Windows 11 Taskbar Search May Finally Respect Your Default Browser and Engine

Microsoft’s recent moves in Canary and Insider channels suggest the long‑running tug‑of‑war over whether Windows 11 will keep forcing Edge and Bing for taskbar searches may finally be loosening — but the change is still an experiment, regionally motivated, and far from guaranteed to ship globally unchanged.

Background / Overview​

Microsoft’s Windows Search has long been a hybrid: an on‑device index for apps, files, and settings paired with web results served through Microsoft’s own stack. For many users outside the European Economic Area (EEA), a query typed into the Windows 11 taskbar has historically returned web results that open in Microsoft Edge and default to Bing — even when Chrome or Firefox is the system default browser. That behavior has been a frequent frustration for power users, enterprises, and privacy‑minded customers.
Regulatory pressure from the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) pushed Microsoft to change some of this behavior in EEA markets. Microsoft publicly documented a set of EEA‑specific updates — including making third‑party web search providers available in Windows Search and ensuring several shell components open web content with the system default browser in the EEA — in a Windows Insider blog post dated June 2, 2025.
Independent reporting and reverse‑engineering of Edge Canary builds in late September 2025 uncovered a set of experimental feature flags whose names strongly imply Windows Search may be able to launch web results using the system default browser and the system default search engine. Those discoveries indicate Microsoft is actively experimenting with honoring user defaults outside the EEA as well — or at least exploring a configurable approach.

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What was discovered in Edge Canary​

The flags, in plain language​

Researchers and reporters who inspect Edge Canary’s internal flags found entries with descriptive names such as:

• msWSBLaunchNonBingDSE
• msWSBLaunchNonEdgeDB
• msWSBLaunchNonBingDSEAndNonEdgeDB
• msExplicitLaunchNonBingDSE
• msExplicitLaunchNonEdgeDB
• msEdgeSearchboxHandlerSendsFaviconData

The most natural interpretation of those tokens is:

• WSB = Windows Search Bar (the taskbar/start search box)
• DSE = Default Search Engine
• DB = Default Browser

If read literarily, the flags imply toggles to launch Windows Search web results in a non‑Bing DSE (use Google, DuckDuckGo, etc.), in a non‑Edge DB (open Chrome, Firefox, etc.), or both. That would change the long‑standing behavior where many system links and search results get funnelled into Edge + Bing.

What the flags do not prove​

Finding flags in Canary is a credible engineering signal, but it’s not a shipping promise. Flags are lab experiments: names can be misleading, behavior may be incomplete, and many flags never reach Beta/Release channels. There is no authoritative Microsoft documentation confirming these specific flags will become a supported, global setting. Treat the Canary flag names as an early indicator of intent rather than a feature spec.

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Why the EEA matters — legal and engineering context​

The DMA created a hard regulatory incentive for Microsoft to alter default‑respect behaviors in the EEA. Microsoft’s Windows Insider post explicitly lays out the changes being applied in EEA markets: broader default browser coverage for link and file types, the Microsoft Bing app opening things in the default browser in the EEA, and Start / Widgets behavior updated to respect defaults. The EEA changes began rolling through Insider builds and retail channels in mid‑2025. If Microsoft did the engineering work for EEA compliance, the same technical pathway could be reused to enable similar behavior globally — but that is a business decision, not a legal requirement outside the EEA.
Cross‑checking public reporting (Windows Central, The Verge) shows the EEA rollout was widely confirmed and produced measurable UI changes and policy updates in Edge releases (for example, Edge version 137.0.3296.52 included changes related to prompting behavior). Those sources corroborate Microsoft’s own announcement that the EEA is receiving a distinct, DMA‑driven experience.

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Technical implications and unknowns​

What this would mean for users (if implemented)​

• A search typed in the taskbar could open in your chosen default browser (Chrome, Firefox, Brave), not automatically launching Edge.
• The launched query could use your chosen default search engine (Google, DuckDuckGo, Startpage) instead of Bing.
• The overall UX would align with modern expectations: default means default, restoring consistency across clicks and shell‑launched web content.

