Windows 10 S Users Cannot Switch Default Browser or Search Engine
Yesterday Microsoft announced its Windows 10 S operating system. And it is even more limited than expected. If you own a laptop with the OS installed, you cannot switch your browser to say Chrome, neither can you change the default search engine within the Edge browser as it will always keep defaulting towards Bing.
The information has now been confirmed with Microsoft who releases a Q&A list on their website this morning. You will be able to download another browser in the Windows Store, but even then Microsoft Edge will force itself to remain the default browser the second you open a web-page. The same goes for the Microsoft search engine Bing: "the default search engine in Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer can not be changed". Users can still visit Google in Edge, but when you enter search terms in the browser bar, Microsoft Bing automatically opens, and this cannot be altered,
Earlier in 2012 Microsoft was charged by the European Commission because Internet Explorer was offered as a standard browser in Windows. According to the Commission, users always should have the ability to choose which browser they want to install for default, this to prevent unfair competition. Breaking that rule at the time resulted in a fine of half a billion euros for Microsoft.
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Senior Member
Posts: 1512
Joined: 2012-10-07
That's weird, I've got my old laptop on Windows 10 Creators Edition, and I just checked - I've still got Google Chrome as default app.
EDIT: Oh, I misread the article, it's for the Windows 10 S version of the OS. I don't have that version, that's why then.
Senior Member
Posts: 319
Joined: 2014-12-09
He is talking of windows 10 S, not normal windows 10
Junior Member
Posts: 17
Joined: 2017-05-03
That's weird, I've got my old laptop on Windows 10 Creators Edition, and I just checked - I've still got Google Chrome as default app.
EDIT: Oh, I misread the article, it's for the Windows 10 S version of the OS. I don't have that version, that's why then.
it's laptops that you buy ''now'' , and have windows 10 installed , but what the H are these bozoos up to ? they better do something about there directx 12 fps wise instead of bugging people with crap like this... where are they waisting there time with ? with bad updates and more and more crappy apps that nobody uses , which WE gotta delete so our pc runs like a normal windows... since i deleted all those apps and services that i don't use , my pc runs like a charm , it's like having an extra processor without all that junk
Senior Member
Posts: 4184
Joined: 2004-09-28
I don't see this being installed on any new Normal laptops like the business grade and consumer grade but the laptop tablet hybrids such as the standard MS surfaces or any other standard Windows tablet. Or if MS releases their own version of the Chrome book then I can see this being used on that.
Senior Member
Posts: 14840
Joined: 2008-08-28
Only laptop? I've never had it with desktop. On both my PC's changing default apps is without issues.