Microsoft’s Windows 11 is continually evolving, unveiling feature updates at a pace that even the most seasoned Windows enthusiasts can find dizzying. Yet, in recent months, a fascinating (and, to many, frustrating) trend has emerged: a class of highly desired features—some offering genuine user empowerment, transparency, and privacy—are only available to users in one part of the world. Particularly, people living in the European Economic Area (EEA) are getting a Windows 11 experience that, in certain key areas, is markedly superior to what users elsewhere receive. This distinction is not due to technological limitations or demand but rather a direct response to regulatory pressure from the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The DMA is fundamentally reshaping how technology giants like Microsoft design, deploy, and restrict features across their massive user bases. While its intent is to foster competition and ensure users can choose (and, when desired, reject) a platform’s ecosystem offerings, the result for everyday users is a patchwork of capabilities—some available only within EU borders, some globally, and many frustratingly locked to certain geographies.
For those outside Europe, the restricted features of Windows 11 represent more than just missing options—they signal an era where regulatory leadership can determine the quality and freedom of your digital life. This in-depth analysis will examine four Windows 11 features exclusive (or primarily exclusive) to Europe, exploring their origins, technical impact, real-world value, and why Microsoft should make them global staples in the interest of user control, transparency, and trust.
To appreciate why Europe’s Windows 11 users enjoy these particular advantages, a close look at the Digital Markets Act is essential. Officially entering into force in 2023, the DMA is a sweeping set of regulations targeting so-called “gatekeeper” platforms—large, dominant technology providers who can, by virtue of their platform ownership, restrict competition or stifle user choice. For Windows, this means Microsoft must open up access, cut default bundling, and allow more meaningful user choice around everything from pre-installed browsers to whether users want Bing handling their search queries.
The DMA prohibits self-preferencing—platforms can’t force their own apps when competitors exist—and mandates transparent data handling, export options, and the ability for users to uninstall any app, even those the company deems “core.” Rather than a universal rollout, Microsoft (and its peers) have chosen to localize these liberalizations exclusively for European territories, to keep the rest of the world’s user experience unchanged unless forced by regulation.
In the European Economic Area, the story is now different. Thanks to DMA mandates, users can navigate to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps and uninstall Edge as simply as any other program. Even the Microsoft Store app can be wiped clean, a move unthinkable in other territories. Updates remain unaffected, but the user may exercise true control over what software resides on their computer.
Further, Microsoft has committed to no longer showing frequent notifications to users in Europe prompting them to set Edge as the default browser—a small change, but one that ends a source of persistent annoyance and perceived heavy-handedness. These changes come after years of user and industry agitation, and the only proven technical “need” for keeping Edge is as a policy, not a necessity.
Why It Matters:
In Europe, Microsoft now exposes an additional export infrastructure for Recall—one notably missing elsewhere. When setting up Recall for the first time, European users are shown a code required to export snapshots. Unlike a simple “download all your data” feature, this export supports granting third-party apps and websites access to your Recall activities in a controlled way, with fine-grained permissions and stringent privacy checks.
A new “Advanced settings” pane in Recall for EEA residents offers:
Why It Matters:
Microsoft’s answer, forced by the Digital Markets Act, is a quantum leap for European users. In the EEA version of Windows 11, setting your default browser now comprehensively applies not just to .html and .html but to a host of less common formats, including .ftp, .mht, .svg, .xhtml, and beyond. Even more impressively, if your browser supports it, you can immediately set it as the default PDF handler—an area where Edge has long attempted to maintain its sticky dominance.
Additionally, once you select a new default browser, Windows will automatically pin it to the Taskbar and Start Menu, foregrounding user choice instead of quietly favoring Microsoft’s own applications.
Why It Matters:
In EEA territories running the latest Windows 11, that restriction is gone.
Why It Matters:
The rest of the world deserves the same:
Microsoft has built these features already. There’s no reason to keep them behind artificial boundaries. The time has come for users everywhere—regardless of geography—to insist on a Windows 11 that is open, user-focused, and genuinely competitive, not only in spirit but in tangible everyday controls.
