Microsoft: Difference between revisions
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|Prompts to stop users from installing competing browsers | |Prompts to stop users from installing competing browsers | ||
|2021 - Present | |2021 - Present | ||
|Users attempting to install other web browsers, such as ''[[Google Chrome|Chrome]], [[Brave browser|Brave]], or [[ | |Users attempting to install other web browsers, such as ''[[Google Chrome|Chrome]], [[Brave browser|Brave]], or [[Opera]],'' will face a pop-up on their screen telling users to instead use [[Microsoft Edge|Edge]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=2021-12-02 |title=Microsoft’s new Windows prompts try to stop people downloading Chrome |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/2/22813733/microsoft-windows-edge-download-chrome-prompts |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202114904/https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/2/22813733/microsoft-windows-edge-download-chrome-prompts |archive-date=2021-12-02 |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=The Verge}}</ref><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> It has been reported to occur on devices running either ''[[Windows|Windows 10]]'' or ''[[Windows|Windows 11]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=2023-10-25 |title=Microsoft now thirstily injects a poll when you download Google Chrome |url=https://www.theverge.com/23930960/microsoft-edge-google-chrome-poll-why-try-another-browser |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025001842/https://www.theverge.com/23930960/microsoft-edge-google-chrome-poll-why-try-another-browser |archive-date=2023-10-25 |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=The Verge}}</ref>'' which harms the market share of [[Google Chrome|Chrome]], despite [[Microsoft Edge|Edge]] being based on ''[[Chromium]]''. | ||
|[[Microsoft Edge]] | |[[Microsoft Edge]] | ||
| | | | ||
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|Bing search attempting to harm competing search engines | |Bing search attempting to harm competing search engines | ||
|2023 - Present | |2023 - Present | ||
|When doing a web search for an alternative web browser through ''[[ | |When doing a web search for an alternative web browser through ''[[Bing]]'', ''[[Microsoft]]''<nowiki/>'s in-house developed search engine that is also used as the default for ''[[Microsoft Edge|Edge]]'', the search engine's AI will attempt to bury the search results for the web browser from the user.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=Jun 6, 2023 |title=Microsoft has no shame: Bing spit on my ‘Chrome’ search with a fake AI answer |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/6/23736289/microsoft-bing-chrome-search-fake-ai-chatbot |access-date=Jun 21, 2025 |work=The Verge |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260111203332/https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/6/23736289/microsoft-bing-chrome-search-fake-ai-chatbot |archive-date=11 Jan 2026}}</ref><!-- Purged text, include ONLY when a verifiable, trustworthy source reports on this. | ||
Beyond this, users specifically using both Edge and its default search engine will continue to see notices at the top of the search, attempting to keep the user on the browser. --> | Beyond this, users specifically using both Edge and its default search engine will continue to see notices at the top of the search, attempting to keep the user on the browser. --> | ||
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====Resetting primary browser (2017-present)==== | ====Resetting primary browser (2017-present)==== | ||
Windows has frequently been resetting the default browser to ''Edge'' without consent.{{Citation needed|reason=old link dead}} While there are methods to disable this,<ref> | Windows has frequently been resetting the default browser to ''Edge'' without consent.{{Citation needed|reason=old link dead}} While there are methods to disable this,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/15zbjar/default_browser_keeps_changing_to_microsoft_edge/ |title=Default browser keeps changing to Microsoft Edge after every PC restart. Win 11, tried everything |website=reddit.com |access-date=2025-01-29 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230911115100/https://old.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/15zbjar/default_browser_keeps_changing_to_microsoft_edge/ |archive-date=11 Sep 2023}}</ref> it is tedious to achieve, especially for users who are not tech-savvy. | ||
====Inability to delete (2018-present)==== | ====Inability to delete (2018-present)==== | ||
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| url-status=live | | url-status=live | ||
}} | }} | ||
