Windows 10 June Update Sparks User Backlash Over Bing, Edge, and Privacy Concerns

Despite standing on the edge of its operational twilight, Windows 10 has once again found itself at the center of controversy, thanks to a June update that injects Microsoft’s Bing search engine and Edge browser deeper into the experience—much to the ire of users who prefer other browsers and search tools. This update, labeled KB5060533 for Windows 10 22H2, serves as both a microcosm of Microsoft’s recent desktop strategy and a telling sign of the company’s ongoing priorities—even as Windows 10 approaches its end of official support.

A Closer Look at Windows 10’s June Update​

With the rollout of KB5060533, users were greeted with two key changes: a subtle but welcome tweak bringing back seconds to the clock display in the taskbar’s calendar panel, and a more controversial integration of Bing-powered public event reminders into that same panel.

The Return of the Seconds Counter​

For years, advanced Windows users have lamented the loss of a native seconds display in the system tray clock. In the June update, this feature quietly returned: click on the time in the calendar panel, and you’ll now see hours, minutes, and seconds tick by in real time. For anyone who values granularity—be it precise timekeeping for work or personal productivity—this restoration drew applause.
It’s a small detail, but emblematic of the kind of thoughtful tweaks Windows power users appreciate. However, the year-long absence of such a basic function leaves many wondering why it was omitted in the first place, only to return at the eleventh hour of Windows 10’s mainstream life.

Bing and Edge: Sneaky Expansion, Not-so-Subtle Motives​

The more contentious aspect of this update lies at the bottom of the calendar flyout. Previously, if your calendar was devoid of forthcoming events or reminders, this space was simply blank. Now, it’s filled with “popular public events”—everything from National Corn on the Cob Day to more broadly observed holidays. On the surface, this may seem like a whimsical, even useful, addition for users looking for inspiration or an excuse to celebrate.
The change might appear innocuous until you click on one of these events. That’s when Windows 10 triggers a Bing web search for further information—browser choice be damned, results always open in Microsoft Edge, regardless of your default search engine or browser settings. This tightly bound synergy between Windows, Bing, and Edge is no accident. It’s the latest chapter in Microsoft’s ongoing effort to drive traffic and engagement to its own platforms, often to the irritation of users who have gone out of their way to designate alternatives.

A History of Bundling: Microsoft’s Longstanding Pattern​

To put this move in perspective, it’s crucial to recognize Microsoft’s track record. The company has previously faced regulatory scrutiny and consumer backlash for similar tactics—recall the bundling of Internet Explorer into Windows in the late ’90s, which eventually prompted antitrust actions on both sides of the Atlantic.
Edge itself, despite its technically solid core—especially after the Chromium switch—has struggled against the entrenched dominance of Chrome and Firefox, for both browser and search. Statcounter’s market data shows Edge holding only a moderate share of global desktop users, with Bing trailing far behind Google as a preferred search engine. By inserting these services deeper into the Windows workflow, Microsoft may hope to change its fortunes—but at what cost?

Microsoft’s Reputational Risk: Why Now?​

There is a particularly bitter irony to making these changes so late in Windows 10’s lifecycle. Microsoft has already announced that Windows 10 will reach its official end of support in October 2025 unless users pay for extended security updates—a policy that essentially marks the operating system’s “death.” Why, then, would Redmond risk reputational backfire by introducing intrusive, easily noticed promotional features at this late stage?
Several factors likely inform this decision:

• User Retention: Data from multiple analytics firms indicates millions still cling to Windows 10, hesitant or unable to upgrade to Windows 11 due to hardware constraints or personal preference.
• Extended Monetization: Those who remain on Windows 10 beyond its official support cutoff will either pay for extended updates or, more commonly, continue using an unpatched OS—potentially exposing themselves to security risks.
• Platform Stickiness: By further entrenching Edge and Bing in users’ daily workflows, Microsoft stands to retain a larger slice of the search and browser markets even as its OS transitions accelerate.

While internally logical, these justifications overlook a real danger: the erosion of trust. Microsoft’s reluctance to disclose this calendar tweak in official patch notes—describing the update merely as a “rich calendar experience”—is both disingenuous and risky, especially for a company striving to repair its sometimes adversarial relationship with its power users.

Community Outrage and User Sentiment​

Within hours of the update’s release, technology forums and social media channels crackled with outrage. The Windows enthusiast community, long vocal about privacy, choice, and transparency, quickly dissected the calendar panel’s new behavior. Many threads juxtaposed the minor “win” of the seconds display with the larger loss of autonomy over search and browser preferences.
It’s not just fringe users who are upset. These subtle yet impactful UI nudges have a way of souring the experience for even mainstream Windows 10 users, many of whom have invested time and energy tailoring their environments to suit their workflows. The chorus of complaints is echoed by technology pundits and outlets like TechRadar, which labeled the move “sneaky,” and highlighted the unwelcome override of user defaults as a core point of frustration.

Critical Analysis: Strengths and Merits​

Despite the backlash, there’s nuance here. Let’s consider what works in Microsoft’s favor:

Customization and Real-Time Data​

• Public Events Integration: For less tech-savvy users or those who enjoy “holiday of the day” reminders, surfacing public events could provide moments of delight or pique curiosity—especially during slower workdays.
• Real-Time Information Access: For users who do want to know more about a given public event, being able to click through directly rather than execute a manual search is undeniably convenient.

