In light of the Digital Markets Act, Microsoft has announced significant updates for its Windows operating system in the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. Previously, users in these regions were given the ability to uninstall Edge and exclude Bing from Windows search results. Now, the updates expand this functionality further. Among the new features is the option to uninstall the Microsoft Store, alongside a decrease in prompts encouraging users to set Edge as their default browser unless they specifically opt to open it.
This particular change has been highlighted as a desired option for users in markets like the United States and is already live in the EEA, initiating with Edge version 137.0.3296.52, which was released on May 29.
Furthermore, users will find that selecting an alternative browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Brave will now pin it to the taskbar, unless they opt out of this feature. Previously, changing the default browser would link it to specific file types; users in the EEA can now expect this to extend to additional file types, such as “read,” ftp, and .svg. This update is currently available to a limited number of users in the beta channel and is slated for broader release on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 in July.
Microsoft clarified that even if the Store app is removed from the Start menu and Settings, applications installed through the Microsoft Store will still receive updates, and users can reinstall the Store at any time.
Further updates include a streamlined process for third-party applications to integrate their web search capabilities into Windows Search during installation. Users will also have the flexibility to rearrange their search providers according to their preferences. Changes are expected to roll out in early June, ensuring that web content accessed via the Microsoft Bing app, Widgets Board, and Lock Screen utilizes the user’s default browser.
