European Windows 11 users can thank Europe and the Digital Market Act. Microsoft has just announced several upcoming changes to its operating system to "comply with the Digital Markets Act." These adjustments not only concern the configuration of a default web browser other than Microsoft Edge, the use of Bing in Windows Search, but also the ability to remove the Microsoft Store.
You can finally choose a real default browser
The first good news among the changes Microsoft is about to make concerns the configuration of a default web browser in Windows. Until now, when you set a new default browser (by clicking the Set as default button in Settings), the operating system only configured your browser to open http, https, .htm, and .html links.
Now, by clicking this button, European users will set their browser to open additional links. FTP and read links, as well as .mht, .mhtml, .shtml, .svg, .xht, .xhtml, .xml files will be automatically opened in your favorite browser. The same goes for PDFs. Additionally, setting a web browser other than Chrome as your default browser will automatically pin it to the taskbar unless you opt out.
Another upcoming change should also please many. Microsoft will stop displaying messages to force you to set Edge as your default browser. Microsoft will now only suggest setting it as default if you open the browser directly, for example by clicking on its icon from the taskbar.
Similarly, when you uninstall Edge from Windows, Microsoft applications will no longer ask you to reinstall it, with the exception of Progressive WebApps distributed in the Microsoft Store that rely on Edge.
Microsoft indicates that these changes are already applied to Insiders, in the build 26120.4151 of Windows 11 in the Beta Channel.
The Microsoft Store can be uninstalled
The second good news, is that if you don't use the Microsoft Store, you will soon be able to uninstall it, as is already possible with Microsoft Edge. All it takes is a simple right-click on the application icon from the Start menu, or via the Windows Settings menu.
Apps that have been installed from the Microsoft Store will continue to be updated, even if the Microsoft Store has been removed. To keep track of these applications, Microsoft will likely offer to update them via Windows Update. The Redmond company had in any case revealed, a few days ago, that it was thinking very strongly about it.
Multiple search engines for Windows Search
The third good news is that Bing will soon no longer be the only search engine able to display web results in the Windows search module. As soon as an application installed on your PC offers an online search engine, its results will be automatically added alongside those from Bing. This will allow you to simultaneously display online search results from several different engines.
Note that the Bing application, which provides web search results in Windows Search, will automatically open the content in the web browser you have configured as default, and no longer in Edge. The same will apply to widgets.
Source: Microsoft
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