Incremental OS Refinement​

• Restoration of Features: The return of the seconds counter, while overdue, is a user-centric improvement. It signals, albeit faintly, that Microsoft is still capable of listening—even to small but vocal segments of its user base.
• Update Reliability: Despite the controversial changes, KB5060533 has not been broadly associated with system instability or widespread bugs, based on early user reports and lack of red-flag coverage from Windows-focused outlets.

Key Risks and Weaknesses​

However, these “pluses” are outmatched by the potential downsides:

Undermining User Choice​

• Forced Default Browser/Engine: By hardwiring Bing and Edge into workflows—even when users have explicitly chosen third-party options—Microsoft undermines confidence in its respect for user autonomy. Forcing users to use unwanted services breeds resentment, not loyalty.
• Non-Transparent Update Practices: Burying significant UI changes under vague terminology in patch notes erodes transparency. Users expect, and deserve, clear communication about what updates will change, especially when behavior or privacy is at stake.

Regulatory and Legal Landmines​

• Potential Antitrust Issues: Regulators remain keenly aware of major platform holders leveraging operating systems to crowd out rivals. Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and other legal frameworks are designed to curb precisely this sort of vertical integration when it disadvantages competitors or consumers. Microsoft’s maneuver risks renewed scrutiny from both EU and US watchdogs.

Long-Term User Distrust​

• Erosion of Goodwill: With Windows 10 soon off life support, many users are already wary of Microsoft’s intentions or concerned about the cost of extended support. Moves like this only sharpen skepticism, potentially poisoning the well for Windows 11 or future updates.

Wider Context: Windows 10’s Lingering Twilight​

As of the most recent market analyses, a substantial percentage of desktops worldwide still run Windows 10—estimates range from 62% to 70% of the total Windows market share, depending on the source. The relatively slow adoption of Windows 11 is attributable to several factors:

• Strict Hardware Requirements: Windows 11’s TPM module and newer CPU requirements have locked out millions of devices that remain perfectly functional.
• UI and Workflow Changes: Not all users have welcomed Windows 11’s new layout or removed features, preferring the familiarity and flexibility of Windows 10.
• Enterprise Lag: Corporate fleet upgrades are slow and expensive. Many organizations will pay for extra security updates for years before committing to major migrations.

Within this context, Microsoft’s willingness to update the user experience—however ham-fistedly—takes on new light. The company cannot afford to ignore a massive, semi-captive user base, especially as its “as-a-service” model for Windows depends on continuous engagement.

Comparisons With Other Platforms​

Microsoft is far from alone in promoting its own services. Apple, for instance, gives Safari and Spotlight pride-of-place in macOS, while Google’s Chrome OS is inseparable from its web ecosystem. The difference, however, is that Apple and Google tend to be more up front about their design philosophy and rarely override explicit user choices for browsers or search in the same intrusive manner.
Moreover, user perception and historical precedent differ: Apple and Google have cultivated expectations of “it just works” simplicity, while Windows users have long been accustomed to deep system customization and freedom of choice.

What Should Users Do?​

For those who find the calendar panel’s new behavior disruptive or intrusive, there are a few potential workarounds, though effectiveness may vary:

• Group Policy Edits or Registry Tweaks: Some Windows enthusiasts advocate for editing Group Policy settings or the system registry to blunt Microsoft’s nudge toward Bing and Edge, but such modifications are not officially supported, may be reversed by later updates, and are risky for inexperienced users.
• Third-Party Utilities: Utilities like EdgeDeflector (now often blocked by Microsoft) previously allowed system-wide redirection of links away from Edge, but Microsoft continues to crack down on such tools.
• Feedback Channels: While cynics may dismiss their utility, Microsoft’s Feedback Hub is still monitored, albeit selectively. Continued pressure might move the needle in the long term.

In the end, most users will simply accept or ignore this change—grudgingly, perhaps, but with little recourse.

Windows 10’s Legacy—and Its Last Lessons​

What does this moment tell us about the state of Windows and Microsoft’s desktop vision? On one hand, the company continues to iterate and support Windows 10, well past the point where most major players would sunset a legacy OS. On the other, it continues to risk the goodwill of loyal users with self-serving product pushes—even when those users are on the cusp of transition.
The integration of Bing and Edge into even minor Windows workflows signals a willingness to prioritize ecosystem stickiness over user preference. It’s a risky bet, especially with growing regulatory scrutiny and a wary tech-savvy user base.
Yet, this controversy also underlines a reality: even in a product’s final months, seemingly minor changes can have outsized impacts—on user trust, corporate reputation, and the day-to-day experience of millions.

Conclusion: The Fine Line Between Feature and Fumble​

Microsoft’s most recent Windows 10 update is a microcosm of the company’s strengths and enduring flaws. In restoring the seconds counter, the update demonstrates attentiveness (albeit belated) to user feedback and workflow detail. In forcibly integrating Bing and Edge, it reveals a willingness to place corporate objectives above user satisfaction—even at the cost of goodwill.
As Windows 10 nears end-of-life, its user base remains vast and vocal. Microsoft would do well to treat these users with transparency, respect, and genuine choice—not as passive endpoints for “engagement” metrics. Otherwise, the company risks carrying old reputational wounds into its next era—long after Windows 10 fades from the desktop stage, but not from user memory.

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Source: TechRadar Microsoft pumps the zombie corpse of Windows 10 with Bing as one final insult