']], end users can no longer selectively choose updates. Instead, updates are automatically scheduled when a computer is inactive, or before the system is shut down.<ref>[https://www.crn.com/news/applications-os/300077576/did-microsoft-just-backtrack-on-forced-updates-for-windows-10 "Did Microsoft Just Backtrack On Forced Updates For Windows 10?"] - crn.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> This has also led to some systems being rendered unusable because of bugged updates that cannot be avoided.<ref>[https://www.tomsguide.com/news/windows-10-update-is-bricking-pcs-uninstall-this-right-now "Windows 10 update is 'breaking' PCs — what to do now"] - tomsguide.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref><ref>[https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-update-bricked-my-bios-thought-to-be/a1f0ebc7-d20d-459f-9956-72a3f98ca432 "Windows update bricked my bios ?? Thought to be impossible ?"] - answers.microsoft.com - accessed 2025-01-29 </ref> Some users have resorted to disabling updates in ''Windows registry editor'',<ref>[https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/how-to-stop-win10-update.html "How to Stop Windows 10 Update Permanently – 7 Ways"] - minitool.com - accessed 2025-01-29
</ref> though this prevents them from receiving security updates, which can make their systems vulnerable to attacks.

====Resetting preferences during updates====
During some ''Windows'' updates, the preferences users have set on applications that they have installed, will end up being reset to their default settings.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/n1hoz0/windows_please_stop_changing_my_settings_with/ "Windows: PLEASE STOP CHANGING MY SETTINGS WITH UPDATES"] - reddit.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref><ref>[https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-updated-and-reset-all-of-my-settings/529ffb03-edd4-4be2-9412-50e3271fa8fe "Windows 10 updated and reset all of my settings and preferences."] - answers.microsoft.com - 2025-01-29</ref><ref>[https://www.minitool.com/news/windows-settings-are-reset-after-reboot.html "Windows Settings Are Reset After Reboot? Best Fixes Here!"] - minitool.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> Users have reported this to go as far as resetting permissions for apps,<ref name=":1">[https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-update-reset-my-computer-settings/e58bcee8-f4c9-40ef-a452-1dc5db7c45d9 "Windows 10 Update Reset my Computer Settings."] - answers.microsoft.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/y0ksm0/why_are_my_settings_changed_after_every_update/ "Why are my settings changed after every update?"] - reddit.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref><ref>[https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/why-do-updates-remove-personalization-settings/0f1badb2-7486-4d31-b687-39913795aa8f "Why do Updates Remove Personalization Settings"] - answers.microsoft.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> which can be extremely risky for insecure software. <!-- From evidence I have found from the Discord server and my own experience, the frequency happens in larger amounts for older hardware. Preferences I set up for Greenshot, VisualStudio, Aseprite, and more get reset and it has even corrupted my data for WinAMP. I will refrain from directly mentioning it in this article until I find more public documentation.
- James -->

====Forced Arbitration====
When [[Windows|''Windows'' ''10'']] is installed from the ISO that can be downloaded from Microsoft, the EULA explicitly mentions forced arbitration.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Software License Terms |url=https://www.microsoft.com/content/dam/microsoft/usetm/documents/windows/10/oem-pre-installed/UseTerms_OEM_Windows_10_English.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250729194240/https://www.microsoft.com/content/dam/microsoft/usetm/documents/windows/10/oem-pre-installed/UseTerms_OEM_Windows_10_English.pdf |archive-date=2025-07-29 |access-date=2025-08-11 |page=6 |quote="If we can’t [informally resolve a dispute], you and we agree to binding individual arbitration before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), and not to sue in court in front of a judge or jury."}}</ref>