</ref> Because of the [[European Union]]'s [[Digital Markets Act]], Edge (and [[Bing]]) can now be uninstalled, but reportedly Microsoft is geo-fencing this capability to EEA countries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Nov 2023 |first=Kimberly |last=Gedeon |url=https://mashable.com/article/microsoft-edge-uninstall-now-possible |title=You can finally uninstall Microsoft Edge from Windows – but only if you live here |website=Mashable |url-status=live |archive-date=21 Jun 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260621162044/https://mashable.com/article/amazon-how-to-contact-customer-service?as-embeddable=1&no-commerce-injection=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Jan 2026 |title=Every trick Microsoft pulled to make you browse Edge instead of Chrome |url=https://www.theverge.com/23935029/microsoft-edge-forced-windows-10-google-chrome-fight |author=Verge Staff |website=The Verge |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260621163409/https://www.theverge.com/23935029/microsoft-edge-forced-windows-10-google-chrome-fight |archive-date=21 Jun 2026}}</ref> | </ref> Because of the [[European Union|EU]]'s [[Digital Markets Act]], Edge (and [[Bing]]) can now be uninstalled, but reportedly Microsoft is geo-fencing this capability to [[European Union#European Economic Area|EEA]] countries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Nov 2023 |first=Kimberly |last=Gedeon |url=https://mashable.com/article/microsoft-edge-uninstall-now-possible |title=You can finally uninstall Microsoft Edge from Windows – but only if you live here |website=Mashable |url-status=live |archive-date=21 Jun 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260621162044/https://mashable.com/article/amazon-how-to-contact-customer-service?as-embeddable=1&no-commerce-injection=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Jan 2026 |title=Every trick Microsoft pulled to make you browse Edge instead of Chrome |url=https://www.theverge.com/23935029/microsoft-edge-forced-windows-10-google-chrome-fight |author=Verge Staff |website=The Verge |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260621163409/https://www.theverge.com/23935029/microsoft-edge-forced-windows-10-google-chrome-fight |archive-date=21 Jun 2026}}</ref> | ||
====Importing content from other browsers (2020-?)==== | ====Importing content from other browsers (2020-?)==== | ||
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====Pressuring users into using Edge (2020-?)==== | ====Pressuring users into using Edge (2020-?)==== | ||
In 2020, users for [[Windows|Windows 10]] faced repeated harassment from Edge to use this browser instead of the user's chosen default browser.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=2020-07-02 |title=Microsoft just sank to a new low by shoving Edge down our throats |url=https://www.theverge.com/21310611/microsoft-edge-browser-forced-update-chromium-editorial |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702205823/https://www.theverge.com/21310611/microsoft-edge-browser-forced-update-chromium-editorial |archive-date=2020-07-02 |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=The Verge}}</ref> Some examples included the browser opening on startup, the browser being forced into full screen, being incapable of closing the browser until the user acknowledges the pop-up, and the browser pinning itself to the taskbar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-01 |title=Every trick Microsoft pulled to make you browse Edge instead of Chrome |url=https://www.theverge.com/23935029/microsoft-edge-forced-windows-10-google-chrome-fight |url-status=live |website=The Verge}}</ref> | In 2020, users for [[Windows|Windows 10]] faced repeated harassment from Edge to use this browser instead of the user's chosen default browser.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=2020-07-02 |title=Microsoft just sank to a new low by shoving Edge down our throats |url=https://www.theverge.com/21310611/microsoft-edge-browser-forced-update-chromium-editorial |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702205823/https://www.theverge.com/21310611/microsoft-edge-browser-forced-update-chromium-editorial |archive-date=2020-07-02 |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=The Verge}}</ref> Some examples included the browser opening on startup, the browser being forced into full screen, being incapable of closing the browser until the user acknowledges the pop-up, and the browser pinning itself to the taskbar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-01 |title=Every trick Microsoft pulled to make you browse Edge instead of Chrome |url=https://www.theverge.com/23935029/microsoft-edge-forced-windows-10-google-chrome-fight |url-status=live |website=The Verge}}</ref> | ||
====Increasing the difficulty to switch default browsers (2021 - Present)==== | ====Increasing the difficulty to switch default browsers (2021 - Present)==== | ||
