Mozilla plans to use the Firefox installer to set it as the default browser on Windows 11

Mozilla plans to help users set Firefox as their default browser on Windows 11. This will be done for you automatically when you install it on your computer.

This doesn’t sound like a plan, it’s currently being tested in the beta version, so it’s not concrete yet.

This isn’t a new trick in itself, Mozilla has been using its own workaround for several years to get around the rather cumbersome Windows settings, which tend to favor Microsoft Edge. You don’t have to look far to set Firefox as your default browser. Simply open the program preferences or about:preferences and click the “Set as default” button to make it your default browser. It’s a one-click solution.

Mozilla wants to make Firefox the default browser on Windows 11

So what changes? Well, Mozilla wants to skip this manual method. The change proposed in Bug ID 1923868 is titled “Support for setting Firefox as default based on installer attribution campaign.” To apply the option, a set_default_browser attribution campaign is used, i.e. about downloads via a specific channel. What it boils down to is that a user visits Firefox’s download page, downloads the installer, runs it and this is what happens.

When you run the installer, Firefox setup will give you three options:

• Pin Firefox to the taskbar
• Set Firefox as your 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.” If you choose the latter, Firefox will not be set as your default browser. However, if you click “Save and Continue” it will become your default web browser. I’ll skip the rest of the structure as it’s not particularly relevant to the topic. I tested it and yes, it works. Your browser will be changed without further input.

According to Windows report, the new behavior is already in effect as part of Firefox 134 Beta 2. Would you like to try it yourself? All you need to do is download the browser from the official site, run the installer and go through the setup process. Here is the link to the beta version.

The article calls the proposed change a sneaky move by Firefox, and I suppose you could call it that if you weren’t paying attention and just clicked through the screens. For example, if you would rather use a different browser and just wanted to try Firefox and then it was set as the default, I think that would be an unwelcome change. On the other hand, if you switch to Firefox, it will make your work a little easier.

Changing browsers or switching to a third-party browser shouldn’t be a big deal in the first place. Mozilla or other browser makers 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 are actively trying to force users to switch to another browser by displaying banners when they search for a third-party browser. Edge also tries to set itself as the default browser through some recommended settings or through updates. More recently, Edge is secretly trying to import tabs from other browsers.

Such unfair practices have caused great harm to third-party browsers and lost many users. This has actually led to Google Chrome, Vivaldi, Opera, Waterfox and Wavebox forming 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 the reason why Mozilla has not decided to join. There is no level playing field, I say you have to fight it with everything and anything.

What do you think? Is this a sneaky move by Firefox or is this fair?

Summary

Item name

Mozilla plans to use the Firefox installer to set it as the default browser on Windows 11

Description

Mozilla wants the Firefox installer to set itself as the default browser on Windows 11.

author

Ashwin

editor

Ghacks Technology News

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