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General Discussions

kingfish
MVP
‎10-17-2020 09:01 PM

Windows 10 is installing Office web apps without asking permission

Mandatory Windows 10 updates aren’t new, but the latest example is raising a few hackles. Windows Latest, ZDNet, The Verge and users are reporting that Windows 10 is force-restarting PCs to install links to Office web apps that launch in Edge, including in the Start menu. And despite initial reports, this isn’t limited to Insider members — people using standard Windows 10 releases have seen the change as well.

The apps take up no storage or other resources. Until now, though, installing Office web apps was optional. Windows isn’t asking for your permission, let alone informing you of what’s about to happen. Microsoft is potentially disrupting work or other important tasks to promote its online productivity suite.

We’ve asked Microsoft for comment.

While the lack of informed consent is clearly the main issue, The Verge noted that this also trivializes mandatory updates. Microsoft instituted them in no small part to ensure users had the latest security fixes and prevent widespread malware outbreaks. If your Windows PC reboots itself to pitch products, you might become wary of those updates or even veer away from Windows altogether. It also implies that you don’t have as much control over your system as you might have thought.

Windows 10 is installing Office web apps without asking permission 

2 Replies
black_zion
MVP
‎10-18-2020 09:39 AM

Don't forget though that Google does the same thing. To quote Tech Radar:

black_zion
In response to black_zion
MVP
‎10-18-2020 01:36 PM

Though the more you think about it, it's not a bad thing. Microsoft released an Office app in the Microsoft Store a while back that, if you don't have an Office key in your Microsoft account or Office 2019/2016 installed, launches the web versions with no ads aside from the occasional upgrade nag. It's a lot better than Microsoft used to do with the Office Demo which would take up quite a bit of space, especially on laptops, and be quite naggy.

Honestly though they should have just installed the Office App with Windows 10 2004 and made it unremovable, would have done the same thing without all the blowback.