Microsoft is finally changing this annoying Windows 11 behavior – but there’s a catch

Windows 11 has a change in testing which is able to please anybody who is fed up with Edge popping up when opening sure hyperlinks within the OS, regardless of it not being the default browser – but there’s a catch, sadly.

You’re absolutely accustomed to the state of affairs the place you open a hyperlink by way of a Windows system element – that means in a Windows 11 menu someplace, perhaps a assist hyperlink for instance – and it fires up Edge, moderately than your chosen favourite net browser.

There’s no method to modify that choice both, but in preview construct 23531 which was launched on the finish of final week within the Dev testing channel, Microsoft has modified it so these system elements use your default browser, as they need to.

As the weblog submit for construct 23531 makes clear: “In the European Economic Area (EEA), Windows system components use the default browser to open links.”

And in that sentence, you’ll be able to spot the catch: for now this is simply in European international locations (particularly the EEA), so it’s not taking place within the US or elsewhere.

Analysis: Come on Microsoft, push this out globally

Hopefully this function will witness a wider regional rollout in time – it’s a small tweak to make, and one which’ll positively decrease the annoyance issue when utilizing Windows 11.

Okay, so it isn’t that always that you just click on one in every of these system hyperlinks, but when Edge pops up unannounced, it may be fairly annoying. Especially because it inevitably additionally throws some sort of banner into the combination upon being opened for the primary time in a whereas (“hey, don’t forget about me, make me your default browser, go on, you know you want to,” and so forth).

Is there a cause Microsoft could have been pressured to do this in Europe, pertaining to laws or compliance points? We’re undecided, but the chatter on the rumor mill appears satisfied sufficient this is one thing Microsoft is solely doing to go off the hazard of being penalized by the EU ultimately. It does appear unusual that the change is Europe-only, in spite of everything.

That mentioned, if the suggestions is optimistic sufficient, perhaps the software program large will hear, and roll out this change extra broadly anyway, even when this in some way a pressured transfer in Europe.

Elsewhere in construct 23531, Microsoft has reinstated the search flyout while you mouse over the search field within the taskbar – not one thing everybody will admire. The excellent news is which you could flip off this operate in case you discover it irritating.

As ever with check builds of Windows 11, there’s no assure that the options being tried out in earlier previews will make the minimize for the ultimate model of the OS.

Via Windows Central

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