Microsoft has fastened an issue that resulted in tabs from Google Chrome being imported to Microsoft Edge with out person consent, as noticed by The Verge. Microsoft has saved mum on the state of affairs, making the issued replace the primary time Microsoft has recognized this as an issue, slightly than typical conduct for the world’s third-most-popular browser.
In late January, The Verge Senior Editor Tom Warren reported experiencing the puzzling Edge concern. After updating his laptop, Edge launched with the tabs that Warren most not too long ago utilized in Chrome. He ultimately realized that Edge has a characteristic you may toggle, studying: “All the time have entry to your latest looking information every time you browse on Microsoft Edge.” The setting is reachable in Edge by typing “edge://settings/profiles/importBrowsingData.” Curiously, it permits Edge to import looking information from Chrome each time you open Edge, however information from Firefox can solely be imported manually. Nonetheless, Edge was seizing Chrome tabs with out this setting enabled. Others reported having this downside by way of Microsoft’s assist discussion board and social media, as nicely.
Microsoft didn’t reply to The Verge’s preliminary request for remark, however this week it launched an Edge replace that appears to deal with issues. Microsoft’s launch notes from February 15 say:
Edge has a characteristic that gives an choice to import browser information on every launch from different browsers with person consent. This characteristic’s state may not have been syncing and displaying accurately throughout a number of units. That is fastened.
Microsoft appears to be saying that the standing (enabled or disabled) of Edge’s importing information skill wasn’t syncing accurately throughout folks’s Microsoft units. Nonetheless, this does not clarify the variety of customers who claimed they noticed the issue with out having the characteristic enabled. Microsoft declined Ars Technica’s request for remark.
With this repair, Microsoft is claiming that the conduct was, certainly, unintentional. However that wasn’t a given. Apart from the truth that Microsoft hasn’t offered extra particulars about the issue, the corporate additionally has a historical past of each sneakily and overtly making an attempt to coerce folks into utilizing Edge. You’ll see Microsoft pester you with pop-up messages for those who attempt to obtain Chrome or change your default browser, for instance.
Edge and Chrome are each primarily based on the Chromium looking engine, however Chrome has lengthy maintained an enormous lead over Edge when it comes to market share. International Statcounter information factors to Chrome having 64.41 p.c market share final month, adopted by Safari (18.82 p.c), after which Edge (5.36 p.c). The numbers inch barely extra in Microsoft’s favor when wanting on the US market particularly (9.31 p.c share in January), though Chrome nonetheless dominated (49.06 p.c).
Like many net browsers, Edge has a tough time competing with Chrome, which ties in with different standard Google providers, like Gmail. Equally, Edge promotes Microsoft choices, together with coupons, Microsoft accounts, and, as of not too long ago, Copilot.
Edge pulling Chrome tabs appeared to slot in with pushy methods Microsoft has employed to get folks on its browser and different merchandise, like Microsoft 365. With out extra data, we do not know when Microsoft first knew about Edge’s undesirable tab replication or how lengthy it took to make it cease. Regardless, Microsoft doesn’t intend for tab swiping to be a part of the Edge expertise presently, so a minimum of this specific nuisance ought to be over.