It will be harder for Windows 10 users to switch to another default browser, according to Firefox developer Mozilla. In previous Windows versions users could choose for another default browser with a single click. Microsoft made an API available to make it easy for developers.
"This worked well and allowed web browsers like Firefox and Chrome to have a single click within their interface to set themselves as the default browser", said Jared Wein, software engineer at Mozilla.
Wein notes that no extra work was needed by the user after clicking the button within the respective app. In Windows 10 this method no longer works and will cause users to receive an error message with instructions. Users then have to manually follow these instructions in order to change their default browser.
"This experience isn't something that we want to ship to Firefox users", according to Wein.
The engineer contacted the Google Chrome developers to hear what kind of solution they had come up with. The Chrome developers told him they will the menu for default applications. Nevertheless, this still requires the user to perform several action in order to change the default browser. Mozilla will use the same method, but Wein isn't too happy with it, certainly when users update their current Windows version to Microsoft's latest operating system.
"The default browser situation on Windows 10 is pretty bad. There is more work that we can and should do in the Windows 10 upgrade experience to retain users", the engineer argues. Microsoft will make its newEdge browser the default browser in Windows 10.
Windows 10 will be launched on the 29th of July and Windows 7 and 8.1 users will be able to upgrade to the operating system for free.
