Microsoft is Installing Office PWAs on Windows 10 Without User Permission
Windows 10 users have gotten used to forced updates, but now it looks like Microsoft is installing PWAs (progressive web apps) without user permission. Not only is Microsoft installing PWA’s without user knowledge or permission, you don’t even get a choice about restarting your PC.
According to various sources including, The Verge, ZDNet, Engadget, Windows Latest, and others, users are reporting that Windows 10 is restarting user PCs to install Office web apps in Edge and also including them in the Windows 10 Start menu. It was thought that this forced installation and restart only affected Windows Insiders using test versions of Windows 10, but it is now verified that regular Windows 10 users are getting the forced-installed PWAs and forced restarts as well.
Until now. installing Office PWAs was optional. But now Windows isn’t asking users’ permission, nor even informing users what is happening. It appears that Microsoft is potentially interrupting important work simply to promote its online productivity suite.
According to IT PRO…
Microsoft began automatically installing Office progressive web apps (PWAs) on some Windows 10 PCs, and reports indicate Microsoft is doing this without user permission.
PWAs are web-based apps that are accessible through browsers, such as Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Microsoft currently offers five Office apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook. Normally, you need a Microsoft account to access these web apps and must install them manually using Edge or Chrome.
Microsoft now appears to be experimenting with a new feature that will add PWAs to your Windows 10 device without approval. This comes after the recent stable update of Microsoft’s Chromium-based Edge browser. As of now, Microsoft is A/B testing on select Windows 10 Insider customers’ devices. However, it could also extend to non-Insider machines.
If launched, the PWAs will open in Microsoft Edge with a minimal browser interface, similar to a native app. Users can also expect shortcuts in the Start menu. Netizens have expressed mixed views on Microsoft’s forced Edge experiment…
Read more of this IT PRO article here.
“If Companies don’t push new features to users, most of the users don’t find out what’s new,” said another user.
If you don’t want to use Office web apps, uninstalling is relatively easy.
How about if I want to try something I will download it my self without Microsoft junking up my PC. If it is any good believe it or not word does get around. I will install it out of the store if I’m interested…D.
Microsoft now appears to be experimenting with a new feature that will add PWAs to your Windows 10 device without approval. This comes after the recent stable update of Microsoft’s Chromium-based Edge browser. As of now, Microsoft is A/B testing on select Windows 10 Insider customers’ devices. However, it could also extend to non-Insider machines.
If launched, the PWAs will open in Microsoft Edge with a minimal browser interface, similar to a native app. Users can also expect shortcuts in the Start menu. Netizens have expressed mixed views on Microsoft’s forced Edge experiment.
They are saying this could happen…D.
Stay away from MY start menu (PWAs shortcuts) and stop giving me options on restarting MY PC if you are going to restart when YOU want to anyway, Microsoft. I don’t care if it does not take but one or two clicks to remove each one (menu shortcuts), I did not seek it out…D.
LibreOffice is looking better and better…..
I had a paid Microsoft Office 2010 account and tonight I got an update to it via Windows Updates. It didn’t ask me or show this update was going to take place ! Just like you wrote in your daily tip.
I saw the 2 other updates that I postponed until Nov 1st. (KB4579311) and (KB4578968) because I was reading those updates were causing pc problems. They did download automatically but I postponed the installing of those 2. I couldn’t find the HIDE them option, most likely cause they are downloaded already. These updates are very upsetting, holding your breath until the pc restarts and then see if it ruins something.
Hi Annabelle. Microsoft is not doing anything to installed MS Office programs. The article references PWAs which means Progressive Web Apps – these are applications that run in your browser – not programs installed on your computer.
Microsoft has oh so plausible replies, which does nothing to alter the fact that they are underhandedly interferring with peoples personal PC’s, without the OWNERS permission, take note here MS, we the buyers are the owners of our computers, enough with your arrogance, ask mus first, we deserve that right…
Half of this has been a (bug) by Microsoft not intended. You need to read this.
https://betanews.com/2020/10/20/microsoft-office-pwa-shortcuts-edge-bug/