Mozilla plans to use Firefox's installer to set it as the default browser on Windows 11
Mozilla has a plan to help users set Firefox as the default browser on Windows 11. It will do it automatically for you when you install it on your computer.
That doesn't sound like a plan, well it is currently being tested in the beta version, so it is not concrete yet.
This isn't a new trick per se, Mozilla has used its own workaround for a couple of years, to bypass Windows' rather cumbersome settings that tend to favor Microsoft Edge. You don't need to dig deep to set Firefox as your default browser, just open the program's settings or about:preferences, and click on the Make Default button to make it your default browser. It's a one-click solution.
Mozilla wants to set Firefox as your default browser on Windows 11
So, what's changing? Well, Mozilla wants to skip this manual method. The change that has been proposed under Bug ID 1923868 is captioned "Support setting Firefox as default based on installer attribution campaign". It will use a set_default_browser attribution campaign to apply the option, i.e. via downloads through a specific channel. It boils down to this, a user visit's Firefox's download page, gets the installer, runs it, and this happens.
When you run the installer, Firefox's set-up presents you with three options:
- Pin Firefox to taskbar
- Set Firefox as default browser
- Import from previous browser
All three options are enabled by default. There is a large button that says "Save and continue", and a smaller button that says "Skip this step". Choosing the latter will not set Firefox as the default browser. But if you click on "save and continue", it becomes your default web browser. I'll skip the rest of the set-up because it is not particularly relevant to the topic. I tested it, and yes it works. Your browser is changed without any further input.
Windows Report says that the new behavior is already in effect, as part of Firefox 134 beta 2. Want to try it yourself? All you need to do is download the browser from the official page, run the installer, and go through the set-up process. Here's the link to the Beta version.
The article calls the planned change as a sneaky move on Firefox's part, and I suppose you could call it that if you weren't paying attention and just clicked through the screens. For example, if you preferred using a different browser and just wanted to try Firefox, and ended up with it being set as the default, I guess it would be an unwelcome change. On the other hand, if you were switching to Firefox, well it makes things a bit easier for you.
Changing the browser or setting a third-party browser shouldn't be a big deal in the first place. Mozilla or any other browser maker wouldn't have to resort to such tricks, if Microsoft hadn't made it difficult to change the default browser on Windows 11.
Microsoft Edge and Bing actively tries to coerce users from switching to a different browser by displaying banners when looking up a third party browser. Edge also tries to set itself as the default browser via some recommended settings, or through updates. More recently, Edge sneakily tries to import tabs from other browsers.
Such unfair practices have caused a lot of harm to third-party browsers, they lose a lot of users. This has actually led to Google Chrome, Vivaldi, Opera, Waterfox and Wavebox to form a group called the Browser Choice Alliance, to fight against Microsoft Edge. Mozilla Firefox and Brave Browser are not part of the group, and this upcoming change could be why Mozilla didn't decide to join. It is not a level playing field, I say fight it with anything and everything.
What do you think? Is this a sneaky move from Firefox, or is it fair ?
doing bundled installations or changing settings in the installation process… reminds me so much of Acrobat Reader or Flash and i hated those!
It’s not okay with me to set my default browser; that is my choice which I am capable of implementing. I switch between Firefox and Brave because of Firefox’s tremendous use of memory as compared to Brave, but Brave has annoyances like not saving/snapping window position or going back to where I was when closing a tab. The last time I had to go back to Firefox, Brave would not display any web pages, only blank pages. I reinstalled and did various things but nothing helped. So I left it alone for a couple of months, tried it again, and it had fixed itself. The difference between 34% memory use and 66% is significant to me, and the primary disappointment with Firefox.
Sounds like a you problem. I have 128GB memory and could not care less how much my browser uses. It’s nearly 2025, memory is cheap.
I think it’s good as long as it’s not enabled by default (the checkbox) because most users don’t read and just click Next.
I use Brave, Mullvad and Floorp. None of them ever asked me to switch my default browser.
They fixed it, but Brave used to constantly nag me with pop ups to set their browser as default every time I started it up.