===Edge===
''Microsoft Edge''(''Edge'') is a ''[[Chromium]]''-based web browser that comes preinstalled with Windows 10 and later. It is the successor to ''IE''.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Controversy
!Year started - Year Ended
!Background Info
!Aftermath
!Related Article
|-
|Illegal monopoly of web browser market
| - 2001
|Bundled ''IE'' and ''Windows'' restricting competitors like ''NetScape''. U.S. Court of Appeals ruled they had violated the Sherman Antitrust Act, leading to a settlement requiring sharing APIs with third parties
|The case set precedents for antitrust enforcement in tech, influencing later cases against other dominant firms
|
|-
|International
|2004 - 2013
|Faced EU penalties for bundling ''Media Player'' and ''IE''
|Paid EU antitrust fines
|
|-
|Restrictive software licensing
|2015 - 2025
|UK lawsuit alleging inflated software prices by blocking resale of preowned licenses and pushing subscription models like ''Microsoft 365''(''365'')
|Ongoing. ''Microsoft'' denies these "unsubstantiated" allegations.
|
|-
|Resetting primary browser
|2017 – Present
|Windows has frequently been resetting the default browser to ''Edge''<ref>[https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/default-browser-keeps-changing-to-edge/25e2939d-4674-40ab-b05a-6161e2297976 "Default Browser Keeps Changing to Edge"] - answers.microsoft.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> without consent.<ref name=":1" /> While there are methods to disable this,<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/15zbjar/default_browser_keeps_changing_to_microsoft_edge/ "Default browser keeps changing to Microsoft Edge after every PC restart. Win 11, tried everything"] - reddit.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> it is tedious to achieve, especially for users who are not tech-savvy.
|Continues to happen
|
|-
|Inability to delete
|2018 – Present
|During major updates for ''Windows'', users have been reporting their installations of ''Edge'' being reinstalled to their devices without their consent.<ref>[https://www.windowscentral.com/how-prevent-microsoft-edge-chromium-installing-automatically-windows-10 "How to prevent new Microsoft Edge from installing automatically on Windows 10"] - windowscentral.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref>
|No change
|
|-
|Importing content from other browsers without consent
|2020 – ?
|Users have reported on frequent occasions that Edge has imported user data from browsers such as ''Chrome'' and ''Firefox'' without first requesting consent from the user.<ref>[https://www.komando.com/news/microsoft-edge-caught-importing-data/ "''Microsoft'' caught importing data before you give the OK"] - komando.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref><!-- Could we get another source added here? -->
|Unknown if it still occurs<!-- Hey can someone verify if it still is happening? -->
|
|-
|Anti-competition allegations
|2024 - 2025
|UK lawsuit alleges ''Windows Servers'' users were overcharged when using non ''Azure '' cloud services
|Ongoing
|
|-
|Removal of ''365'' features to push ''Copilot''
|2025
|Eliminated key search features in ''365'', forcing users to pay $30/month for ''Copilot'' access, sparking backlash from businesses and educators
|The FTC and DOJ are reportedly investigating, with Elon Musk alleging antitrust violations in its ''OpenAI'' partnership
|
|}

===Windows 11===

====TPM 2.0 chip requirements====
Microsoft updated their system requirements to include ''Trusted Platform Module 2.0'' (TPM) support as a mandatory requirement for upgrading to ''[[Windows 11]]''. This would require either a TPM-compatible CPU, or a separate TPM-dedicated chip to be installed on the motherboard, however some users were able to circumvent this requirement by editing the registry.<ref>[https://www.starwindsoftware.com/blog/bypass-tpm-and-install-windows-11-on-unsupported-hardware/ "Bypass TPM and Install Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware"] - starwindsoftware.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> This change resulted in many customers selling or discarding their otherwise functional computers and hardware that did not meet the new system requirements.<ref>[https://securityonline.info/windows-11s-tpm-2-0-free-software-foundation-fights-forced-upgrades-and-e-waste/ "Windows 11’s TPM 2.0: Free Software Foundation Fights Forced Upgrades and E-Waste"] - securityonline.info - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> Microsoft has been frequently reminding users of ''[[Windows|Windows 10]]'' to upgrade their hardware to be compatible with ''[[Windows 11]]'',<ref>[https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-revives-pop-ups-in-windows-10-to-push-windows-11-upgrades "Microsoft Revives Pop-Ups in Windows 10 to Push Windows 11 Upgrades"] - pcmag.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref><ref>[https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-embarrasses-itself-with-windows-10-pop-up-that-hogs-the-desktop-urging-an-upgrade-to-windows-11-then-promptly-crashes "Microsoft embarrasses itself with Windows 10 pop-up that hogs the desktop urging an upgrade to Windows 11 – then promptly crashes"] - techradar.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> which has caused many users frequent agitation.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoft/comments/19dvs9k/any_way_to_disable_the_upgrade_to_windows_11_ads/ "Any way to disable the "upgrade to Windows 11" ads?"] - reddit.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref>

