Windows users across the European Economic Area are on the brink of experiencing one of the most significant quality-of-life improvements to Microsoft’s operating system in recent memory. With the latest updates rolling out for Windows 10 and Windows 11, Microsoft is not only responding to customer complaints about intrusive Edge browser prompts, but also embracing a wave of openness driven by the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). These deep changes are set to fundamentally shift how users interact with browsers, the Microsoft Store, and the Windows search experience — making the platform less restrictive and far more user-centric.
For years, Microsoft Edge has had a reputation for tenacity — not always positively. Even when users actively set rival applications like Chrome or Firefox as their default web browsers, Windows would periodically pester them with prompts, encouraging them to “Make Edge your default browser.” For many, this persistent nudge grew from mild irritation to a symbol of the operating system’s stubborn refusal to respect user preference.
With the July rollout of DMA-inspired changes, this is coming to an end — at least for users within the European Economic Area (EEA), including all EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. No longer will users endure unsolicited notifications to promote Edge as the default browser when it isn’t even open. Instead, such prompts will now only appear if the user is actively working with Edge, meaning the “Edge annoyance” is about to become history for millions. It’s a subtle yet profound recognition of user autonomy — and regulatory compliance.
But it’s not just about silence. Microsoft will now facilitate a smoother experience for users who choose an alternative browser as their default. Upon switching, users will have the option to pin their chosen browser directly to the taskbar — a win for convenience and user empowerment. This is aimed at reducing friction and supporting user choice, aligning with the DMA’s spirit of fair competition.
Going forward, Microsoft promises to extend third-party browser support to additional file types, including FTP, SVG, and others whose control was previously restricted or cumbersome to hand over. Perhaps most notably, the upcoming updates allow users to set their browser of choice as the default handler for PDF files — an area previously reserved for specific Microsoft products.
These changes are already present for some users enrolled in the Windows Insider beta channel, with full rollout for Windows 10 and Windows 11 expected in July. For European users, this equates to less fragmentation and fewer surprises when opening files or links, especially in work or classroom environments where consistency matters.
Following in the footsteps of Apple’s iOS 18.2 change, which also enabled complete removal of the App Store, Windows users will soon be able to uninstall the Microsoft Store just like any other application, via the Start menu or Settings pane.
Remarkably, Microsoft clarifies that uninstalling the Store won’t strand users who installed apps through it. Those apps will continue to receive updates automatically, even in the Store’s absence. This separation is a technical feat and a signal that Microsoft is keen to refute the notion of an artificially mandated app ecosystem, especially under the scrutiny of the EU’s watchdogs.
For system administrators, privacy advocates, and minimalists, this newfound flexibility could be game-changing. Whether it reduces the attack surface, simplifies the user interface, or simply satisfies personal preferences, the utility is clear.
Under the new regime, Windows Search is opening its doors — and its backend. App providers, including competitors, can now integrate their own web search results directly into the Windows Search interface. Once an app is installed with a web search capability, Windows Search will display results from multiple providers simultaneously. Even better, users can hide, reorder, or even disable specific search providers in the Settings menu.
This isn’t just about cosmetic flexibility. By allowing third-party apps deeper integration, Microsoft is satisfying two key criteria of the DMA: platform neutrality and recognizably fair access. For users, this means a search box that’s genuinely personalized and untethered from any single corporate agenda.
Early versions of these changes are already present in Windows Insider builds, with general release for both Windows 10 and 11 planned for the beginning of June.
One further win for browser neutrality: In another major reversal, Microsoft is changing the way the Bing app collaborates with Windows Search. Web content triggered inside Windows Search or the “Start Experiences” (widgets and lock screen feeds) app will now open in the system’s default browser — not just Edge. This small but important fix could end a years-long cat-and-mouse game wherein users sought out registry hacks, scripts, or group policy edits to escape Edge’s grasp when opening search results.
From a regulatory standpoint, these measures are milestones toward DMA compliance. The EU’s Digital Markets Act was crafted to curb gatekeeper abuse and foster a competitive technology landscape. By addressing several longstanding user grievances — including default browser manipulation and app uninstallation — Microsoft is proactively forestalling regulatory penalties and perhaps setting a precedent for other tech giants.
This should stimulate experimentation and innovation. Browser makers, for instance, may now pour more resources into seamless Windows integration, custom file-type handlers, or even alternative approaches to PDF and HTML rendering. Similarly, independent search providers can design deeper, richer API connections to Windows Search without fear of mandatory Bing handoffs diluting their value or analytics.