As more markets watch the EEA’s gains, and as the tide of user advocacy rises, it is likely not a matter of if, but when these freedoms will finally be made universal. Until then, Windows 11 remains a tale of two realities—a state of play dictated not by technology, but by the collective will of regulators and the courage of users to demand more.
Source: Windows Central 4 features on Windows 11 exclusive to Europe that Microsoft should make global
The DMA is fundamentally reshaping how technology giants like Microsoft design, deploy, and restrict features across their massive user bases. While its intent is to foster competition and ensure users can choose (and, when desired, reject) a platform’s ecosystem offerings, the result for everyday users is a patchwork of capabilities—some available only within EU borders, some globally, and many frustratingly locked to certain geographies.
For those outside Europe, the restricted features of Windows 11 represent more than just missing options—they signal an era where regulatory leadership can determine the quality and freedom of your digital life. This in-depth analysis will examine four Windows 11 features exclusive (or primarily exclusive) to Europe, exploring their origins, technical impact, real-world value, and why Microsoft should make them global staples in the interest of user control, transparency, and trust.
Understanding the Digital Markets Act: Why Europe Gets More
To appreciate why Europe’s Windows 11 users enjoy these particular advantages, a close look at the Digital Markets Act is essential. Officially entering into force in 2023, the DMA is a sweeping set of regulations targeting so-called “gatekeeper” platforms—large, dominant technology providers who can, by virtue of their platform ownership, restrict competition or stifle user choice. For Windows, this means Microsoft must open up access, cut default bundling, and allow more meaningful user choice around everything from pre-installed browsers to whether users want Bing handling their search queries.The DMA prohibits self-preferencing—platforms can’t force their own apps when competitors exist—and mandates transparent data handling, export options, and the ability for users to uninstall any app, even those the company deems “core.” Rather than a universal rollout, Microsoft (and its peers) have chosen to localize these liberalizations exclusively for European territories, to keep the rest of the world’s user experience unchanged unless forced by regulation.
Four Europe-Only Features That Deserve a Global Rollout
While Windows 11 worldwide has seen a steady trickle of improvements (the option to hide Widgets’ news feed, removal of some bloatware, etc.), pivotal enhancements remain locked to European users. Each one is more than a simple tweak; these are meaningful changes with ripple effects for modularity, privacy, and open competition. Here’s what the rest of the world is missing—and why the time is ripe for Microsoft to unlock these features for all.1. Uninstall Microsoft Edge (and Microsoft Store) Like Any Other App
One of the most persistent complaints from Windows users since the debut of Edge is its unremovable nature. Microsoft Edge, positioned as the “default” browser, has long resisted standard uninstall processes, persisting even if users choose Chrome, Firefox, or another browser. The company’s insistence was always that Edge was “essential” for the integrity and security of Windows, a claim that lacks technical transparency.In the European Economic Area, the story is now different. Thanks to DMA mandates, users can navigate to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps and uninstall Edge as simply as any other program. Even the Microsoft Store app can be wiped clean, a move unthinkable in other territories. Updates remain unaffected, but the user may exercise true control over what software resides on their computer.
Further, Microsoft has committed to no longer showing frequent notifications to users in Europe prompting them to set Edge as the default browser—a small change, but one that ends a source of persistent annoyance and perceived heavy-handedness. These changes come after years of user and industry agitation, and the only proven technical “need” for keeping Edge is as a policy, not a necessity.
Why It Matters:
- User Autonomy: Forces Microsoft to compete on quality, not inertia or default status.
- Removes Anti-Competitive Friction: Easy switching, no coercion.
- Simplifies Device Bloat: Fewer unwanted “core” apps mean a cleaner install.
- Technical Integrity: Edge’s near-total removability in Europe proves it isn’t truly essential for Windows’ safe operation.
