Microsoft is launching a strong push to dissuade Windows 10 users from switching to Google Chrome and other alternatives to its stock apps.
The company has presented a friendlier, more collaborative face to the world of late. Under new CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft shows up to help out with Apple product launches and goes out of its way to make its most popular apps work across platforms.
Which is why it’s a little surprising to learn that Windows 10 will soon be a lot more forceful in its attempts to keep you using Microsoft apps.
As The Verge notes, a freshly leaked Windows 10 preview (build 10568) has revealed new prompts for when a user attempts to switch away from the default apps.
The example used is Google Chrome – probably the most popular alternative app for Windows users. If you have Microsoft Edge set as the default web browser when you install Chrome and attempt to switch, a “give Microsoft Edge a shot” dialogue box appears.
This prompt runs through some of Edge’s key features, such as the ability to write on webpages and get answers from Cortana. At the bottom of this dialogue box is a large “Don’t switch and try now” button.
Related: Best Windows 10 laptops and tablets
Back in July, Firefox maker Mozilla attacked Microsoft for making it difficult to switch the default web browser in Windows 10. “It now takes more than twice the number of mouse clicks, scrolling through content and some technical sophistication for people to reassert the choices they had previously made in earlier versions of Windows,” said Mozilla CEO Chris Beard.
This latest move from Microsoft isn’t reserved for web browsers, either. The new preview build apparently reveals similar dialogue boxes if you try to switch from the default photo and music apps.
Next, take a look at our Dell XPS 13 review video:
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