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“We have been increasingly worried about the trend on Windows,” says Selena Deckelmann, senior vice president of Firefox, in a statement to The Verge. “Since Windows 10, users have had to take additional and unnecessary steps to set and retain their default browser settings. These barriers are confusing at best and seem designed to undermine a user’s choice for a non-Microsoft browser.”--><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lockheimer |first=Hiroshi |date=Aug 18, 2021 |title=Tweet from Hiroshi Lockheimer |url=https://nitter.us.catsarch.com/lockheimer/status/1428047760620621831 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://megalodon.jp/2026-0321-2130-35/https://nitter.us.catsarch.com:443/lockheimer/status/1428047760620621831 |archive-date=21 Mar 2026 |access-date=Jun 21, 2025 |website=X, formerly [[Twitter]]}}</ref> and consumers alike over this change. Even if users modify all of these default settings, other features on the device, such as the taskbar's weather widget, which if opened, will create a new tab specifically in ''[[Microsoft Edge|Edge]]''.<ref name=":03" /><!--Another note to add under [39] | “We have been increasingly worried about the trend on Windows,” says Selena Deckelmann, senior vice president of Firefox, in a statement to The Verge. “Since Windows 10, users have had to take additional and unnecessary steps to set and retain their default browser settings. These barriers are confusing at best and seem designed to undermine a user’s choice for a non-Microsoft browser.”--><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lockheimer |first=Hiroshi |date=Aug 18, 2021 |title=Tweet from Hiroshi Lockheimer |url=https://nitter.us.catsarch.com/lockheimer/status/1428047760620621831 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://megalodon.jp/2026-0321-2130-35/https://nitter.us.catsarch.com:443/lockheimer/status/1428047760620621831 |archive-date=21 Mar 2026 |access-date=Jun 21, 2025 |website=X, formerly [[Twitter]]}}</ref> and consumers alike over this change. Even if users modify all of these default settings, other features on the device, such as the taskbar's weather widget, which if opened, will create a new tab specifically in ''[[Microsoft Edge|Edge]]''.<ref name=":03" /><!--Another note to add under [39] | ||
Windows 11 continues this trend, with search still forcing users into Edge, and now a new dedicated widgets area that also ignores the default browser setting. “It appears that Windows 11 widgets will ignore a user’s default browser choice and open Microsoft Edge for the content instead,” says a Brave spokesperson in a statement to The Verge. “Brave puts users first and we condemn this Windows 11 approach, because the choice of a default browser has many implications for individuals and their privacy. Users should be free to choose.”-->Microsoft attempts to justify this by stating:<ref name=":03" /><blockquote>“With Windows 11, we are implementing customer feedback to customize and control defaults at a more granular level, eliminating app categories and elevating all apps to the forefront of the defaults experience,” “As evidenced by this change, we’re constantly listening and learning, and welcome customer feedback that helps shape Windows. Windows 11 will continue to evolve over time; if we learn from user experience that there are ways to make improvements, we will do so.”</blockquote> | Windows 11 continues this trend, with search still forcing users into Edge, and now a new dedicated widgets area that also ignores the default browser setting. “It appears that Windows 11 widgets will ignore a user’s default browser choice and open Microsoft Edge for the content instead,” says a Brave spokesperson in a statement to The Verge. “Brave puts users first and we condemn this Windows 11 approach, because the choice of a default browser has many implications for individuals and their privacy. Users should be free to choose.”--> Microsoft attempts to justify this by stating:<ref name=":03" /><blockquote>“With Windows 11, we are implementing customer feedback to customize and control defaults at a more granular level, eliminating app categories and elevating all apps to the forefront of the defaults experience,” “As evidenced by this change, we’re constantly listening and learning, and welcome customer feedback that helps shape Windows. Windows 11 will continue to evolve over time; if we learn from user experience that there are ways to make improvements, we will do so.”</blockquote> | ||
===Minecraft=== | ===Minecraft=== | ||
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===Office 365 Suite=== | ===Office 365 Suite=== | ||
{{Main|Microsoft Office 365}} | {{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. | The Office 365 program has been facing a number of issues in recent years, with allegations of forced upsell and forced implementation of OneDrive.{{Citation needed}} | ||