- Support Complexities: For less experienced users, accidental uninstallation might make initial troubleshooting harder.
- Security Implications: If users remove browsers but fail to install/maintain secure alternatives, exposure risk may increase.
- Reliance on Third-Party Browsers: Opens debate about which browsers are safest by default.
2. Recall Export Functionality: More Transparency Over Your Data
The Recall feature, one of the most anticipated (and controversial) in Windows 11, uses AI to capture, summarize, and let users “recall” past on-screen activities by searching through snapshots. For privacy-conscious users, it’s a double-edged sword: remarkable convenience but heady data stewardship concerns.In Europe, Microsoft now exposes an additional export infrastructure for Recall—one notably missing elsewhere. When setting up Recall for the first time, European users are shown a code required to export snapshots. Unlike a simple “download all your data” feature, this export supports granting third-party apps and websites access to your Recall activities in a controlled way, with fine-grained permissions and stringent privacy checks.
A new “Advanced settings” pane in Recall for EEA residents offers:
- Export past snapshots: Access historical, encrypted data for portability or compliance.
- Export from now on: Allow ongoing snapshot sharing as new activities are captured.
Why It Matters:
- Data Portability: Users (and regulators) gain new tools for transparency and interoperability.
- Privacy Assurance: By surfacing detailed permissions and limiting Microsoft’s own continuing access, trust is bolstered.
- Third-Party Integration: Opens (with consent) new opportunities for workflow and data analytics apps.
- Security Overhead: Users must safeguard the export code; loss could mean irretrievable data.
- Misuse Possibility: Unsophisticated users may inadvertently expose sensitive Recall data if third-party permissions are misunderstood.
- Compliance Juggle: Global rollout would require Microsoft to meet varied privacy requirements spanning dozens of jurisdictions.
3. Expanded Default Browser & PDF Handler Options
Everyone who’s ever installed a new browser on Windows knows the drill: set your preference, and… discover Windows only partially honors your choice. Core file types (like .html and .htm) may be reassigned, but others, such as .svg or .mht, are left untouched. Changing these defaults—sometimes dozens of obscure file types—typically requires a tedious trip through submenus or even registry editing.Microsoft’s answer, forced by the Digital Markets Act, is a quantum leap for European users. In the EEA version of Windows 11, setting your default browser now comprehensively applies not just to .html and .html but to a host of less common formats, including .ftp, .mht, .svg, .xhtml, and beyond. Even more impressively, if your browser supports it, you can immediately set it as the default PDF handler—an area where Edge has long attempted to maintain its sticky dominance.
Additionally, once you select a new default browser, Windows will automatically pin it to the Taskbar and Start Menu, foregrounding user choice instead of quietly favoring Microsoft’s own applications.
Why It Matters:
- True Freedom of Choice: No hidden defaults, no silent file-type monopolization.
- Level Playing Field: Third-party browsers can finally act as full replacements, not mere alternatives.
- Streamlined Experience: No convoluted menu navigation for power users.
- New Users: Some may be confused if essential file types like PDFs suddenly open in an unfamiliar app.
- Integration Disruption: Microsoft’s deep linking across default file types (e.g., Edge as a PDF viewer) may not be instantly mirrored by competitors, especially on updates.
4. Search Engine Control: Bing Can Finally Be Replaced
For nearly a decade, Microsoft has tied system-wide search in Windows to Bing. Whether using Web Search in the Start Menu or responding to Cortana and other assistants, web results are almost always filtered through Bing—regardless of user wishes. Ingenious third-party apps have tried (with varying success) to redirect or replace this function, but official support for search engine choice was lacking.In EEA territories running the latest Windows 11, that restriction is gone.
- From Settings > Privacy & Security > Search Permissions, users can switch the underlying provider for web search results away from Bing, toggling “Let search apps show results” as they see fit.
- More boldly, “Microsoft Bing” can be uninstalled entirely as a system app, just like Edge and the Store.