The ability to reorder search providers — and indeed, to hide Bing altogether, should the user desire — stands out as a bold move, one that relinquishes control in favor of user satisfaction. Whether this increases engagement or fragments experiences will depend in part on how eager developers are to step into the newly opened playing field.
Second, Microsoft is making significant changes to how core system components interact. Granting third-party search providers deeper access, allowing the Microsoft Store to be removed, and routing traditionally “trusted” data flows through outside software all represent possible vectors for abuse or security lapses. Microsoft must ensure that these new APIs and system hooks are thoroughly vetted, with clear rules about sandboxing, data privacy, and user approval.
Thirdly, while the ability to uninstall the Microsoft Store is billed as lossless — updates for installed apps will keep flowing even after removal — this assertion should be independently verified in production. Should edge cases emerge (e.g., situations where app updates are missed, or Store reintegration proves buggy), affected users could find themselves in uncharted territory. IT professionals in particular will want to subject these features to robust testing before recommending wholesale adoption.
Lastly, the success of third-party integration in Windows Search depends not just on Microsoft’s willingness, but on developer engagement. If major competitors decline to participate, the feature will remain underutilized, and users could encounter inconsistent or incomplete experiences.
Yet, regulatory compliance is just the beginning. Consumer expectations are now aligned with a world where “your device, your rules” is not just a slogan, but a lived reality. Windows users, long accustomed to working around corporate defaults and pre-installed friction, are likely to embrace these upgrades, pressuring other platforms to follow suit.
For business and IT administrators, these updates may mean revisiting deployment practices and user education. Training materials, group policies, and support handbooks will need updating to reflect a Windows landscape where more is optional, more is customizable, and fewer annoyances lurk in the default experience.
For Microsoft, this is both a compliance challenge and an opportunity. The company now positions itself not just as a provider of mandatory platforms, but as an enabler of open, flexible computing environments. Whether voluntary or compelled, this stance could mend relationships with demanding users — and forestall further regulatory headaches.
While questions remain about the scope, security, and reach of these changes, the direction is clear. Regulatory pressure, market forces, and rising user expectations have finally aligned, forcing even the most powerful tech companies to embrace user-centric reform. For millions, Windows will soon feel less nagging, less captive, and far more aligned with the principle that software should serve — not subvert — the user’s intent.
As the rollout begins and competitors race to stake their claim in the newly open ecosystem, Windows users will have front-row seats to one of the most significant shifts in personal computing this decade. The only question that remains: Will users — and the industry — demand the same openness everywhere else?
Source: heise online Windows 10 and 11: Edge browser will be less annoying in future
Edge Browser Prompts: From Nuisance to Negligible
For years, Microsoft Edge has had a reputation for tenacity — not always positively. Even when users actively set rival applications like Chrome or Firefox as their default web browsers, Windows would periodically pester them with prompts, encouraging them to “Make Edge your default browser.” For many, this persistent nudge grew from mild irritation to a symbol of the operating system’s stubborn refusal to respect user preference.With the July rollout of DMA-inspired changes, this is coming to an end — at least for users within the European Economic Area (EEA), including all EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. No longer will users endure unsolicited notifications to promote Edge as the default browser when it isn’t even open. Instead, such prompts will now only appear if the user is actively working with Edge, meaning the “Edge annoyance” is about to become history for millions. It’s a subtle yet profound recognition of user autonomy — and regulatory compliance.
But it’s not just about silence. Microsoft will now facilitate a smoother experience for users who choose an alternative browser as their default. Upon switching, users will have the option to pin their chosen browser directly to the taskbar — a win for convenience and user empowerment. This is aimed at reducing friction and supporting user choice, aligning with the DMA’s spirit of fair competition.
Default Browser: New Areas of Control and Compatibility
Microsoft’s changes go deeper than the elimination of annoying prompts. Traditionally, Edge retained privileged status over a select set of file associations and web-related tasks, handling HTTPS, HTML, and some proprietary links by default. This meant that even after changing your system default browser, clicking certain links or files would still summon Edge, sidestepping user intent.Going forward, Microsoft promises to extend third-party browser support to additional file types, including FTP, SVG, and others whose control was previously restricted or cumbersome to hand over. Perhaps most notably, the upcoming updates allow users to set their browser of choice as the default handler for PDF files — an area previously reserved for specific Microsoft products.