====Removal of features to push Copilot (2025)==== | |||
{{See also|Microsoft Office 365#Copilot upsell (2024—)}} | |||
Eliminated key search features in ''365''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laplante |first=Martin |date=2025-10-09 |title=Microsoft Search’s Disappearing Act |url=https://www.pointfire.com/blogs/microsoft-searchs-disappearing-act |url-status=live |website=pointfire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Endicott |first=Sean |date=2025-01-22 |title=I'm aghast, stunned, and flabbergasted that Microsoft just removed the thesaurus from Word |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/im-aghast-stunned-and-flabbergasted-that-microsoft-just-removed-the-thesaurus-from-word |url-status=live |website=Windows Central}}</ref>, forcing users to pay $30/month for ''Copilot'' access, sparking backlash from businesses and educators.{{Citation needed}} The FTC and DOJ are reportedly investigating, with Elon Musk alleging antitrust violations in its ''OpenAI'' partnership.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scarcella |first=Mike |date=2024-11-15 |title=Musk expands lawsuit against OpenAI, adding Microsoft and antitrust claims |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/musk-expands-lawsuit-against-openai-adding-microsoft-antitrust-claims-2024-11-15/ |url-status=live |website=Reuters}}</ref> | |||
====Automatic installation of Copilot (2026)==== | |||
In a post on their admin portal, Microsoft announced that it would: <blockquote>"Resume the automatic installation of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app to eligible devices with the Microsoft 365 desktop apps."</blockquote> The rollout is reportedly planned for mid-June to mid-July of 2026. Users in the [[European Union#European Economic Area|EEA]] will be exempt from this. <ref>{{Cite web |first=Kareem |last=Anderson |date=22 Jun 2026 |title=Microsoft says it’ll force install Microsoft 365 Copilot on Windows 11 with MS 365 Business in the next 30 days |url=https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/06/22/microsoft-says-itll-force-install-microsoft-365-copilot-on-windows-11-with-ms-365-business-in-the-next-30-days/ |url-status=live |website=Windows Latest |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260622054341/https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/06/22/microsoft-says-itll-force-install-microsoft-365-copilot-on-windows-11-with-ms-365-business-in-the-next-30-days/ |archive-date=22 Jun 2026}}</ref> | |||
===Microsoft Windows=== | ===Microsoft Windows=== | ||
{{Main|Microsoft Windows}} | |||
====Telemetry==== | ====Telemetry==== | ||
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=====Telemetry in Developer Tools===== | =====Telemetry in Developer Tools===== | ||
{{See also|Visual Studio Code}} | |||
Software such as: | Software such as: | ||
*PowerShell | *PowerShell | ||
*.NET CLI and .NET SDK | *.NET CLI and .NET SDK | ||
*VSCode | *VSCode | ||
includes telemetry which is enabled by default. Telemetry in PowerShell and .NET can be disabled by setting the following environment variables: '''POWERSHELL_TELEMETRY_OPTOUT''' and '''DOTNET_CLI_TELEMETRY_OPTOUT''' respectively to '''1''' or '''true'''. | |||
In VSCode it may be disabled by simply navigating into settings, searching for 'telemetry' and setting 'Telemetry: Telemetry Level to 'off.'<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Feb 2026 |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/configure/telemetry |url-status=live |title=Telemetry |website=Microsoft Learn |archive-date=21 Jun 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260621160811/https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/configure/telemetry}}</ref> With .NET, telemetry is collected when using any of the .NET CLI commands such as 'dotnet build/pack/run.'<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Feb 2026 |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/tools/telemetry?tabs=dotnet10 |url-status=live |title=.NET SDK and .NET CLI telemetry |website=Microsoft Learn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260621160007/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/tools/telemetry?tabs=dotnet10 |archive-date=21 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2026 |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_telemetry?view=powershell-7.6 |url-status=live |title=about_Telemetry |website=Microsoft Learn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260621160222/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_telemetry?view=powershell-7.6 |archive-date=21 Jun 2026}}</ref> | In VSCode it may be disabled by simply navigating into settings, searching for '''telemetry''' and setting '''Telemetry: Telemetry Level to 'off.''''