New EU rules: Windows 11 users will now be able to uninstall programs and change default settings
In March 2024, the Digital Markets Act will come into force in the EU, which will have a significant impact on many tech companies and their decisions. In particular, Microsoft will have to make significant changes to its Windows 11 operating system.
Microsoft will soon allow Windows 11 users in the European Economic Area (EEA) to disable Bing web search, uninstall Microsoft Edge, and even add third-party web search providers to the Windows search interface. Microsoft will be required to comply with a variety of compatibility and competition rules, including those that allow users to “easily uninstall installed programs or change default settings in operating systems, virtual assistants, or browsers that direct them to the gatekeeper’s products and services and provide screens for selecting key services.” The EEA markets include all EU countries, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
In addition to clearly indicating which programs are system components in Windows 11, Microsoft is adding the ability to uninstall such programs:
- Camera
- Cortana
- Web Search by Microsoft Bing (in the EEA)
- Microsoft Edge (in the EEA)
- Photos
Only EEA users will be able to completely remove Microsoft Edge and Bing-based web search. Microsoft could extend these capabilities to all Windows 11 users, but it limits them to the region where regulations require it.
In the EEA markets, Windows 11 users will also have access to new compatibility features for channels in the Windows Widget Board and web search in Windows Search. This will allow search service providers such as Google to extend the basic Windows search interface with their own Internet search solutions. If you have more than one search provider installed, the last one you used will be displayed when you open Windows Search.
Microsoft has already started testing these new changes in Windows 11 in Release Preview, and plans to provide preview access to additional changes in Windows 10 in Release Preview “at a later date.” Both operating systems will be updated to comply with the EU Digital Single Market Act by March 6, 2024.
