If you are a Chrome, Firefox or Opera loyalist, then setting up your browser and using it in soon-to-be-launched Windows 10 isn’t an easy task. The default browser situation on Windows 10 is pretty bad and users would have to go through a series of steps before they can change their default browser, feels Jared Wein, Senior Software Engineer at Mozilla.
Previous version of Windows had an API that allowed users to set their default browser easily. However, now with Windows 10 references to this API now generate an error dialog, asking users to go through a 3 step process.
Jared Wein, Senior Software Engineer at Mozilla, described the issue at his blog,
“Obviously, this message isn’t that helpful. First, users who click on a button to “Make Firefox my Default Browser” now get a dialog telling them what to do instead of doing it for them. Secondly, the message is given in a prompt that blocks interaction with the rest of the computer until the OK button is clicked. Combining this second issue with the lengthy list of steps that the dialog provides makes the situation even worse, as the user will have to memorize this 3-step process before clicking OK”.
Is there an easy method to set default browser in Windows 10
To eliminate this lengthy 3 step process, few developers at Chrome suggested opening the “Settings app” to the Default Applications view. Using this method you can choose the default app for every application.
Another alternative method, was to open a friendlier looking dialog to set the default application as shown below. This method looks far more user friendly.
Whatever other alternatives that could come, would happen only after Windows 10 is launched after June 29th. Microsoft though, can still make changes through Windows 10 upgrade experience. After all, not everyone would like Edge as their first preferred browser.