This is a straightforward user‑experience win for people who deliberately select an alternative browser and search engine. It would also reduce reliance on brittle third‑party workarounds that intercept and redirect system search links.

Telemetry, proxying, and data flow — the big caveat​

One critical technical unknown is how Windows would hand off queries. Would Windows Search simply construct a URL and let the chosen browser handle it end‑to‑end, or would Microsoft still proxy or enrich queries via its servers (for telemetry, ranking, or “enrichment” features) before redirecting to the default browser? The Canary flag names do not document telemetry behavior, and current reports caution that telemetry and data‑flow details remain unverified. Until Microsoft publishes implementation details or code paths, privacy‑sensitive users should treat telemetry claims as provisional.

Enterprise and compatibility concerns​

Redirecting shell‑level web links into third‑party browsers is not purely cosmetic. Enterprises expecting Edge to mediate SSO, conditional access, or web filtering may encounter compatibility issues if the OS begins opening links in unmanaged browsers. Administrators will expect:

• ADMX/GPO and Intune controls to enforce behavior at scale.
• Documentation on how search hand‑offs interact with managed browser policies, extension behavior, and corporate SSO flows.
• Clarity on telemetry and logging for auditing and compliance.

Early community writeups and forum threads emphasize the need for staged policy rollouts and clear management templates before enterprise‑scale deployment.

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The broader product and business picture​

Microsoft has two incentives pulling in different directions.

• On the compliance and UX side, respecting defaults reduces friction, avoids regulatory risk in the EEA, and addresses a long‑standing complaint.
• On the business side, Edge + Bing are strategic products: driving users into Edge supports Bing revenue and data collection, as well as Microsoft’s broader web ecosystem and AI integrations.

That tension helps explain the mixed signals: while the company appears to be engineering a path to respect defaults (at least as an option), other experiments inside Edge Canary show continued interest in nudging users toward Edge (for example, campaign flags that present “Pin Edge” prompts to heavy Chrome users). The practical upshot is likely to be a compromise: Windows may let defaults be honored while Edge continues to run targeted promotion experiments in other places.

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How to verify or test the behavior now (for enthusiasts and IT)​

If you want to watch the engineering work and test it yourself, follow cautious, staged steps. Do not use Canary flags on production machines.

• Install Microsoft Edge Canary (beware: experimental builds are unstable).
• Open edge://flags and search for tokens such as:
• msWSBLaunchNonBingDSE
• msWSBLaunchNonEdgeDB
• msWSBLaunchNonBingDSEAndNonEdgeDB
• If present, enable the relevant flags and restart Edge.
• Set your preferred browser as the default in Windows Settings and set the preferred default search engine in that browser.
• Use the taskbar / Start search and click a web result. Observe:
• Which browser opens
• Which search engine is used
• Whether any intermediary Microsoft processes appear in diagnostic logs

Community testers have documented similar steps for prior experiments; however, flags can change names or be removed at any time, and enabling Canary flags may destabilize browsing and system behavior. Back up machines and do testing only in isolated lab environments.

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Practical guidance for users today​

• If you need to avoid Edge/Bing today, you still have options:
• Set your default browser and search engine system‑wide (Settings > Apps > Default apps). In the EEA, Microsoft’s changes make this more comprehensive, and the browser may even be pinned to the taskbar during setup.
• Use proven community tools and registry workarounds with caution; they can break with Windows updates and are unsupported in enterprise contexts.
• For privacy‑oriented searches, use browsers that let you choose a non‑Bing default engine and confirm that browser is set as Windows’ default for http/https handling.
• If you’re in an enterprise, do not rely on Canary behavior. Instead:
• Monitor Insider and Beta release notes for a formal Feature ID and ADMX/Intune policy updates.
• Prepare lab tests for SSO, conditional access, and URL filtering scenarios once a Beta channel release appears.
• Ask vendor partners (CASB, web filtering, SSO) how they expect shell‑level changes to interact with managed browsers and agent‑based controls.

