The Swiss competition authority has opened a preliminary investigation into Google's removal of the 'choice screen' feature on Android devices in Switzerland.

Recently, Google removed this feature in Switzerland, imposing its search engine as the default without a 'choice screen' being displayed during initial setup. The Secretariat of the Competition Commission (COMCO) said this could limit the visibility of search engines competing with Google, thereby reinforcing barriers to entry.

COMCO said its removal could affect the ability of search engine providers and other digital service providers to compete. It also creates an unequal treatment between Swiss users and those in the European Economic Area, even though the competitive issues are comparable.

The European Economic Area (EEA) covers 30 countries, extending the 27-member European Union's common market to three other states. Switzerland is not a member of either bloc. COMCO said that in digital markets, default settings played a decisive role, with the choice screen aiming to reduce the lock-in effects associated with preconfigured settings.

The preliminary investigation will determine whether there are indications of an unlawful restriction of competition under the Cartel Act. Google has stated that it is aware of the investigation and is cooperating fully with the authority.

This move by Google is not the first time the company has faced scrutiny over its business practices. In fact, the European Union's top court recently upheld a record $4.7 billion fine on Google for anti-competitive practices related to its Android operating system.

The European Court of Justice dismissed Google's second attempt to overturn the penalty imposed by the European Commission in 2018, which remains the EU's highest ever antitrust fine. The commission had accused Google of abusing the popularity of its Android operating system to restrict competition.

Google was accused of pressuring phone makers using Android to pre-install its search engine and Google Chrome browser, essentially shutting out rivals.

And this move by Google could have far-reaching implications for consumers in Switzerland. For instance, it could limit the options available to users when choosing a default search engine, thereby affecting their browsing experience.

But what does this mean for Google, and how will it affect the company's business practices going forward? Only time will tell.

Preliminary Investigation Timeline

  • COMCO announced a preliminary investigation into Google's removal of the 'choice screen' feature on Android devices in Switzerland on 2026-07-14.
  • Google removed the 'choice screen' feature in Switzerland.
  • The European Court of Justice upheld a $4.7 billion fine on Google for anti-competitive practices related to its Android operating system in 2026.
  • Google was accused of pressuring phone makers using Android to pre-install its search engine and Google Chrome browser in 2018.