Microsoft blocks tool that redirects Edge links in Windows 11, but there are alternative...

[midian182]

A hot potato: We all know that Microsoft isn’t afraid to use aggressive tactics when it comes to pushing people onto its products. Redmond’s stance was clearly illustrated when it recently started blocking a tool called EdgeDeflector in Windows 11 that redirects links away from the company's browser and to the user’s preferred option.

As most Windows users know, links in Microsoft apps such as Cortana and Windows Search are redirected to Edge, even after setting an alternative web browser as the system default. In Windows 11, this extends to the Widgets pane, and Microsoft makes switching browsers more difficult in its latest OS.

To circumvent this annoyance, Daniel Aleksandersen created EdgeDeflector, a free tool that intercepts microsoft-edge:// links and changes them back to regular https:// that open in your default browser.

But it appears that Microsoft didn’t appreciate Aleksandersen’s efforts. The creator explains that Windows 11 build 22494, released on November 3, makes it impossible to set anything other than Edge as the protocol handler for the microsoft-edge:// protocol.

Aleksandersen said that working around the new limitation would introduce destructive changes to Windows, but a different developer, Robert Maehl, has stepped into the void with MSEdgeRedirect. He explains that the tool “filters and passes the command line arguments of Microsoft Edge processes into your default browser” instead of hijacking the microsoft-edge:// handler, which should stop future Windows updates from borking it.

You can grab the MSEdgeRedirect app from GitHub. It just needs to be running (in the system tray) to work as intended. Maehl also plans to replace Bing links with a user’s preferred search engine in a future version of the tool.

h/t: xda-developers

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https://www.techspot.com/news/92219-microsoft-blocks-tool-redirects-edge-links-but-there.html

 

[Theinsanegamer]

If there were any sense left in the world, MS would be hit with a nice fat antitrust lawsuit over this.

 

[Geralt]

I found a simpler solution: I removed Edge completely. No more MS crap in my PC.

 

[dangh]

I found a simpler solution: I removed Edge completely. No more MS crap in my PC.

That's a nice solution, I think I will take it one step further and just remove Windows...
srsly, MS simply loves to piss people off.

 

[Dimitriid]

This needs to be another anti-trust suit against Microsoft.

I said another because in case you didn't know, they already tried this and lost in court with Internet Explorer but apparently that wasn't enough for them so they need some more punishment.

 

[stansfield]

Also have removed Edge entirely from windows 11, takes a little patience due to
its intrusiveness but now rid of it and back to Opera.

 

[Burty117]

I guess this goes to show the original fine for doing the exact same thing with Internet Explorer wasn't harsh enough.

Time to hit them even harder if they don't back down. But I assume this time Microsoft has got power over the people who would fine them so nothing will happen.

I wish there was a way to speed up the maturity of Linux or a company prepared to really take on Microsoft and Windows.

 

[BadThad]

MS absolutely loves taking over your browser. I have been fighting a war of Edge versus Acrobat reader for months. I set Acrobat to open PDF files and Windows 10 changes back to Edge whenever it feels like it. I have literally seen it do it right before my eyes!

 

[m4a4]

Sounds like I'm holding back on Win11 for a lot longer than I thought lol

 

[Uncle Al]

CORRECTION ..... they do care and they show it by screwing the user!

 

[Geralt]

A combination of EVERYTHING SEARCH, TAKE OWNERSHIP and WISE FORCE DELETE does the trick!

I did it by using the command prompt and following these instructions: https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-uninstall-microsoft-edge

It is also valid for Windows 11.

 

[Geralt]

MS absolutely loves taking over your browser. I have been fighting a war of Edge versus Acrobat reader for months. I set Acrobat to open PDF files and Windows 10 changes back to Edge whenever it feels like it. I have literally seen it do it right before my eyes!

That's why I fully removed Edge. I cannot constantly be fighting the tricks by MS.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

I guess this goes to show the original fine for doing the exact same thing with Internet Explorer wasn't harsh enough.

Time to hit them even harder if they don't back down. But I assume this time Microsoft has got power over the people who would fine them so nothing will happen.

I wish there was a way to speed up the maturity of Linux or a company prepared to really take on Microsoft and Windows.

Just issue the same fine with an additional two zeros added. Should do the trick.

 

[passwordistaco]

This needs to be another anti-trust suit against Microsoft.

I said another because in case you didn't know, they already tried this and lost in court with Internet Explorer but apparently that wasn't enough for them so they need some more punishment.

IIRC, the consent decree expired in 2012, coincidentally about the same time as the release of Win8.

 

[VaRmeNsI]

I hope Valve can make Linux a viable replacement by 2025.

 

[lazer]

I found a simpler solution: I removed Edge completely. No more MS crap in my PC.

how did you do that? I have win11 and can't uninstall it....

 

[Tyr Antilles]

Yes. Solution is: uninstall EDGE completely or if you still want to keep it just block it on firewall.

 

[PinothyJ]

Microsoft. Microsoft! You were successfully sued for THIS VERY THING back in the day. Short memory must have a, short memory!

 

[lazer]

Microsoft. Microsoft! You were successfully sued for THIS VERY THING back in the day. Short memory must have a, short memory!

when we were kids, we played Monopoly, Micro$lop is still trying to win with their forcing a Monopoly on us.....

 

[cliffordcooley]

That is about right. MS will not fix there crap. And they block tools that will.

 

[Tyr Antilles]

I am amazed that such big company as Microsoft that is supposedly ruled of fairly intelligent people, fail to realize how much HATE things like this trigger among Windows users. The hit in company image is in my opinion way bigger then the "benefit" they get because some normal users are forced to open links on their Edge Browser. Those normal users usually use as their main browser what their IT proficient friends that set up their computers are telling them to use anyway.