How about we stop this, Microsoft?
We’re no strangers to the many attempts Microsoft has made to lock down Edge users. Everything from uncomfortable popups, to confusing settings, and everything in between. Leaving Microsoft Edge for another browser is possible, Microsoft would rather not have you not switch, and it’s becoming more and more clear by the day. The latest strategy now seems to be exposing abandonment issues.
Some users have spotted an awkward pop-up when trying to download Google Chrome from Microsoft Edge. The pop-up itself is a survey that asks users why, exactly, they are leaving Microsoft Edge. It seems to be Microsoft’s last-ditch layer for trying to get you to reconsider your decision since Bing already bugs you about it when you search for Google Chrome. You can ditch Bing and instead use Google to download the browser, so you can get rid of that one, but since this one pops up on the download page of Google Chrome, you can’t really avoid seeing this. And, since Edge is basically the main browser for installing other browsers on Windows 11 (since you really have no other way to install one), if it rolls out in a widespread manner, most people will still see this regardless.
For now, it looks like Google Chrome is the only rival browser that triggers this survey, which has a list of options such as “it’s too slow” or “I can’t search Google easily.” Presumably, the answers in this survey will be forwarded to Microsoft’s feedback team and might even be taken into account to improve the browser, but it’s still a passive-aggressive attempt to get users to stick to Edge instead of switching browsers. By being constantly reminded of all the great stuff that Edge features, and by being reminded that Microsoft doesn’t want you to leave, Microsoft hopes that you will cease your attempts to change browsers. Frankly, at least for me (and for probably a few of you), it has the exact opposite effect.
This is rolling out now, so if you see a survey right alongside your Chrome download page the next time you attempt downloading it through Edge, this is probably it.
Source: PCWorld
