Microsoft Edge may lock its Settings on Nonactivated Windows 

In a surprising move, Microsoft is looking to block the Edge Settings on unactivated copies of Windows. The change is currently being tested in Edge Canary.

Microsoft Edge might still work on an unactivated Windows. However, while you can use Windows 11 and 10 without activating them with a purchased license key, there are some limitations you should be aware of.

These include a persistent ‘Activate Windows’ watermark on the desktop.

• An activation message in the Windows Settings.
• The inability to change Personalization settings like wallpaper, theme, and colors.
• Frequent notifications to activate Windows.
  

Microsoft is looking to lock Edge browser settings when using Unactivated Windows

Now, it seems Microsoft wants you to use its Edge browser on activated or genuine Windows; if not, it may lock Edge settings.

We have noticed Edge working on this in Canary gated behind command line switch msEdgeLockSettingsInNonActivatedOS, but we are unable to confirm this as we don’t have unactivated Windows devices.

We see a lot of users still using Chrome on non-genuine Windows those not activated, so Chrome may not lock your settings, but Microsoft has a reason to do the same for the Edge browser as it is now an integral part of Windows and the default browser.

Dangers of using Unactivated Windows:

There are dozens of dangers of using unactivated Windows. You miss out on crucial security updates. These updates patch vulnerabilities in the operating system, protecting you from malware, viruses, and other cyber threats. Without them, your system becomes an easy target for hackers to exploit, potentially compromising your personal information and files.

You’ll encounter limitations and frustrations, as nag screens, such as constant pop-ups reminding you to activate will disrupt your workflow. You’ll also have personalization restrictions: you might be locked out of customizing your desktop background, colors, and themes. You’ll also have limited access to certain features, hindering your productivity.

Some unactivated versions might be tampered with, leading to performance issues and instability. Your system might become sluggish or crash unexpectedly.

And now, with this, browsing on Microsoft Edge on unactivated Windows 10, and Windows 11 devices will seriously be risky to users, as they are more prone to cyber threats, malware, phishing attacks, or loss of sensitive information, which means credit card credentials or any other similar data are at a higher risk of being compromised.

To avoid such issues, activate your legitimate Windows copy with a product key. Consider a free alternative: if the budget is a concern, explore free and open-source operating systems like Linux, and it’s quite a good alternative, as you can see in our detailed article about it.

Invest in a genuine license: If you need the features and security of Windows, consider purchasing a genuine license.