<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Feb 2026 |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/configure/telemetry |url-status=live |title=Telemetry |website=Microsoft Learn |archive-date=21 Jun 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260621160811/https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/configure/telemetry}}</ref> With .NET, telemetry is collected when using '''any''' of the .NET CLI commands such as '''dotnet build/pack/run.'''<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Feb 2026 |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/tools/telemetry?tabs=dotnet10 |url-status=live |title=.NET SDK and .NET CLI telemetry |website=Microsoft Learn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260621160007/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/tools/telemetry?tabs=dotnet10 |archive-date=21 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2026 |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_telemetry?view=powershell-7.6 |url-status=live |title=about_Telemetry |website=Microsoft Learn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260621160222/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_telemetry?view=powershell-7.6 |archive-date=21 Jun 2026}}</ref> | ||
====FAT32 Size Limit (1994-2026)==== | |||
The format dialog on Windows has had a 32GB size limitation for the FAT32 file system since the mid-90s. The limitation is not a part of the filesystem's spec, in fact: <blockquote>"With a 32-bit field for counting sectors, the file system supports up to 2 TB volumes with 512-byte sectors."</blockquote><ref>{{Cite web |first=Zoe |last=Skyforest |date=17 Apr 2026 |title=Microsoft Finally Ups FAT32 Size Limit |url=https://hackaday.com/2026/04/17/microsoft-finally-ups-fat32-size-limit/ |website=Hackaday |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260622095735/https://hackaday.com/2026/04/17/microsoft-finally-ups-fat32-size-limit/ |archive-date=22 Jun 2026}}</ref> It has been addressed in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.8170, allowing sizes up to 2TB to be used with the 'format' command.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 Apr 2026 |author=Windows Insider Program Team |title=Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.8170 (Dev Channel) |url=https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2026/04/10/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-26300-8170-dev-channel/ |url-status=live |website=blogs.windows.com Blogs |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260622101050/https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2026/04/10/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-26300-8170-dev-channel/ |archive-date=22 Jun 2026}}</ref> The maximum size in the Format dialog itself, however, remains at 32GB.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 Apr 2026 |first=Hans-Christian |last=Dirscherl |title=Windows 11 is finally removing the 32GB FAT32 capacity limit |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/3112871/windows-11-is-finally-removing-the-32gb-fat32-capacity-limit.html |url-status=live |website=pcworld.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260622103454/https://www.pcworld.com/article/3112871/windows-11-is-finally-removing-the-32gb-fat32-capacity-limit.html |archive-date=22 Jun 2026}}</ref> | |||
According to former Microsoft programmer Dave Plummer, who says he wrote the format dialog in 1994: <blockquote>"The Format tool’s 32GB limit for FAT volumes was an arbitrary decision he made that we’re still living with among modern Windows versions—FAT32 drives formatted at the command line or using other tools max out between 2TB and 16TB, depending on sector size."</blockquote><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Mar 2024 |first=Andrew |last=Cunningham |title=“Temporary” disk formatting UI from 1994 still lives on in Windows 11 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/03/windows-current-disk-formatting-ui-is-a-30-year-old-placeholder-from-windows-nt/ |url-status=live |website=Ars Technica |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260622095351/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/03/windows-current-disk-formatting-ui-is-a-30-year-old-placeholder-from-windows-nt/ |archive-date=22 Jun 2026}}</ref> | |||
====Windows 10==== | ====Windows 10==== | ||
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====Collaboration with surveillance==== | ====Collaboration with surveillance==== | ||
Working with the NSA and FBI to bypass encryption (PRISM program) and access user data (Skype, Outlook).<ref name=":1" /> | Working with the [[National Security Agency|NSA]] and FBI to bypass encryption (PRISM program) and access user data (Skype, Outlook).<ref name=":1" /> | ||
====Recurring billing traps==== | ====Recurring billing traps==== | ||