====Recall====
{{Main|Microsoft Copilot's recall feature}}
In 2024, Microsoft unveiled ''Recall'' for ''Copilot+ PCs'',<ref name=":0">[https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-reveals-ai-powered-recall-feature-to-transform-windows-11s-searchability-while-confirming-hardware-requirements "Microsoft reveals AI-powered ‘Recall’ feature to transform Windows 11’s searchability, while confirming hardware requirements"] - techradar.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> marketed as a way for users to search through what they have done on their computer by recording their screen. This sparked controversy,<ref>[https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsofts-controversial-recall-feature-for-windows-11-could-already-be-in-legal-hot-water "Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature for Windows 11 could already be in legal hot water"] - techradar.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> especially among security experts<ref>[https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/feature/Privacy-and-security-risks-surrounding-Microsoft-Recall "Privacy and security risks surrounding Microsoft Recall"] - techtarget.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> who worried about the security of screenshots,<ref>[https://news.sky.com/story/microsoft-ai-feature-investigated-by-uk-watchdog-over-screenshots-13141171 "Microsoft AI feature investigated by UK watchdog over screenshots"] - news.sky.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> since it could easily document private information like social-security numbers, bank-account information, and passwords, as well as user browsing behavior. A ''Python'' script was developed, called "''TotalRecall''", that collects the screenshots and descriptions of these recordings,<ref>[https://github.com/xaitax/TotalRecall "TotalRecall - a 'privacy nightmare'?"] - github.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> proving the danger of ''Recall''.<ref name=":0" /> This feature was delayed after backlash from users.<ref>[https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/06/microsoft-recall-delayed-after-privacy-and-security-concerns "Microsoft Recall delayed after privacy and security concerns"] - malwarebytes.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref>

In 2025, Microsoft re-released ''Recall'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davenport |first=Corbin |date=Apr 25, 2025 |title=Windows Recall Is Finally Rolling Out After Controversal Reveal |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/windows-recall-is-finally-rolling-out-after-controversal-release/ |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |work=How to Geek}}</ref> with claims that the tool has resolved the security flaws and it coming disabled by default.<ref>{{Cite news |last=LeClair |first=Dave |date=Apr 11, 2025 |title=Microsoft Recall is rolling out following major controversy — what you need to know |url=https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/microsoft-recall-is-coming-for-real-this-time |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |work=Tom's Guide}}</ref> However, despite integrating better security, having this feature enabled continues to pose privacy risks for consumers, as it is only a matter of when a vulnerability is discovered for the problems both consumers and businesses initially had with the tool to resurface,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Nick |date=May 5, 2025 |title=Turn Off Windows' Recall to Protect Your Privacy |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-disable-recall/ |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |work=How to Geek}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Piltch |first=Avram |date=2025-08-01 |title=Tested: Microsoft Recall can still capture credit cards and passwords, a treasure trove for crooks |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/01/microsoft_recall_captures_credit_card_info/ |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=The Register}}</ref> especially since it is difficult for users to inspect the screenshots that are taken by the tool.

====Family Safety====
{{Main|Microsoft's anticompetitive practices}}
A feature seen within ''[[Windows 11]]''<nowiki/>'s parental controls is Family Safety. A key problem shown from this feature is that it can questionably ban certain applications from properly running on the device, with no notice to the administrator in charge of the device. In '''June 2025''', this feature banned the string "Chrome",<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=u/Witty-Discount-2906 |date=Jun 3, 2025 |title=Chrome won’t open (Windows 11) |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/1l2c552/comment/mvt1w2a/ |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> which blocked the web browser [[Google Chrome|''Chrome'']] from functioning.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=Jun 20, 2025 |title=Microsoft is blocking Google Chrome through its family safety feature |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/690179/microsoft-block-google-chrome-family-safety-feature |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref> Schools in particular use this feature on devices given out for students to complete classwork remotely, and as [[Google Chrome|''Chrome'']] holds the majority market share of web browser usage, (65-70%)<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2025 |title=Browser Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share/ |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |website=Statcounter}}</ref> there has been mass reports of students being unable to complete their classwork strictly due to this flaw.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Priestley |first=Peter |date=Jun 4, 2025 |title=Microsoft Family Safety Blocking Chrome Browser |url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_11-wintop_famsafety/microsoft-family-safety-blocking-chrome-browser/40023ef5-177b-4eed-a857-80ed15afa3a5?rtAction=1749008739548&page=1 |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |work=Microsoft Answers}}</ref>

Currently, Microsoft has neglected to inform users on rolling out a fix in the future,<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jun 3, 2025 |title=[User Feedback - Stable] M137 Windows - Increase in feedback about crashing |url=https://issues.chromium.org/issues/422222571 |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |website=Chromium issues}}</ref> and the only solutions available to users is to either rename the executable on the affected device<ref name=":3" /> or disable "Block inappropriate browsing" inside the ''Family Safety'' settings.<ref name=":4" />

===Microsoft account dark patterns when installing Windows<!-- Tone, and needs sources  May be deleted, see discuss tab for details -->===
[[File:MSInstall.png|thumb|An image of a Windows 10 installation, to illustrate the effort required to make an account unattached to a Microsoft account.]]
Numerous [[dark patterns]] have been implemented in the form of vague language and a confusing user interface, which hides the option to create an account without a Microsoft account under sub-menus and small text. The dark patterns in the Windows installation menu have been in place since Windows 10 was launched in 2015, and continue into the [[Windows 11]] installation process.

