- Users of Google Chrome on Windows 10 and 11 are reporting that they have suddenly found themselves using Microsoft Edge, with their Chrome browsing sessions appearing in Edge.
- This may be due to a bug or an accidentally clicked-through dialog box related to a feature in Edge that imports browsing data from Chrome.
- The setting, called “Import browsing data from Chrome,” continually imports data from Chrome every time Edge is launched, unlike the one-time import offered for Firefox.
- There have been concerns about Microsoft’s tactics for pushing its own browser, including notifications, pop-ups, and full-screen messages promoting Edge and Bing.
- Microsoft has become more aggressive in pushing various subscriptions and features in recent years, making a “clean” Windows install feel less so.
- It remains unclear whether the Edge data-import issue is intentional or a bug, highlighting concerns about Microsoft’s methods for promoting its own software.
Microsoft can pull the same trickery with Firefox users. It’s their OS, after all.
chrome and edge use chromium, so everything is 1:1 compatible. you can’t do the same with firefox: extensions work differently, several options will be different, any custom layouts will be missing so things look different, etc
they can just import bookmarks and open your last session’s tabs.
most extensions will be available too. they could check which ones you have in Firefox and install the ones available for Edge.
there would be some things missing, sure, but most people wouldn’t notice the difference immediately.
Then somebody should make an extension compatible with Firefox and Edge whose sole purpose is to close the browser if it’s running in Edge
If someone had made the active choice to use Firefox, I think they’d notice if it was replaced by Edge…