[German]Brief addendum from this week. Microsoft has once again resorted to dirty tricks to force its users onto the Edge browser. The Edge browser is trying to take over the settings for tabs from the Chrome browser.
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I had noticed it in passing – and readers pointed out the issue here on the blog. It's about the new "encroachment" of the Microsoft Edge browser, which uses the Chrome browser's data without asking.
Case 1: Edge imports Chrome tabs
I reported on this in early January 2024 in the blog post Microsoft Edge imports Chrome user data without consent. Tom Warren from The Verge took up the topic in the following tweet and in this article because he was a victim of the "encroaching Edge".
Warren experienced that a Windows update was installed when he switched on his Windows computer. So far so normal, but after restarting the system, he found that Microsoft Edge was automatically opened with the Chrome tabs that were open before the update was installed. Warren states that he works regularly with Google Chrome and only occasionally opens Edge.
Case 2: Edge imports Chrome tabs again
Now Tom Warren has once again taken up such a case of the Edge browser "grabbing Chrome tabs" on The Verge in the article Microsoft Edge is trying to forcefully get your Chrome tabs again. Richard Lawler, a colleague, was probably affected there. After booting up Windows, he noticed that the Edge browser was launched automatically after the user logged in.
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Edge asks for data import; source: The Verge
He was offered a prompt to "improve your browsing experience" (see screenshot above). In the pop-up window that appeared, the option to "Import data from other browsers regularly" was enabled by default. At the same time, users are prompted to confirm and continue with a large blue button. To disable the data transfer popup, there is only a tiny white X button (see arrow in screenshot).
Warren writes on The Verge: "When users click Confirm and continue , Microsoft Edge will import your Chrome data and continuously import your tabs if you have Chrome set as your default." The prompt should mainly appear on PCs with the Chrome browser installed. Tom Warren interprets this to mean that Microsoft is once again targeting Chrome users to draw them to Edge.
Warren, who has had the topic on his radar for some time, asked Microsoft what it was all about. Microsoft confirmed the new "feature" to The Verge. "This is a notification that gives users the ability to import data from other browsers," Microsoft spokeswoman Caitlin Roulston explained. "There is an option to disable it."
Let me remind you again: As a user, you have opted for Google Chrome or another browser. And now Microsoft automatically launches the Edge browser and tries to use dirty tricks to get the user to give consent to import Chrome data.
Edge can be uninstalled in the EU
Here in Europe, we can make three crosses that the EU has forced Microsoft to implement an uninstallation of the Edge browser (see Windows 10/11: Changes due to the European Digital Markets Act).
Edge is therefore completely uninstalled on my production system with Windows 10 2019 IoT Enterprise LTSC. I use the Ungoogled browser and Firefox, so I'm not bothered by the Microsoft stuff. And Edge is not pre-installed on Linux either.
Similar articles:
Browser trouble I: Edge tries again to import Google Chrome tabs (Nov. 2024)
Browser trouble II: Nov. 2024 updates for Server 2008/R2 bricks older browsers
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To stop Microsoft Edge from importing data from other browsers, modify the Windows Registry as follows:
1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator
2. Enter the following command: reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v AutoImportAtFirstRun /t REG_DWORD /d 4 /f
3. After running this command, restart your computer for the changes to take effect. This should prevent Edge from automatically importing data from other browsers, including Chrome.
If you want to verify or modify this setting later, you can:
1. Open the Registry Editor (regedit)
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge
3. Look for the "AutoImportAtFirstRun" value and ensure it's set to 4.