Microsoft calls Chrome ‘so 2008’ as part of the ongoing browser war

Microsoft really doesn’t want you to use a browser other than Edge, and now the company has jokes.

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What you need to know

Microsoft Edge has a new set of prompts built to convince people to not download Google Chrome. These messages have been spotted in the browser on bothWindows 11and Windows 10 (viaNeowin). This isn’t the first tactic that Microsoft has used to attempt to keep people on Edge, though these messages are a bit different.

There are three prompts that can appear when attempting to download Chrome:

The final message may prove controversial, as Microsoft recently startedtesting out buy now, pay later functionalityin Edge.

The prompts are rendered natively in Edge, making them different from messages you’d see from other websites. We’ve spotted the messages on Windows 11, but they don’t seem to appear on all Windows 10 systems. There are reports of the prompts showing up on Windows 10, however.

Google uses a similar strategy when people navigate to its services within Edge. Opening Gmail, Google Search, and other Google services within Edge will show a prompt to try Google Chrome.

It’s likely that both Google and Microsoft will continue to attempt to convert people to Chrome and Edge, respectively.

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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.