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Strengths of Microsoft’s potential change​

• Restores expected behavior: honoring system defaults is consistent with modern OS design and user expectations.
• Reduces brittle workarounds: an official path makes third‑party redirection tools unnecessary and more reliable.
• Aligns with regulatory precedent: Microsoft has already done the engineering for the EEA; extending that to other regions is feasible from a technical perspective.

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Risks and unanswered questions​

• Telemetry and privacy: It is not yet verified whether Windows Search will still proxy or enrich queries through Microsoft services before handing them off. Privacy‑minded users should remain cautious until Microsoft publishes implementation details.
• Fragmented experience: Different browsers and search engines provide different features and results — sending Windows shell links to varied engines may yield inconsistent experiences across devices.
• Enterprise disruption: SSO flows, extension‑based protections, and corporate filtering may behave differently if links open in non‑managed browsers.
• Partial rollouts and region gating: Microsoft’s EEA‑first approach means other regions may lag or receive a different feature set; Canary flags do not guarantee global rollout.

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Editorial analysis — what this change would actually mean for Windows’ ecosystem​

Restoring default respect in Windows Search is as much symbolic as it is practical. For years, the narrative that Windows nudged users to Edge/Bing has fed wider criticism that Microsoft leverages OS integration to protect product market share. Enabling the taskbar search to open a user’s browser/search combo would remove a conspicuous example of that behavior.
But it would not end Microsoft’s ability to promote Edge. The company retains many channels (setup flows, UI prompts, New Tab pages, targeted campaigns inside Edge) to encourage migration. What would change is the baseline expectation for users: a clicked link from the shell would no longer be presumed to belong in Edge. That is a meaningful shift, but not a complete reversal of Microsoft’s business strategy.
From a competition perspective, this move would lower a friction point for rival browser and search vendors and could modestly reduce Edge/Bing’s passive user acquisition from system flows. But feature parity — and user habit — still drive browser choice far more than a single system behavior.
Finally, the way Microsoft communicates this change matters. A transparent, documented rollout with clear policy knobs for admins and explicit privacy details would build trust. A piecemeal rollout accompanied by more aggressive Edge promo experiments would create the impression of a company complying only where required while continuing to hunt for growth elsewhere. Early signals in Canary suggest the company is trying both routes at once — technical options to respect defaults and targeted UX experiments that promote Edge to specific user cohorts.

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What to watch next — signals that the experiment is becoming real​

• Promotion of the flags from Edge Canary to Dev/Beta, and ultimately documentation of a Feature ID in Windows Insider release notes.
• Microsoft publishing ADMX templates or Intune settings that let admins manage default‑respect behavior.
• Official Windows release notes or support documentation clarifying telemetry and data‑flow behavior for Windows Search hand‑offs.
• Widespread reports from users outside the EEA that their taskbar search now launches the default browser and search engine without using Edge/Bing.

Insider channel progression and Microsoft’s official blogs are the definitive signals; until then, Canary traces remain suggestive but not final.

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Conclusion​

The discovery of WSB‑flag names in Edge Canary is a welcome and plausible engineering route toward finally making Windows 11 taskbar search respect your default browser and default search engine. The change would align the OS with modern expectations and reduce a persistent annoyance. But this is still experimental work: flags in Canary indicate direction, not destination.
Two realities are clear: Microsoft already changed behavior in the EEA because of the DMA, and the company has the technical capability to extend that behavior. Whether Microsoft chooses to do so globally, and whether it provides transparent privacy guarantees and enterprise controls, remains to be seen.
For now, Windows users and IT professionals should watch Insider/Beta channels closely, test in isolated environments if curious, and temper optimism with the practical caution that Canary flags are fleeting. The promise of a Windows Search that honors your choices is tantalizing — but believe it only when Microsoft ships it with the policies, documentation, and controls that make it safe and consistent for everyone.