These changes are already present for some users enrolled in the Windows Insider beta channel, with full rollout for Windows 10 and Windows 11 expected in July. For European users, this equates to less fragmentation and fewer surprises when opening files or links, especially in work or classroom environments where consistency matters.
The Microsoft Store: Finally Optional
Alongside reined-in browser behaviour, Microsoft is introducing a long-awaited power move — granting users the ability to fully uninstall the Microsoft Store application. For years, the Store has been billed as the “central point of contact” for discovering and managing Windows applications, but power users and enterprises frequently regarded it as bloatware, difficult to manage or lock down.Following in the footsteps of Apple’s iOS 18.2 change, which also enabled complete removal of the App Store, Windows users will soon be able to uninstall the Microsoft Store just like any other application, via the Start menu or Settings pane.
Remarkably, Microsoft clarifies that uninstalling the Store won’t strand users who installed apps through it. Those apps will continue to receive updates automatically, even in the Store’s absence. This separation is a technical feat and a signal that Microsoft is keen to refute the notion of an artificially mandated app ecosystem, especially under the scrutiny of the EU’s watchdogs.
For system administrators, privacy advocates, and minimalists, this newfound flexibility could be game-changing. Whether it reduces the attack surface, simplifies the user interface, or simply satisfies personal preferences, the utility is clear.
Windows Search: Embracing Competition and Choice
Arguably, the most quietly revolutionary change is coming to Windows Search. Historically, Windows Search has been tightly bound to Microsoft’s own Bing engine. If users invoked web results from the Start menu or taskbar, those searches were inevitably routed through Bing — and until recently, web results would open exclusively in Edge, regardless of the default browser setting.Under the new regime, Windows Search is opening its doors — and its backend. App providers, including competitors, can now integrate their own web search results directly into the Windows Search interface. Once an app is installed with a web search capability, Windows Search will display results from multiple providers simultaneously. Even better, users can hide, reorder, or even disable specific search providers in the Settings menu.
This isn’t just about cosmetic flexibility. By allowing third-party apps deeper integration, Microsoft is satisfying two key criteria of the DMA: platform neutrality and recognizably fair access. For users, this means a search box that’s genuinely personalized and untethered from any single corporate agenda.
Early versions of these changes are already present in Windows Insider builds, with general release for both Windows 10 and 11 planned for the beginning of June.
One further win for browser neutrality: In another major reversal, Microsoft is changing the way the Bing app collaborates with Windows Search. Web content triggered inside Windows Search or the “Start Experiences” (widgets and lock screen feeds) app will now open in the system’s default browser — not just Edge. This small but important fix could end a years-long cat-and-mouse game wherein users sought out registry hacks, scripts, or group policy edits to escape Edge’s grasp when opening search results.
A Closer Look: Strengths and Risks of Microsoft’s Shift
User Empowerment and Regulatory Compliance
The most immediate upside of these changes is a substantial boost in user empowerment. Microsoft is not just streamlining Windows to be less intrusive — it’s actively dismantling historic technical barriers that frustrated personal and professional users alike. Respecting default app settings, defanging mandatory prompts, and making core system components removable places unprecedented control in the user’s hands.From a regulatory standpoint, these measures are milestones toward DMA compliance. The EU’s Digital Markets Act was crafted to curb gatekeeper abuse and foster a competitive technology landscape. By addressing several longstanding user grievances — including default browser manipulation and app uninstallation — Microsoft is proactively forestalling regulatory penalties and perhaps setting a precedent for other tech giants.
Competitive Landscape: The Role of Third-party Application Providers
Third-party browser and search providers stand to benefit enormously from these reforms. No longer boxed in by system-level nudges and preferential integration, alternatives such as Firefox, Chrome, Brave, DuckDuckGo, and local European offerings will find themselves on more equal footing.This should stimulate experimentation and innovation. Browser makers, for instance, may now pour more resources into seamless Windows integration, custom file-type handlers, or even alternative approaches to PDF and HTML rendering. Similarly, independent search providers can design deeper, richer API connections to Windows Search without fear of mandatory Bing handoffs diluting their value or analytics.
