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You Can't Change the Default Browser or Switch To Google Search In Windows 10 S (betanews.com)

BrianFagioli quotes a report from BetaNews: If developers do start leveraging the Windows Store, the Windows 10 S experiment could take off, as users won't find a need to install legacy programs. This will largely depend on web browsers being available there, as many users dislike Edge. Thankfully, Microsoft is allowing third-party browser installs from the Windows Store. Unfortunately, there is a big catch -- you cannot change the default. Buried in the Windows 10 S FAQ, the following question is presented -- "Are there any defaults that I cannot change on my Windows 10 S PC?" Microsoft provides the answer: "Yes, Microsoft Edge is the default web browser on Microsoft 10 S. You are able to download another browser that might be available from the Windows Store, but Microsoft Edge will remain the default if, for example, you open an .htm file. Additionally, the default search provider in Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer cannot be changed."

3 of 302 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Meanwhile, somewhere in Europe.. by MrDoh! · · Score: 5, Informative

    Yes, it appears you can. On Chrome on Windows, under settings, there's the Search Engines option to change/add as you want, with the defaults, all configurable.

    On Android, it appears it's not quite so flexible, I can only see;
    Google,
    Yahoo,
    Bing,
    Ask,
    AOL.
    But it's there. So looks like Google's offering a choice in Chrome/Android.

    --
    Waiting for an amusing sig.
  2. Re:Meanwhile, somewhere in Europe.. by gnoshi · · Score: 5, Informative

    You can change the default search engine in Chrome for Android (and iOS): e.g. https://www.technorms.com/4060...
    You can install other browsers on Android and set them to be default to open URLs (actually, you're prompted for which browser to use the first time after installing another browser then open a URL).
    You can turn off Google Location Services: e.g. https://support.google.com/nex...

    Can't argue with the Skyhook thing though (e.g. https://www.theverge.com/2011/...)

  3. Re:Meanwhile, somewhere in Europe.. by DanJ_UK · · Score: 4, Informative

    Apple does not sell more smartphones than any other company, Samsung does.

    --
    - Dan