Why does my default browser keep resetting to Edge

I am running Windows 10 Pro Version 22H2
Installed on ‎12/‎20/‎2023
OS build 19045.4353
Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19056.1000.0

My browser of choice is Opera; however every time I reset my default browser to Opera, within a day or so, the default browser gets reset to MS Edge.

Why does this happen? How can I prevent this from happening?

Thanks,
Ken

Thanks for your response, Dalchina.

I did change the default browser in SETTINGS/APPS/DEFAULT APPS/WEB BROWSER. I also changed all defaults I could to Opera in the Protocols and File Type settings as well.

My SWAG is that when I receive a Windows Update, the defaults get reset to Edge. I'd like to block that.

It appears that MSEdgeRedirect may be the solution. I will try that next.

When I noticed that Edge was again opening whenever I clicked a link, I checked in the Settings and all the settings that I had previously changed to Opera had been set back to Edge.

I know that some links are hard-wired to open Edge, like the News widget. It appears that MSEdgeRedirect will correct that as well.

I will report back when I've had a chance to try out MSEdgeRedirect.

Thanks again,
Ken

MSEdgeRedirect is meant to handle the exceptional cases. If the basic default is Edge, that will be respected and MSEdgeRedirect will not help with that.

Thanks for your response, Dalchina.

Not sure what you mean by "basic default." My default browser is intended to be Opera but it keeps getting reset to Edge. Isn't the purpose of MSEdgeRedirect to intercept any calls to Edge and redirect them to the default browser (even the ones that can't be changed in the Default Apps settings screens)?

Ken

For info, changing the text colour to light yellow against a white background makes it almost impossible to read.... so I gave up. :)

RickC said:

For info, changing the text colour to light yellow against a white background makes it almost impossible to read....so I gave up. :)

Hey RickC,

Sorry for the invisible text. I usually have my browser in dark mode and I wanted the quote to stand out. I'll be aware of this in the future.

Many thanks,
Ken

- - - Updated - - -

dalchina said:

Basic default - the standard one in Settings.

To be 100% clear- if you set MS Edge as your default (or it becomes set as your default in your case) - MSEdgeRedirect will not help you. Why? Because it redirects calls to Edge to your default browser. If your default browser IS Edge- that's what will be used.

Conversely... if your default browser is, say, Opera, MSEdgeRedirect will redirect calls to Edge e.g. from News and Interests to Opera.

Have you ever removed any elements of Win 10 that are normally regarded as part of it?
Or applied tweaks or hacks that might be relevant?

Have you actually shut down your PC at any time between setting Opera as default and any next update?

Thanks for clarifying, Dalchina.

I think MSEdgeRedirect is working as I intended it. After I set default browser back to Opera, the News and Interests links open Opera now. I'll just have to wait and see if ANYTHING changes the default browser back to Edge.

Funny though, MSERedir... settings don't even offer Opera as the intended redirect. Some of them offer "Default" as a choice, and I chose that when offered.

And I have heard in several instances where updates have reset the default browser back to Edge from others IS reported, including Steve Gibson's podcast, "Security Now," and in newsletters from ZDNet, CNet and PCWorld.

I restart my PC at least once daily, sometimes more. I don't think I've applied any tweaks or hacks or removed any essential Windowss components.

Many thanks to you for your suggestions and info.

Ken