A default Windows 11 26H2 change may let Microsoft squash user choice, Mozilla warns

Mozilla accuses Microsoft of using deceptive Windows tactics to favor Edge over competing browsers persistently.

Mozilla recently expressed agreement with Microsoft and Google as the browser-maker has confirmed that Firefox is heading for a biweekly release as well, and assured that the outcome will be positive.

However, one area where Mozilla does not see eye to eye with Microsoft at all is in regard to browser choices. There is a reason for this, of course, as Redmond has indeed been pretty aggressive in trying to shut out competing browsers, with the most recent example being Edge launching itself every time you sign into Windows 11, so that user choice may be throttled.

Citing a new research study published today, Mozilla has accused Microsoft of continuing with its aggressive tactics to gain market share with Edge. The former says that "Microsoft continues to deploy a range of harmful patterns — Trick Wording, Obstruction, Visual Interference, Preselection, Nagging, and Forced Action — at almost every step of the user journey".

One particular point of interest is the new Windows Backup app that Microsoft launched last year, and which is set to be enabled by default on the next Windows version, Windows 11 26H2. The researchers claim that the original default browser choice pre-backup on Windows 10 was no longer respected by the Backup app after migration to Windows 11 was complete. That is because the non-Microsoft browser app was not transferred over during the backup process at all. As such, these could potentially have impacted over a billion devices moving from Windows 10 to 11, when its support ended last year.

Microsoft did extend ESU for Windows 10 till 2027, and so if Mozilla's accusation is correct, then Firefox stands to lose even more of its user base when such people upgrade using the Backup app. This can be a temporary thing, of course, since those users can still redownload Firefox after the upgrade, but that is assuming that they care enough to have a particular browser like Firefox.

Keep in mind, though, that this study was paid for by Mozilla, and so there is likely going to be at least some bias. That said, there were some positives too, as things were said to be better in the EEA, since Microsoft had "dropped a number of the harmful patterns" there.

The image above shows the survey data across the EEA, US, UK, and India. And Mozilla is hardly the first one to accuse Microsoft of such tactics. Recently, the Browser Choice Alliance also penned an open letter to Redmond CEO Satya Nadella about these.

Following our coverage, Browser Choice Alliance (BCA) reached out to Neowin with the following statement, applauding Mozilla's effort:

We applaud the research team for once again shining a spotlight on practices that distort competition and limit user choice. The researchers’ findings in “Over the Edge 2.0” reveal how Microsoft continues to use manipulative tactics to push users toward Edge, limiting users’ ability to choose and run their chosen browser. The report demonstrates how Microsoft deploys harmful patterns against users on Windows 11 devices at a global scale. We call on Microsoft to respect its users and stop using the Windows ecosystem to steer users toward its own browser in ways that restrict user choice, undermine web freedom, and unfairly tilt the playing field away from fair competition and innovation.

BCA notes that Mozilla Firefox is not part of the alliance, but the appreciation comes because their goal is similar.

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Posted Wednesday 15 July 2026 at 7:58 am AEST (my time).

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