User Experience: Streamlined, Customizable, and Familiar
From the user perspective, Windows is moving closer to a model of transparent customization. The OS’s penchant for guiding users down Microsoft-centric paths — long a staple of criticism and skepticism — is finally abating. Users who prefer minimalist installations, custom web search, or specialized browsers can now have their preferred “flavor” of Windows, closer to the Linux or macOS experience in this respect.The ability to reorder search providers — and indeed, to hide Bing altogether, should the user desire — stands out as a bold move, one that relinquishes control in favor of user satisfaction. Whether this increases engagement or fragments experiences will depend in part on how eager developers are to step into the newly opened playing field.
Potential Risks and Caveats
While there’s no denying the user-centric advances, a few caveats warrant attention. First, Microsoft’s changes (as described) are only targeted at the EEA — reflecting regulatory obligation, not universal goodwill. Users outside Europe will not automatically benefit from the same freedoms, raising questions of fragmentation and fairness. For global organizations with mixed geographies, maintaining consistent Windows policies could become more complex.Second, Microsoft is making significant changes to how core system components interact. Granting third-party search providers deeper access, allowing the Microsoft Store to be removed, and routing traditionally “trusted” data flows through outside software all represent possible vectors for abuse or security lapses. Microsoft must ensure that these new APIs and system hooks are thoroughly vetted, with clear rules about sandboxing, data privacy, and user approval.
Thirdly, while the ability to uninstall the Microsoft Store is billed as lossless — updates for installed apps will keep flowing even after removal — this assertion should be independently verified in production. Should edge cases emerge (e.g., situations where app updates are missed, or Store reintegration proves buggy), affected users could find themselves in uncharted territory. IT professionals in particular will want to subject these features to robust testing before recommending wholesale adoption.
Lastly, the success of third-party integration in Windows Search depends not just on Microsoft’s willingness, but on developer engagement. If major competitors decline to participate, the feature will remain underutilized, and users could encounter inconsistent or incomplete experiences.
Industry Context: Big Tech Under Regulatory Spotlight
Microsoft’s recalibration is part of a broader ripple effect across the tech world as the DMA comes into force. Apple, notably, has begun ceding ground as well — allowing alternative web browsers greater latitude on iOS, supporting different payment mechanisms, and (since iOS 18.2) even permitting complete App Store removal. Google, too, has looked to provide “choice screens” and make default applications more visible.Yet, regulatory compliance is just the beginning. Consumer expectations are now aligned with a world where “your device, your rules” is not just a slogan, but a lived reality. Windows users, long accustomed to working around corporate defaults and pre-installed friction, are likely to embrace these upgrades, pressuring other platforms to follow suit.
What Happens Next?
For end users in the EEA, the benefits will roll out in the coming weeks. Early access is already underway through the Windows Insider beta channel, with full deployment to Windows 10 and Windows 11 expected by July. The impact will be most visible for users who have previously tried to “reclaim” Windows — those running Chrome or Firefox, those who wanted to junk the Microsoft Store, those who found Bing front and center even after opting out.For business and IT administrators, these updates may mean revisiting deployment practices and user education. Training materials, group policies, and support handbooks will need updating to reflect a Windows landscape where more is optional, more is customizable, and fewer annoyances lurk in the default experience.
For Microsoft, this is both a compliance challenge and an opportunity. The company now positions itself not just as a provider of mandatory platforms, but as an enabler of open, flexible computing environments. Whether voluntary or compelled, this stance could mend relationships with demanding users — and forestall further regulatory headaches.
Conclusion: A Turning Point in Windows Usability
The sweeping suite of changes set to arrive for Windows 10 and 11 users in the European Economic Area marks a turning point for OS usability, user choice, and platform accountability. By dialing down Edge’s pushy tactics, opening up file associations and Windows Search to true competition, and giving users the ability to remove even the Microsoft Store, Microsoft is recasting Windows as a customizable operating system, not a locked garden.While questions remain about the scope, security, and reach of these changes, the direction is clear. Regulatory pressure, market forces, and rising user expectations have finally aligned, forcing even the most powerful tech companies to embrace user-centric reform. For millions, Windows will soon feel less nagging, less captive, and far more aligned with the principle that software should serve — not subvert — the user’s intent.
As the rollout begins and competitors race to stake their claim in the newly open ecosystem, Windows users will have front-row seats to one of the most significant shifts in personal computing this decade. The only question that remains: Will users — and the industry — demand the same openness everywhere else?
Source: heise online Windows 10 and 11: Edge browser will be less annoying in future
