By Chris Hoffman
Publication Date: 2026-10-17 14:00:00
If you’ve ever used Windows 11, it’s no secret that the OS prioritizes Edge over competing browsers. But Mozilla doesn’t think you should settle for a lack of choice. In fact, it’s accusing Windows of being full of dark patterns and harmful design techniques that force you toward Microsoft’s browser.
Mozilla reps tell me they’ve met with Microsoft about their concerns, but that the company wasn’t responsive. “They’ll do the minimum the law requires to respect user choice,” explains Kush Amlani, Mozilla’s counsel overseeing global competition and regulatory work. Mozilla isn’t the only browser maker criticizing Microsoft, either. Vivaldi lead Jon Stephenson von Tetzsner told me he switched to Linux because Microsoft’s OS is so obnoxious. (I reached out to Microsoft for this story, but it declined to comment.)
As someone who’s been using and writing about Windows for many years, I increasingly agree with the above sentiments. I’m sick of all the ways Windows…
