All hail the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which in recent times has been utilized by the bloc to power numerous tech giants into being a little bit extra thoughtful of customers. The DMA’s newest superb victory comes towards Microsoft which, ever since September 2023, has been designated by the EU fee as a “gatekeeper” due to Home windows: that means it has to publish yearly compliance reviews about the way it’s adhering to its obligations underneath the DMA.
Which brings us to the excellent news. Microsoft has introduced that, throughout the European Financial Space, Home windows customers will now have the choice to uninstall the Microsoft Retailer. Must you select to uninstall the Microsoft Retailer, any apps put in from it can stay and proceed to be up to date.
That is not all: customers may also not get these fixed irritating prompts asking them to make Microsoft Edge their default browser (it will nonetheless do that should you open Edge, however by you then’ve made your alternative). A knock-on impact is that different Home windows performance, just like the Widgets Board and Lock Display, will now play properly along with your default browser and open that somewhat than making an attempt to sneak in Edge.
The assorted modifications to Home windows 10 and 11 inside the EEA are outlined in full right here. Let’s breathe in that European air, as a result of it smells good: “When Microsoft Edge is uninstalled, different Microsoft apps gained’t immediate you to reinstall it within the EEA (excluding PWAs distributed within the Microsoft Retailer utilizing Microsoft Edge know-how).”
Jolly good present, would not you say? These enhancements to the person expertise come after many extra DMA-related concessions from Microsoft, together with permitting customers to uninstall Edge fully and take away Bing outcomes from Home windows search. Microsoft even has to run its personal DMA compliance web site, the place you’ll be able to learn all in regards to the issues it is achieved to advertise “contestability and equity within the digital sector.”
