Microsoft will finally stop nagging Windows users about Edge, but only in Europe

Microsoft is rolling out several Windows changes for users in the European Economic Area (EEA) in response to the Digital Markets Act. Among the most impactful, Microsoft Edge will no longer prompt EEA users to set it as the default web browser unless opened directly, and when Edge is uninstalled, other Microsoft apps will not encourage reinstalling it. Alongside this, the Microsoft Bing app will now open web content in the user’s chosen default browser, and not necessarily Edge, for those in the EEA.

Additionally, Microsoft now allows users in the EEA to uninstall the Microsoft Store. Importantly, applications installed through the Store will still receive updates and security fixes even if the Store itself is removed. At the same time, third-party apps can now provide web search results within Windows Search for EEA users, expanding integration options.

With this update, browser defaults see enhanced application. Setting a default browser now covers a broader array of link types, such as ftp, and more file formats including .mht, .svg, .xml, and .pdf, as long as the selected browser supports them. These updates collectively provide more granular control over browser and app choices to users in the EEA.