Users report that Microsoft Edge browser is forced to install Google Docs Offline extensions without permission.

CTOnews.com, July 6 (Xinhua)-- Microsoft Edge browser automatically installs the Google Docs offline (Google Docs Offline) extension, which allows users to create and edit Google Docs without the network, according to feedback from some users.

It has been observed that this extension will appear in different Edge versions, not only in Canary and Dev versions, but also in stable versions. Although the extension is turned off by default, the Deskmodder website reports that the Edge browser on their computer prompted to "fix" Google Docs Offline and enabled it without permission.

Google Docs Offline is part of the Chrome browser, so one theory is that the extension entered Microsoft Edge due to some errors (Chrome and Edge are both Chromium-based browsers), but the Google Docs Offline plug-in has a clear "installed by Microsoft Edge" flag, indicating that this behavior is not unintentional or wrong. In addition, clicking the "I" button will show that Edge will open the extension to "optimize your experience".

It is worth mentioning that CTOnews.com noticed that Microsoft Edge itself has built-in Office Online shortcuts and sidebar buttons.

Whether this is a mistake or not, it will cause dissatisfaction among Edge users. When Edge was launched in 2019, the main selling point was to provide users with a modern Chromium-based browser without Google and all kinds of bloated content. But by 2023, Microsoft Edge was full of features, disrespectful practices and adware-like behaviors.