===Removal of games===
In early September 2016, Microsoft shut down ''Xbox Live Indie Games'',<ref>[https://www.polygon.com/2015/9/9/9297959/xbox-live-indie-games-shutting-down "After seven years, Xbox Live Indie Games is closing down for good"] - polygon.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> and in late July 2024, Microsoft shut down its storefront for ''[[Xbox|Xbox 360]]'' games.<ref>[https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/08/17/xbox-360-store-will-close-july-2024/ "The Xbox 360 Store Will Close July 2024, But You Can Keep Playing Your Favorite Games"] - news.xbox.com - accessed 2025-01-29</ref> These shutdowns have made it impossible to obtain new copies of, or in some cases, even play, hundreds of games within the legacy ''[[Xbox]]'' library..

===Office 365 Suite issues===
{{Main|Microsoft Office 365}}
The Office 365 program has been facing a number of issues in recent years, with allegations of forced upsell and forced implementation of OneDrive. 

===Minecraft account migration===
{{Main|Minecraft account migration}}
Following Microsoft's acquisition of Minecraft, they have started forcing account migration to users who already had a Mojang account to a Microsoft account. The company gave users a grace period for account migration, after which users would have to purchase Minecraft again if the Mojang account was not migrated.<ref>https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/19633473939981-I-Missed-My-Chance-to-Migrate-What-Happens-to-My-Account</ref>

===Discontinued support for Windows Mixed Reality (WMR)===
{{Main|Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) discontinuation}}
Beginning with [[Windows 11]] version ''24H2'', Microsoft no longer supports Windows Mixed Reality, and all support for the platform will end November 1, 2027. This affects device models from manufacturers including ''[[Samsung]]'', ''[[HP Inc.|HP]]'', ''[[Lenovo]]'', ''[[Acer]]'', ''Dell'', and Microsoft - including their own flagship device, Microsoft ''HoloLens''. Users who wish to continue using these devices must either use Windows 10 or block the ''24H2'' update from being installed.<ref> https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/hp-reverb-g2-windows-11-24h2-not-working-need-help/dd90e232-1f28-4655-aafa-685285017d59 </ref>

===Forced Telemetry (Windows 10 and above)===
Windows 10 and up are configured to send telemetry by default. Users can only switch it to a reduced mode, but there is no way to disable it completely without resorting to tools and techniques beyond what most normal users have the technical knowledge to implement (disabling services, setting registry keys and group policies, blocking communication using firewalls etc.). Automatic system updates are know to re-enable some of the corresponding components without warning.

Only certain editions like the Enterprise version have options to switch it off, but a study conducted by the German ministry of information security in 2018 suggests that even this does not stop telemetry data collection completely.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schulz |first=Hajo |date=2018-11-20 |title=BSI untersucht Sicherheit von Windows 10 [German] |url=https://www.heise.de/news/BSI-untersucht-Sicherheitseigenschaften-von-Windows-10-4227139.html |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Heise Online}}</ref>

Telemetry covers a wide variety of system information as well as a multitude of user interactions. Microsoft can configure remotely which and how much data and is collected from a particular system. This can go up to a level where all key presses are transmitted in real time. This makes telemetry very intransparent and difficult to monitor since the kind of data being collected could change at any moment without notice.<!-- Citation needed -->

This raises concerns of privacy and security, especially so for international users in light of the United States Cloud Act. Moreover, it is not uncommon in certain countries for the home editions of Windows and Office to be used in places like medical facilities.

Telemetry collection is also associated with excessive disk usage and SSD wearout. Particularly the DiagTrack and CompatTelRunner components are known offenders.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khanse |first=Anad |date=2025-10-10 |title=Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry High CPU; How to disable CompatTelRunner.exe |url=https://www.thewindowsclub.com/what-is-compattelrunner-exe-on-windows-10 |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=TheWindowsClub}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=FRIEDMOZART |title=100% Disk Usage - Please Help ! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/5hpym1/100_disk_usage_please_help/ |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

Given the scale of Windows and Office deployments, the cumulative energy consumed by collecting, transmitting, storing and processing this data across the globe is also an environmental concern.

==Products and services==

==See Also==
[[Microsoft's anticompetitive practices|Microsoft's Anticompetitive Practices]], an article talking about all of Microsoft's anticompetitive practices.

[[Microsoft Office 365]], an article on Microsoft's Office 365 subscription service which includes how to avoid the $30 price increase at the start.

[[Microsoft Ends use of "bypassnro.cmd" for Win 11|Microsoft Ends use of "bypassnro.cmd" for Windows 11]], which talks about exactly that.

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Microsoft]]