Microsoft backtracks on plans to switch search from Chrome to Bing for Office 365 customers

Microsoft has announced that it will not automatically change Chrome users' default search engine to Bing as part of their installation of Office 365 ProPlus. This decision comes after the company faced backlash from customers and IT administrators who were unhappy with the change.

Microsoft had originally planned to roll out a browser extension that would change Chrome's default search engine to Bing for Office 365 ProPlus users starting this month. The company claimed this was to enable Microsoft's search feature, which integrates web and organizational search results into the browser.

However, many customers and IT administrators felt that this was an intrusive and unwanted measure that would disrupt their existing settings and preferences. Some even called it malware or adware and looked for ways to block or uninstall the extension.

In response to the feedback, Microsoft revised its approach and made the extension optional rather than required. Users who want to use Microsoft Search with Bing will need to choose to install the extension, either through the Office 365 ProPlus installer or by downloading it separately. Users who have already installed the extension can disable or remove it if they wish.

Microsoft said it is listening to its customers and respecting their choice of browser and search engine. The company also said it will continue to invest in Microsoft Search as a way to improve productivity and user experience for Office 365 customers.

Microsoft has announced that it will change the default search engine for Chrome users who have Office 365 ProPlus installed on their devices. This change will affect users in the US, UK, and some other regions starting in February, according to its update channel. The change will install the Microsoft Search extension on Bing in Chrome, allowing users to access Microsoft Search from their browser.

Microsoft Search is a web-based service that allows users to find relevant information about their organization, such as files, documents, internal sites, business tools, people, organizational charts, construction information, and more. Microsoft Search also provides web results from Bing, giving users a comprehensive search experience. Microsoft claims that Microsoft Search can help users save time and increase productivity by finding what they need faster and easier.

Microsoft says the change is part of its vision to provide a unified and consistent search experience across all Microsoft 365 apps and services. Users who want to opt out of the change can do so by following the instructions in this support document. Alternatively, they can uninstall the Microsoft Search in Bing extension from Chrome or change the default search engine settings in Chrome.

The change has raised some concerns among Chrome users who prefer to use Google or another search engine as their default. Some users have expressed their frustration on social media and online forums, accusing Microsoft of imposing its products on them without their consent. Some users have also questioned the security and privacy implications of the change, especially for enterprise customers who may have sensitive data stored in Microsoft 365.

Microsoft has not yet responded to these criticisms, but has stated that it respects users' choice and control over their browser settings. It has also assured users that Microsoft Search on Bing follows the same privacy policies and practices as other Microsoft 365 services, and does not collect or use any personally identifiable information from users' searches.

If you use Office 365, you may have noticed that Microsoft is trying to change your default search engine in Chrome to Bing. This is done by installing an extension called Microsoft Search in Bing for Office 365 ProPlus. Microsoft says this is to help users access relevant workplace information directly from the browser's address bar, but some users may prefer to stick with Google or another search engine.

If you are an IT administrator and want to prevent this extension from being installed on devices in your organization, you have a couple of options. You can use the Office Deployment Tool or Group Policy to exclude the extension from your Office 365 ProPlus installation. However, you must do this before installing the extension; Otherwise, you will have to uninstall it manually using a command.

If you are an individual user and want to disable Microsoft Search on Bing, you can easily do so from the Chrome browser. All you need to do is click on the search icon next to the address bar and uncheck the option that says Use Bing as default search engine. This will restore your previous search engine settings and prevent Microsoft from changing them again.