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{{ProductCargo|Logo=Microsoft_Edge_logo.png|Category=Web browser|Company=Microsoft|InProduction=Yes|ReleaseYear=2020-01-15|Website=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge}}
{{ProductCargo|Logo=Microsoft_Edge_logo.svg|Category=Web browser|Company=Microsoft|InProduction=Yes|ReleaseYear=2020-01-15|Website=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge}}


'''Microsoft Edge''' is a proprietary web browser developed by Microsoft, first released in 2015 as the successor to Internet Explorer. Based on the Chromium engine since 2020, Edge is marketed as a fast and secure browser with integration across Microsoft services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-30 |title=What's the difference between the new Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Edge Legacy? |url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/what-s-the-difference-between-the-new-microsoft-edge-and-microsoft-edge-legacy-a01258e5-8c05-7bbb-bed2-c65bec0eb126 |url-status=live |website=Microsoft Support}}</ref> However, its deep embedding into Windows and Microsoft’s promotional tactics have drawn ongoing criticism.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup>
'''Microsoft Edge''' is a proprietary web browser developed by [[Microsoft]], first released in 2015 as the successor to Internet Explorer. Based on the [[Chromium]] engine since 2020, Edge is marketed as a fast and secure browser with integration across Microsoft services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-30 |title=What's the difference between the new Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Edge Legacy? |url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/what-s-the-difference-between-the-new-microsoft-edge-and-microsoft-edge-legacy-a01258e5-8c05-7bbb-bed2-c65bec0eb126 |url-status=live |website=Microsoft Support |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251122093923/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/what-s-the-difference-between-the-new-microsoft-edge-and-microsoft-edge-legacy-a01258e5-8c05-7bbb-bed2-c65bec0eb126 |archive-date=22 Nov 2025
}}<nowiki>}}</nowiki></ref> However, its deep embedding into Windows and Microsoft’s promotional tactics have drawn ongoing criticism.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup>


==Consumer impact summary==
==Consumer impact summary==
'''Freedom'''
====Freedom====


Microsoft Edge has been criticized for undermining user choice by being set as the default browser in Windows and by employing “dark patterns” that discourage switching to competitors.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup> Forced reinstalls after system updates and persistent prompts have been described as limiting user autonomy.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup>
Microsoft discourages people from switching to a different web browser. Edge is set as the default browser in Windows, and is sometimes automatically re-installed when Windows updates occur.<ref>
{{Cite web
| last=Huculak
| first=Mauro
| title=How to prevent new Microsoft Edge from installing automatically on Windows 10
| url=https://www.windowscentral.com/how-prevent-microsoft-edge-chromium-installing-automatically-windows-10
| website=windowscentral.com
| access-date=2025-01-29
| date=2020-06-05
| archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250917184020/https://www.windowscentral.com/how-prevent-microsoft-edge-chromium-installing-automatically-windows-10
| archive-date=2025-09-17
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
<ref>
{{Cite web |date=2025-01-06 |title=Edge Reïnstalls Itself? |url=https://www.elevenforum.com/t/edge-reinstalls-itself.32137/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260405195715/https://www.elevenforum.com/t/edge-reinstalls-itself.32137/ |archive-date=5 Apr 2026 |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Windows ElevenForum}}
</ref>
When attempting to install Google Chrome, for example, Edge displays text telling people "There's no need to download a new web browser", among other things.
<ref>
{{Cite web
|last=Sen
|first=Sayan
|date=2021-12-02
|title=Microsoft says its own Edge browser is more trustworthy than "so 2008" Google Chrome |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-says-its-own-edge-browser-is-more-trustworthy-than-so-2008-google-chrome/
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202081952/https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-says-its-own-edge-browser-is-more-trustworthy-than-so-2008-google-chrome/
|archive-date=2021-12-02
|access-date=2025-08-22
|website=Neowin}}</ref>
Microsoft also hosts a page on their website with the URL "https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/uninstall-edge", suggesting this is a guide to uninstall the browser. However, the page is actually titled "Are you sure you want to uninstall Microsoft Edge?" and attempts to convince the reader that Edge is worth using, misleading readers.<!-- TODO: Update citation 5's archive link from archive.today. An archive.org capture failed, need to find different archival service that works.-->
<ref>
{{Cite web |date=2025-02-11 |title=Uninstall Microsoft Edge |url=http://archive.today/01vwF |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/screenshot-20260405-210358085-1 |archive-date=5 Apr 2026 |website=Microsoft.com}}
</ref>
<ref>
{{Cite web
| url=https://www.techradar.com/computing/edge/sorry-youre-not-getting-microsoft-edge-off-of-your-pc-at-least-according-to-its-new-uninstall-document
| last=Williams
| first=Isaiah
| website=TechRadar
| title=Sorry, you're not getting Microsoft Edge off of your PC, at least according to its new 'uninstall' document
| date=2025-02-07
| access-date=2026-02-24
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251208104305/https://www.techradar.com/computing/edge/sorry-youre-not-getting-microsoft-edge-off-of-your-pc-at-least-according-to-its-new-uninstall-document
| archive-date=2025-12-08
| url-status=live
}}
</ref>
All of these methods try to keep Edge installed on a person's computer and try to maximize the chances that person uses Edge.


'''Privacy'''
====Privacy====


Privacy advocates have raised concerns about Edge’s telemetry and data collection, including browsing history and search queries sent to Microsoft by default.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup> While the company claims this improves performance and security, critics view it as excessive surveillance.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup>
Privacy advocates have raised concerns about Edge’s telemetry and data collection, including browsing history and search queries sent to Microsoft by default.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup> While the company claims this improves performance and security, critics view it as excessive surveillance.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup>


'''Business model'''
====Business model====


Edge follows a freemium-adjacent model, integrating Microsoft services such as Bing and Shopping tools directly into the browser.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup> Critics argue these features prioritize monetization and ecosystem lock-in over user experience.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup>
Edge follows a freemium-adjacent model, integrating Microsoft services such as Bing and Shopping tools directly into the browser.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup> Critics argue these features prioritize monetization and ecosystem lock-in over user experience.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup>


'''Market control'''
====Market control====


By bundling Edge with Windows and tightly integrating it into the operating system, Microsoft has been accused of leveraging its OS dominance to entrench its browser market share.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup> This has attracted regulatory scrutiny and antitrust complaints.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup>
By bundling Edge with Windows and tightly integrating it into the operating system, Microsoft has been accused of leveraging its OS dominance to entrench its browser market share.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup> This has attracted regulatory scrutiny and antitrust complaints.<sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup>
==Incidents==
==Incidents==
'''Forced Installation via Windows Updates'''
===Forced Installation via Windows Updates===


Microsoft has been criticized for pushing Edge installations and re-pinnings through Windows updates, even when users had previously removed or replaced the browser. <sup>[''[[Consumer Rights Wiki:Verifiability|citation needed]]'']</sup>
Microsoft has been criticized for pushing Edge installations and re-pinnings through Windows updates, even when users had previously removed or replaced the browser.{{Citation needed}}
==See also==
==See also==
*[[Chromium]]
*[[Chromium]]
*[[Firefox]]
*[[Firefox]]
*[https://consumerrights.wiki/Category:Web_browsers Web browsers]
*[[Microsoft]]


==References==
==References==
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