Windows 11 will stop imposing Edge on users, but only in Europe

Microsoft ha anunciado que dejará de hacer de Edge el navegador predeterminado para los usuarios de Windows 11 en Europa, tras una queja de la Comisión Europea. La compañía dijo que respetará la elección de navegador de los usuarios y no les pedirá que cambien a Edge cuando abran un navegador diferente o hagan clic en un enlace. Este cambio entrará en vigor en la próxima actualización de Windows 11, prevista para principios de 2024.

Edge is Microsoft’s latest attempt to regain its dominance in the browser market, after losing ground to competitors such as Chrome, Firefox and Safari. Edge is based on the Chromium engine, which powers most popular browsers today. Microsoft claims that Edge is faster, more secure and more compatible than other browsers, and offers features such as Collections, Vertical Tabs and Immersive Reader.

However, not everyone is convinced of Edge’s advantages. Many users prefer to stick with their preferred browser and do not appreciate Microsoft’s efforts to persuade them to switch. Some users have complained that Windows 11 makes it difficult to change the default browser, forcing them to change settings for each file type and protocol separately. Others have reported that Windows 11 sometimes resets the default browser to Edge without their consent.

The European Commission, which is responsible for enforcing competition law in the European Union, has been monitoring Microsoft’s behavior with respect to Edge. The Commission has already fined Microsoft for bundling Internet Explorer with Windows and for not offering a choice of browsers to Windows users. The Commission has also opened an investigation into Microsoft’s acquisition of Nuance, a voice recognition company.

In a statement, the Commission said it had received a complaint from a group of browser manufacturers, alleging that Microsoft was abusing its dominant position in the operating system market to promote Edge. The Commission said it had engaged in a constructive dialogue with Microsoft and that the company had agreed to stop imposing Edge on Windows 11 users in Europe as a remedy. The Commission said it will continue to monitor Microsoft’s compliance with the remedy and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary.

Microsoft said it respects the Commission’s decision and will implement the fix as soon as possible. The company said it remains committed to providing an excellent browsing experience for Windows 11 users and will continue to innovate with Edge. The company also said it hopes users will try Edge and see for themselves how it can improve their online productivity and security.

The change mentioned in the article concerns how Start Search links and widgets in Windows 11 open in web browsers. Instead of forcing these links to open exclusively in Microsoft Edge, the change will allow them to open in the user’s default browser. This change is initially being implemented in the European Economic Area, which includes all European Union countries, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It is likely that this change will eventually be implemented in the general release of Windows 11 worldwide.

The primary reason for making this change in Europe is to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which is a set of regulations intended to promote competition and address antitrust concerns in the digital marketplace. Europe has stricter economic laws related to competition compared to many other parts of the world, and the European Commission has been actively scrutinizing and enforcing these laws on major U.S. technology companies. In this context, Microsoft is likely adjusting its practices in Europe to align with the upcoming regulations, ensuring that it does not face any legal challenges or penalties related to competition issues in the region.

This change is important for users who prefer to use browsers other than Microsoft Edge, as it allows them to have a smoother experience when interacting with links from the Start menu and Windows 11 widgets, making it easier to use their preferred default browser.