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Source: TechRadar Is Microsoft about to give Windows 11 users a break from Edge and Bing being shoved in their faces? We can but hope…

 

[ChatGPT]

Microsoft’s long-running tug-of-war over whether taskbar searches belong in Edge/Bing or in the browser you actually set as default may finally be moving toward a resolution — experimental flags in Microsoft Edge Canary strongly suggest Windows 11 could start handing web queries from the taskbar to your chosen browser and search engine instead of forcing them into Edge and Bing.

Background​

For many Windows users the mismatch has been obvious: you set Chrome or Firefox as the default browser, type a query into the taskbar Search box, and Windows opens Microsoft Edge with Bing anyway. That behavior has been a source of friction for years, spawning third‑party workarounds and a steady stream of criticism from privacy‑minded and power users alike. Regulators in the European Economic Area (EEA) forced Microsoft to change some of this behavior regionally under the Digital Markets Act, but outside the EEA the system continued to prefer Edge for shell‑initiated web results.
What’s new is that Edge Canary — Microsoft’s most experimental browser channel — now contains internal flags whose names and reported behavior strongly imply a plan to respect both the Default Browser (DB) and Default Search Engine (DSE) when opening web results from the Windows Search Box (WSB). Those flags are not yet user‑facing features; they are developer toggles, but their names are highly descriptive and several independent testers have demonstrated working handoffs when the flags were enabled.

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What the Edge Canary flags actually show​

Decoding the flag names​

Several new flags discovered in Edge Canary contain tokens that are easy to translate:

• WSB — most likely Windows Search Box (the taskbar search UI).
• DSE — likely Default Search Engine.
• DB — likely Default Browser.
• NonBing / NonEdge — indicates non‑Bing or non‑Edge targets.
• Explicit — suggests a conditional or opt‑in mode rather than a universal override.

Flag names reported in the builds include msWSBLaunchNonBingDSE, msWSBLaunchNonEdgeDB, msWSBLaunchNonBingDSEAndNonEdgeDB, and msExplicitLaunchNonEdgeDB — names that, read literally, describe launching WSB results using a non‑Bing DSE into a non‑Edge DB. That’s exactly the UX many Windows users have requested for years.

What testers observed when flags were enabled​

Independent testers and reporters who enabled those flags in Edge Canary documented behavior where a taskbar search click opened the configured default browser and used the browser’s configured search engine (for example, Google via Chrome) rather than being routed into Edge/Bing. That practical observation is important: a flag’s name is suggestive, but seeing the behavior in action makes the case stronger that this is a real engineering path under active experimentation. Still, these tests are in Canary and may not reflect final behavior or rollout scope.

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Why this matters: user choice and UX parity​

For regular users the change is simple but meaningful: your system‑level defaults would finally be honored consistently. For years Windows has been an awkward hybrid where the OS-level setting for default browser didn’t apply to certain system-initiated links and search queries. If Microsoft ships this change widely:

• Clicking a taskbar search result could open Chrome or Firefox instead of Edge.
• The search query would go to your browser’s configured search engine (Google, DuckDuckGo, etc.), not necessarily Bing.
• The OS would present a more consistent, predictable experience for users who have already made a default choice.

That parity is not just cosmetic — it reduces the friction that forced users to maintain brittle third‑party redirection tools and it helps align Windows behavior with modern user expectations on other platforms.

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Regulatory context: why EEA changes matter​

Microsoft has already made related changes for users in the EEA to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). In the EEA Microsoft documented and shipped changes that allow Windows system components to open links in the system’s default browser and make third‑party search apps integratable with Windows Search. These EEA–specific behaviors are an explicit precedent; the Edge Canary flags look like an engineering route to broaden or generalize that behavior outside the EEA. However, Microsoft’s EEA changes were explicitly driven by regulatory obligations — that means the global rollout is not automatic and may depend on legal, policy, and commercial evaluations.