Why It Matters:
- User-Driven Results: Search requests no longer fuel Microsoft’s ad targeting or data collection if users opt out.
- Open Competition: Other search providers can finally challenge Bing on quality, relevance, and privacy.
- Regulatory Alignment: Delivers what the DMA promises: true choice at all platform touchpoints.
- Plugin and Extension Gaps: Deep integration between Microsoft products and Bing (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, search indexing) might break or degrade.
- Security: Not all search providers offer robust filtering against malicious sites or explicit content.
Analysis: What’s Holding Microsoft Back from Globalizing These Features?
If these capabilities exist for European users, and the technical basis for wider deployment is already established, why hasn’t Microsoft made these options the default everywhere? The answer is a mix of strategy, market dynamics, and inertia.- Competitive Safeguards: Microsoft is, understandably, cautious of rapid user migration to third-party alternatives, especially if uninstallation of Edge, Store, or Bing is made frictionless. In markets where regulatory forcing is weak, Microsoft’s retention and data collection (especially for advertising and telemetry) remain key priorities.
- Support and Experience Uniformity: Microsoft may worry about fragmentation in user experience, with different markets sporting different sets of features. Supporting a “core” world build and a “compliance” (European) build is simpler, but unpopular among power users.
- Precedent for Other Big Tech Players: Apple, Google, and Amazon are all playing the same compliance-by-geography game. Were Microsoft uniquely generous to global users, it might be seen as giving up a first-mover business advantage.
- Contractual and Legal Complexity: Introducing these options globally could force renegotiation of deals with partners and advertisers, as essential default surfaces (Start Menu, search integration, PDF handling) are critical “real estate” for monetization.
Why the Global Community Should Demand These Features
For all the rationalizations, the inescapable truth is that none of these features represent technological moonshots—they are standard controls in comparable platforms or could easily be so. Rather, what the EEA has demonstrated, forcibly, is that when users are given meaningful choice, digital ecosystems become more competitive, privacy-conscious, and customizable.The rest of the world deserves the same:
- Parity and Respect: Users in New York, Mumbai, and Sydney are no less deserving of choice than those in Paris or Berlin.
- One Windows, Not Two: A unified platform, governed by principles of respect for user freedom, builds trust and loyalty.
- Microsoft’s Own Heritage: The spirit of openness, tinkering, and user-driven configuration has always been a core part of Windows’ appeal. Artificial restrictions dilute that legacy.
Critical Takeaways for Windows 11 Users, Developers, and Policymakers
- For Users: Expect gradual convergence, but don’t wait. Consider voicing preferences or using third-party tools (with caution) to restore missing features. Watch for updates, as some experimental or Europe-only features may be “backported” to other markets if global demand is strong enough.
- For Developers: Championing open platforms and interoperability benefits everyone, increasing competitive pressure on gatekeepers to serve users with innovation, not just inertia.
- For Policymakers: Europe’s experiment is a proven success for user autonomy. Other regions—especially those who claim to foster digital rights and open competition—should consider similar legislative leverage.
Conclusion: Europe-Only Today, World-Ready Tomorrow
As the landscape of Windows 11 continues to shift, it is European users—by virtue of effective regulation—who are setting the global benchmark for what users should expect from their operating systems: real uninstallability, data portability, expansive default handler controls, and genuine search engine choice. These are not luxuries; they are basics of a modern, respectful digital environment.Microsoft has built these features already. There’s no reason to keep them behind artificial boundaries. The time has come for users everywhere—regardless of geography—to insist on a Windows 11 that is open, user-focused, and genuinely competitive, not only in spirit but in tangible everyday controls.
As more markets watch the EEA’s gains, and as the tide of user advocacy rises, it is likely not a matter of if, but when these freedoms will finally be made universal. Until then, Windows 11 remains a tale of two realities—a state of play dictated not by technology, but by the collective will of regulators and the courage of users to demand more.
Source: Windows Central 4 features on Windows 11 exclusive to Europe that Microsoft should make global