I’d like it better if there was a check box for “do not make changes to my system” instead of what is seen in the screenshot but at least it’s asking what you want to do.
But as others mention, M.$ will probably set Edge back to default and set Bing as the default Search engine in it.
The latter happens to me every few months, that is my defualt search engine and home page in Edge get changed from what I set them to, back to the M.$ defaults, without my permission or knowledge.
I don’t want that any browser would decide by itself to be the default browser.
My choice, my decision, my freedom to decide in my f******* computer.
I am so tired that MS decides all day long everything…
“What do you think? Is this a sneaky move from Firefox, or is it fair ?”
I don’t see the problem since I’ve encountered the same type of window during setup for other programs [mind blank–can’t think of example].
All the situation calls for is either looking for the “skip this” or unchecking a few boxes. Mozilla isn’t “forcefully” setting FF as default; it’s a simple question/answer window. For some, it could be convenient because it offers to import bookmarks and extensions?
If suddenly FF is the “default” browser, one can easily complete a quick online search to learn how to set a default browser. Could be a great learning experience as well!
This is browser whack-a-mole. Plus, we’re looking at it all wrong — from the perspective of which capitalist gets an advantage. Instead, let’s consider what’s best for users.
Allow the OS manufacturer to install its own browser by default. Apple and Microsoft have already integrated their second-rate browsers into their OS’s, so big whoop. If the EU and consumer rights people want to get involved, it should be to require an OS setting to choose a browser / email client / calender app / etc AND to not override a user’s selection on OS updates or (re)installations of ANYONE’s browser. And if users are so clueless about their many browser options after 30 years of browsers, it’s their own damn fault if they keep a second-rate default.
Eventually Microsoft is going to get involved by accidentally making Internet Explore the default browser :-P
This is pointless. MS will find a way to change it back to Edge. Like they always do.
They could use Microsofts tactics: Just rename the “set Firefox as default browser” to “Start using Firefox (Recommended)”. Maybe even move that pre-checked option out of sight so one has to scroll down to see it. Make sure the Save and continue button stays up there and that it becomes unclickable if one happens to find and changes the default browser option. Or make the blue checkmark and text very light blue so it looks like a pre-checked and non-clickable alternative. Also, if Firefox isn’t the default browser, show popups about it everytime a user opens up any website. Wanna bookmark a site? Make Firefox your default browser.
You know, be an asshole. Just like Microsoft and Google.
What Mozilla SHOULD do, is to include uBlock Origin in the installer. A nice little pre-checked option “Get rid of ads?”, then the next window where one can set Firefox as default is quite a lot more appealing.
Let’s face it: That’s Firefox main appeal. Without uBlock Origin there wouldn’t be any browser war for Mozilla.
No they should not. It’s good that most users get served ads, that’s keep the heat away from the rest of us who are more tech savvy.
@Bobo, well said! However they won’t listen, they won’t ever learn neither.
Two evils do not make one good. Advertise for BrokenUrl instead.
Indeed BrokenUrl is recommended, and to advertise, or promote it :
Ghacks article :
https://www.ghacks.net/2020/08/31/brokenurl-prevents-urls-being-opened-in-the-default-browser-automatically/
BrokenUrl :
https://brokenevent.com/projects/brokenurl
“The BrokenURL is a Windows URL router. When something tries to open an URL, the BrokenURL will ask you whether to and in which exactly browser to open it. Also it allows you to open it in private tab of selected browser, without any cookies and any spy extensions – on your discretion.”
A must-have.
BrokenURL sounds great. Anything like it for Linux or Mac?
Would have been worth mentioning that indeed BrokenURL runs only on Windows Vista to 11.
Not being precise on the supported OSs is relevant of Windows being considered as obvious, which it is not or shouldn’t be even if it is the boss on the market place. It’s not with such a subconsciousness that I’ll ever switch to Linux (or Mac, who ever knows) though it is, rationally, my intention…
I have no idea of a similar application for Linux or Mac.
I don’t see the point in doing this. I think the vast majority of the users who install Firefox on their computers do so with the intention of setting it as default.
@Zoo
This is the only correct comment.