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Technical and privacy considerations (what we still don’t know)​

The Edge Canary flags are a promising signal, but they raise several important technical and privacy questions that Microsoft has not yet publicly documented. These include:

• Telemetry and proxying: Will queries be handed directly to the browser/search engine, or will they be proxied/enriched by Microsoft services first? The flags do not disclose whether any server‑side enrichment or telemetry collection will occur before handoff. Until Microsoft publishes technical documentation, privacy‑minded users should treat proxying as a possible behavior that remains unverified.
• Region gating: Will this behave differently by geography (EEA vs. rest of world)? Microsoft’s prior DMA compliance changes were region‑specific, and Canary flags may similarly be tested with region gating. Early EEA precedent suggests Microsoft knows how to implement region‑limited rollouts.
• Enterprise compatibility: Opening shell links in arbitrary browsers has implications for SSO, conditional access, extension‑based protections, and managed browsing policies. Enterprises must ensure any rollout exposes Group Policy/Intune/ADMX controls so admins can enforce a consistent, auditable routing behavior for corporate devices. The Canary flags do not yet show the enterprise policy knobs.
• Feature stability and naming: Flags are ephemeral, subject to renaming, and may be removed. Presence in Canary is not a shipping promise. The engineering path is visible, but the final API/UX may differ substantially.

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The balance of incentives: Microsoft can still promote Edge​

Even if Windows Search starts honoring default browsers and search engines, that does not remove Microsoft’s ability or incentive to promote Edge and Bing across Windows. Microsoft still controls many high‑visibility channels — setup flows, the Microsoft Store, New Tab pages, in‑OS recommendations, and targeted prompts — and it can continue to nudge users toward Edge. What the flags would do is reduce the passive advantages Edge/Bing gained from being the implicit handler for shell‑initiated links. In short: honoring defaults would be meaningful, but it is not the same as Microsoft abandoning all promotional efforts.

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Practical impact for different audiences​

For consumers​

• Better UX for default settings: Consumers who prefer Chrome or Firefox will get a more consistent experience, with taskbar searches opening in their chosen browser and search engine.
• Less reliance on hacks: Community tools developed to reroute searches into Chrome (EdgeDeflector‑style workarounds) will be less necessary if Microsoft ships an official option.
• Privacy caveats: Until Microsoft documents telemetry and handoff details, privacy‑conscious users should remain cautious about exactly how their queries are handled.

For power users and enthusiasts​

• Testable path today: Enthusiasts can experiment with Edge Canary flags to observe the behavior, but should do so only on non‑production systems because Canary builds are unstable and flags change often.
• Expect UI tweaks: Early reports mention additional UI work such as favicon handling or minor rendering changes for web results; these are small but helpful details for a polished experience.

For IT administrators and security teams​

• Policy controls required: Admins should demand Group Policy/Intune/ADMX settings to control whether Windows hands off shell‑initiated searches to unmanaged browsers, and to manage any telemetry implications.
• Test SSO/DLP flows: Redirecting links to third‑party browsers can change how single sign‑on, conditional access, and data loss prevention behave; thorough testing in lab environments is essential before broad rollout.

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How to try the experimental behavior (step‑by‑step for testers)​

• Install Microsoft Edge Canary on a non‑critical machine (Canary is experimental).
• Open edge://flags and search for tokens like “WSB”, “NonBingDSE”, or “NonEdgeDB.”
• Enable the relevant flags (if present), restart the browser, and set your preferred browser and search engine as defaults in Windows Settings.
• Invoke the taskbar Search and click a web result to see which browser opens and which engine is used.
• Record behavior and test enterprise workflows (SSO, conditional access, content filtering) if you manage corporate systems. Note: flags appear and disappear; the exact names and presence will vary across Canary builds.

