Microsoft has started rolling out an update that requires Microsoft 365 users to use their Edge browser when opening links from an email in Outlook or a Teams message. Enterprise IT administrators are furious.
Edge is improving at an impressive rate, more than any other browser. Microsoft successively stripped down its toolbar for a better experience, then integrated a crypto wallet into Edge. At the beginning of April, it was downright DALL-E which was integrated into Edge, so that the image generator was more accessible than ever. Unfortunately, Microsoft makes it difficult to appreciate its browser, especially when we learn that Microsoft Edge shares the URLs of the sites we visit with Bing. In such a new installment, Microsoft will now force Outlook and Teams to open links in its browser.
IT administrators furious with Microsoft
Microsoft informed IT admins last week that Outlook and Teams will soon bypass Windows’ default web browser, opening links in Microsoft Edge instead. Reddit users have posted messages from the Microsoft 365 admin center that reveal how Microsoft plans to roll out this update.
“Azure Active Directory (AAD) and Microsoft (MSA) account web links in the Outlook for Windows app will open in Microsoft Edge in a single view showing the open link side-by-side with the email it originated from“, can we read in a message from Microsoft aimed at IT administrators. While this doesn’t affect the default browser settings in Windows, it’s a whole part of Microsoft 365 and Windows that completely ignores the user’s choice of default browser.
Admins are far from thrilled on Reddit: “It’s anti-competitive, like with Internet Explorer and choosing the default browser“, estimates postbox134 on a discussion thread, referring to the old browser of Microsoft which did not cease being proposed to the users of Windows. justenoughslack, writes: “This has been happening for some time with Outlook on Android. It completely bypasses default browser settings and opens all links in Edge. It’s boring.Another user writes again: “Just what I needed, a dozen more Edge processes running that I didn’t ask for and don’t want.“
Microsoft justifies this change in Outlook and Teams
Microsoft says this change aims to improve the experience between mail and browsing. To reduce task switching and improve workflow and focus, by opening browser links in Microsoft Edge, the original message in Outlook can be displayed alongside web content for easy access, reading, and replying to the message. This allows “to see both at the same time in the same place“, without the need to switch between applications.
It is also an attempt to create an ecosystem of Microsoft products: “At Microsoft, we strive to create the best customer experience for all of our products..” Too bad if user preferences are ignored.
Source : Neowin
