"This is exactly the kind of thing driving me away from Windows": even Edge users don't want this new feature

Even people who use Microsoft Edge don't want the browser to start automatically after logging in to Windows 11. That's what a recent poll about the browser suggests.

Microsoft is testing a new feature that allows Edge to open automatically after starting a PC. A banner appeared for some users indicating the change, and we confirmed the behavior is there in the latest Edge Beta build.

That banner has an option to say "No thanks," but it appears the feature is opt-out rather than opt-in. Since the feature is still in testing, Microsoft may change if it is enabled or disabled by default.

It turns out that a browser launching automatically, even if optionally, is a hot button topic. Comments on the article and on Reddit range from expletitives to analogies comparing Microsoft to The Lord of the Rings.

"This is exactly the kind of thing driving me away from windows," said Steve Jones.

Similar sentiments were shared by "pm fenn," who said, "If Microsoft forces this on people i will stop using win 11 and continue to use google OS."

Edward Dekkers emphasized how the new Edge feature goes against Microsoft's push to improve Windows 11:

"What? I thought the last reports I read they were supposedly UNshittifying windows. Guess that lasted long before they came up with more ways to make Windows worse again."

I argued a similar case in the latest Windows Wrap.

"Sneakily testing Edge starting up when people boot their PCs? These types of actions hinder a reputation from being rebuilt."

Unpopular, even among Edge users

Of those who voted in our poll, 32 percent said they use Edge daily but don't want the auto start feature. That figure seems small until you realize that 63 percent of those who voted don't use Microsoft Edge.

Only 5 percent of participants expressed an interest in having Edge launch automatically.

The poll is still live, so you can weigh in and share your thoughts. Maybe the results will swing a different way now that it's been highlighted how many people don't want the feature.

Reddit reacts to Edge starting automatically

As you may have expected, Reddit reactions were less subtle than what we saw in our comment section. The top comment in a r/technolgoy thread includes the "F word" with nine U's.

"A better feature would be for it to automatically delete itself after every update," said Reddit users "huggernot."

Another user, "Awkward-Candle-4977," said that "Satya should fire product management team who planned this."

User illucio, who appears to enjoy The Lord of the Rings, said

"The Eye of Redmond has returned to the Shire of my Taskbar unbidden.I shall not yield to this Blue Ring of bloatware!

I will trek through the Mines of Regedit and chant the forbidden PowerShell scripts to cast this digital horcrux into the fires of Mount Doom. I’ll bend over backwards to ensure it is destroyed and can never return.

IT SHALL NOT PASS!"

Over in the r/WindowsCentral subreddit, community members shared thoughts on the feature.

"Boy that'll do wonders for their commitment to roll back all the idiotic decisions they've made with Windows 11 🙄," said user "blueblocker2000." "It's like there is a faction within MS dedicated to undermining any positive change."

Pushing a good browser

Microsoft Edge is a good browser, even though it has become a bit more bloated than it was at launch. But Microsoft is too pushy about Edge.

Tricking people into using Edge or pushing the browser at every turn alienates people who may otherwise be genuinely interested in using the browser.

Then again, Microsoft keeps doing it, so there must be some metric in which the heavy handed tactics are considered successful.

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