In a surprising move, Microsoft has started testing out some new features that could potentially limit the capabilities of their Edge browser on Windows 11 systems that aren’t correctly activated or licensed. This decision has sparked quite a discussion among tech enthusiasts and experts, who are debating whether such restrictions are appropriate or not.
For those who may not be familiar, Windows 11 is Microsoft’s latest operating system, and Edge is their proprietary web browser that comes pre-installed on Windows devices. When you purchase a new computer or device with Windows pre-installed, you must activate the Windows system to access all its features and functionality.
However, with these new tests, Microsoft seems to be exploring the idea of potentially limiting or reducing the capabilities of the Edge browser on Windows 11 systems that haven’t been adequately activated or licensed. This could mean that users running an unactivated version of Windows 11 may not be able to access certain features or functionalities within the Edge browser.
Restricting Microsoft Edge settings
In the trial version of Edge Canary, a new feature called “msEdgeLockSettingsInNonActivatedOS” has been introduced. This feature restricts access to specific Edge settings when the Windows operating system is not activated. Users trying to access these settings will see a message indicating that specific customizations are limited due to the lack of Windows activation.
The latest restriction in Edge Canary impacts the “When Edge starts” setting, which prevents users from selecting the page that appears when they open the browser. Although only this setting is currently locked, there’s a chance Microsoft might impose further limitations in future updates.
Microsoft’s move to block settings in Edge for users with non-activated Windows has faced criticism. Many question why only Windows users are affected, especially since Edge is available on Mac and mobile devices as well. This decision might prompt users to switch to other browsers like Chrome or Firefox.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is testing a new feature in Edge that allows users to set a maximum limit on the amount of RAM the browser can use. This feature could be particularly helpful for users with low-end PCs that struggle with Edge’s resource usage.
With Microsoft Edge already having a small market share, these actions could potentially further decrease its popularity. We’ll have to wait and see if Microsoft decides to roll out these features to all users.
