Microsoft Stops Using Bing to Redirect Google Users

Microsoft has silently discontinued their faked Google UI, which was used to fool Bing users into thinking they were using Google. The tone down is an attempt to mislead users into using Bing. Earlier this month, you could search for “Google” on Bing and obtain a page that looked very similar to Google, replete with a customized search bar, an image resembling a Google Doodle, and even some little text beneath the search bar, much like Google search. Many people, including Google, saw the move as dishonest because Bing offered what was effectively a clone of the Google experience while moving other results down the page.

This week, just days after being spotted by Reddit users, the false UI no longer displays in Bing’s Google search results. Microsoft’s faked Google UI even scrolled down the page slightly to hide its own Bing search bar, which appears at the top of search results, in a clear attempt to deceive Bing users into thinking they were on Google.

Unless you’re looking for it, it’s easy to be duped into thinking you’re using Google rather than Bing, which appears to be the purpose.

This happens whenever you search “Google” on Bing while not logged into a Microsoft account. We confirmed that this occurs in both Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome, independent of normal or private browsing mode. It only stops if you are logged into a Microsoft account.

Microsoft refused to comment on its phony Google UI, but Google was more than ready to share its thoughts. “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but Microsoft spoofing the Google homepage is another tactic in its long history of tricks to confuse users & limit choice,” said Google Chrome boss Parisa Tabriz in a post on X last week. “New year; new low Microsoft,” picking at the wound.

Microsoft has a history of using a number of techniques to get people to stick with the defaults of Bing and Microsoft Edge in Windows, such as altering Chrome download sites and displaying malware-like pop ups to induce people to ditch Google. Microsoft has previously had to reverse pop-up adverts within Google Chrome to remedy “unintended behaviour.”

Microsoft looks to be veering away from its contentious tactic; if you search for “Google” in Bing, you’re less likely to find a clone of Google’s UI.

During my testing, I could only view the Google-like version of Bing when I searched for “Google” in an InPrivate browser tab in Microsoft Edge. Any other combination of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and logging in or utilizing a private tab displayed the standard Bing UI.

There is a chance that Microsoft is only testing the interface, and the results may differ from person to person. As far as I can tell, Microsoft has made no public comments about the Google UI clone.

Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, stated that Google’s search platform is so dominant that it makes more money on Windows than all of Microsoft, which is not surprising given the companies’ size and the extent to which their services overlap. Nadella also claimed that Google does not play fairly with Bing,

Microsoft has tried a variety of strategies to convert users to Bing over the years, including the Bing Wallpaper app, which encourages consumers to change their search engine. Microsoft has employed similar aggressive measures to promote its Edge browser, which uses Bing as the default search engine.

We will continue to monitor the situation around Bing and Google and will update this post with new information when it becomes available.