Microsoft will finally stop bugging Windows users about Edge — but only in Europe
Microsoft's changes in response to the Digital Markets Act already included allowing Windows machines in the regions it covers to uninstall Edge and remove Bing results from Windows search, but now the list is growing in some meaningful ways. New features announced Monday for Microsoft Windows users in the European Economic Area (the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) include the option to uninstall the Microsoft Store and avoid extra nags or prompts asking them to set Microsoft Edge as the default browser unless they choose to open it.
That last one is one I'd like to have readily available in the United States, and according to Microsoft, it's already live in the EEA, starting with Edge version 137.0.3296.52 that rolled out on May 29th.
Additionally, setting a different browser, like Chrome, Firefox, Brave, or something else, will pin it to the taskbar unless the user chooses not to. While setting a different browser default already attaches it to a few link and file types like https and .html, now users in the EEA will see it apply to more types like 'read,' ftp, and .svg. The default browser changes are live for some users in the beta channel and are set to roll out widely on Windows 10 and Windows 11 in July.
Microsoft also explained that even after removing the Store app from Start and Settings, 'Apps installed and distributed from the Microsoft Store will continue to get updates,' and it can always be reinstalled.
Other changes mentioned include automatically enabling third-party apps to add their web search results in Windows Search upon installation, and the option to move search providers around based on user preference. With updates rolling out in 'early June,' the Microsoft Bing app, as well as the Widgets Board and Lock Screen, will open web content with the default browser instead.
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