Microsoft’s Obsession With Edge Continues, Testing Default Auto-Launch on Windows 11 PC Startup

In the past, Microsoft had done everything possible to move Chrome users to Edge, be it pushing an “All in One Browser” banner on Chrome’s download page or putting Chrome at the top of the list on Edge’s import browser data page. Now, the company is going one step further in Windows 11. This time, it appears to be testing a new change that could make Edge a lot harder for you to ignore.

In the latest Edge Beta builds, the browser now shows a prompt suggesting it will automatically open every time you boot your Windows 11 PC. The news comes via Windows Central, which reports that unless you actively click the “No thanks” button in the banner, Edge automatically launches at startup by default. It should be noted that OnMSFT was first to spot this feature in Edge Canary earlier this month. The news outlet then reported that there’s a separate toggle in Edge setting to enable or disable the feature.

Image credit: OnMSFT

Early testing suggests the behavior may not strictly depend on whether Edge is your default browser, though it’s still unclear how broadly this will roll out. Microsoft has allowed users to manually enable startup behavior in the past, but this is something very new.

The worrying part about this test is that it’s opt-out and not opt-in. In simple words, if you don’t want Windows 11 to launch Edge at startup, you are forced to opt out. Interestingly, the changelog of the latest Beta build doesn’t even mention this behavior.

Microsoft’s similar behavior of pushing users towards Edge has drawn criticism from its rivals in the past. Opera, for example, sued Microsoft in Brazil back in July 2025 as part of its global fight for browser choice.

At the time, the company argued that “Microsoft sets Edge as the exclusively pre-installed and default browser across Windows devices and deploys tactics that confuse users and make it artificially difficult for them to access and use alternative browsers. Microsoft’s tactics are unjustified, frustrating to users, and only getting more severe.”

Although the final verdict of the lawsuit isn’t out yet, competitors haven’t been quite happy with the company’s tactics. Now, it’s giving yet another reason for them to be concerned. Since most of us eventually open a web browser, Microsoft seems to be betting on that behavior. That said, the fact that it’s enabled by default unless you decline it could be seen as a subtle push toward Edge adoption.

For now, this feature is reportedly in preview, which means it could change or even disappear based on feedback. But if it sticks, it would hint at a more aggressive approach from Microsoft in keeping Edge front and center on Windows 11.