Edge for Android Forces Default Browser Requirement for New Themes

Microsoft is pushing users to make Edge their default browser on Android in order to access new image themes in testing. The requirement appears only in the Edge Canary build and may not roll out to general availability.

The change was spotted by Leo Varela, who tracks updates and changes to Edge and other browsers. Microsoft has added new image themes in Edge Canary for Android that can be used as a background on the New Tab Page (NTP), but only if users set Edge as their default browser.

This is not the first time Microsoft has tried to convince people to use Edge. The company has a history of trying to make its browser more appealing, including adding unique features and making it more difficult for users to switch their default browser on Windows 11.