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What to watch next (signals the experiment is moving toward release)​

• Promotion of the flags from Edge Canary into Dev and Beta channels and then inclusion in Windows Insider release notes indicates progress toward general availability.
• Microsoft publishing ADMX/Intune templates and documented feature IDs for the behavior will signal enterprise readiness.
• Official Microsoft documentation clarifying telemetry, proxying, and data flow for Windows Search handoffs is essential for privacy and legal clarity.
• Widespread user reports outside the EEA that the taskbar Search honors defaults without tinkering will be the most visible sign of a global rollout.

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Strengths, weaknesses, and open risks​

Strengths​

• Restores predictable default behavior: Aligns OS behavior with user expectations.
• Removes brittle third‑party hacks: Fewer community workarounds reduces fragility across updates.
• Regulatory consistency: Extends the EEA DMA precedent to a broader engineering solution, if Microsoft chooses to do so.

Weaknesses and risks​

• Canary flags may never ship: Experimental flags are not guarantees; Microsoft may alter or abandon the approach.
• Privacy ambiguity: Without clear documentation, it’s uncertain whether queries will be proxied or logged by Microsoft prior to handoff.
• Enterprise disruption: Redirects can break managed flows; admins need policy controls before widespread rollouts.
• Regional fragmentation: A staggered EEA‑first rollout could leave users outside the EEA waiting or with a different experience.

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The competitive landscape and why browser vendors care​

If Windows 11 taskbar searches genuinely open in the default browser/search engine across all markets, rival browser and search vendors stand to gain some passive traffic previously captured by Edge/Bing through shell flows. That change lowers a structural advantage Microsoft has enjoyed and puts more emphasis back on product features, performance, and user habit to win market share. At the same time, Microsoft’s other promotional levers mean the competitive fight isn’t over — it’s simply moved from a baked‑in OS advantage to a broader set of UX and marketing battlegrounds.

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A pragmatic checklist for admins and power users​

• For admins:
• Validate SSO, conditional access, and extension behavior when taskbar search opens non‑managed browsers.
• Request and test ADMX/Intune policy controls before permitting the change in production.
• Monitor Insider and Dev channel release notes for Feature IDs and policy documentation.
• For consumers and power users:
• Keep your browser and search engine defaults configured.
• Try Edge Canary on a test device only and treat flags as experimental.
• Watch for Microsoft documentation on privacy and telemetry to understand exactly what changes.

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Final analysis: cautious optimism​

The Edge Canary flags are the clearest engineering evidence yet that Microsoft is actively experimenting with making Windows 11 taskbar search respect the system default browser and default search engine. That would be a meaningful correction to a long‑running friction point and would align Windows search UX with what many users expect. The behavior mirrors Microsoft’s EEA DMA compliance work in spirit and in technical approach, and the flags provide a plausible route for a global implementation.
That said, there are three reasons to remain cautious. First, Canary flags are exploratory — they can change or disappear. Second, Microsoft has not yet published technical documentation on telemetry and data handling for the handoff, leaving privacy questions open. Third, enterprise and regional rollout details remain unclear; administrators should not assume a production‑ready policy surface until Microsoft releases ADMX/Intune controls.
If Microsoft follows through with transparent documentation, enterprise controls, and an honest privacy posture, this change will be a genuine win for user choice in Windows 11. If the company ships handoff behavior without clear controls or continues aggressive promotional nudges for Edge in parallel, the result will feel like compliance on paper but not in spirit. For now, the path forward is promising but incomplete — the most reliable stance is cautious optimism and active testing in controlled environments as Insider/Dev releases evolve.

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Microsoft’s next official signals — promotion of the flags into Dev/Beta channels, ADMX policy documentation, and an explicit blog post describing telemetry and rollout regions — will determine whether taskbar searches truly become browser‑agnostic for everyone, or remain a region‑restricted concession. The underlying user expectation is simple and reasonable: when you set a default browser and search engine, the operating system should respect that choice. The current Canary traces make that outcome look achievable; the task ahead is transparency and polished delivery.

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Source: Gizchina.com Windows 11 May Finally Respect Your Default Browser in Search