Cortana and some of the core apps for Windows 10 use a special URI protocol to mask normal URIs and have them open in Microsoft Edge. There’s no complicated logic or magic to how EdgeDeflector works.

It still works in older Windows versions. Update ( ): EdgeDeflector does not work in Windows 11 build 22494 and newer! Microsoft made changes to Windows to block it.

Understandably, Microsoft wants to push their own web browser. Edge is a portal for Microsoft to push its own features and services, and to collect personal data about people’s browsing habits. I don’t hate Microsoft Edge - maybe you do! - but I do believe users who have bothered to configure a different default web browser should be allowed to keep using that default web browser. The app is tiny and it’s free to install and use. It lets you use your default web browser even when Windows normally force-opens Microsoft Edge instead. Comtraya!ĮdgeDeflector is a tiny new helper program I developed that says “that isn’t cool!” to Windows. Seemingly normal-looking web links all over Windows 10, the Cortana digital assistant, and Microsoft apps like Mail, News, and Your Phone force-open in Microsoft Edge rather than in your system defined default web browser.

Users don’t even need to choose it as their default browser. Microsoft wants its Windows customer base to use its new Microsoft Edge web browser.

Make google chrome default cortana