Microsoft Edge

Microsoft has recently started to show advertisements for Microsoft Edge every time you search for a competing browser, and there is no way to prevent it.

When searching from the Start Menu for a competing web browser to launch, Windows 10 will display an ad that recommends users download the new Microsoft Edge.

Microsoft Edge promotion
Microsoft Edge promotion

When testing for search keywords that trigger the ads, BleepingComputer saw the ad when searching for the following keywords: firefox, chrome, opera, safari, and internet.

While there is nothing wrong with Microsoft promoting its new products, what people are upset about is that there is no way to disable the promotion.

What trying to disable these ads, BleepingComputer has tried the following:

  • Disable Bing web search in Windows Search.
  • Sources have told BleepingComputer that you can prevent this advertisement by disabling the Start Menu personalization setting titled 'Show suggestions occasionally in Start.' When we tested this, the advertisements continued to be shown.
  • Used Fiddler to examine network traffic to see if a blockable request was being made to Microsoft.

Unfortunately, none of the above steps stop Microsoft from recommending Microsoft Edge in the Start Menu.

BleepingComputer has reached out to Microsoft to see if there is a way to disable this promotion but has not received a solution.

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