Microsoft eases Edge prompts for Windows users in Europe amid DMA pressure

• Microsoft is reducing (but won’t eliminate) prompts to use Microsoft Edge on Windows 11 and 10 for users in the European Economic Area.
• Users can now set a different default browser more easily, and the change applies to more link and file types.
• These updates are part of changes rolling out in June 2025.

Microsoft is making significant changes to Windows 11 and 10 in the European Economic Area (EEA) to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). These updates give users more control over their default applications and reduce the persistent prompts to use Microsoft Edge.

Microsoft Edge behavior changes

According to the company announcement, users will no longer receive frequent notifications urging them to set Microsoft Edge as their default browser.

This change is part of Microsoft’s efforts to comply with the DMA and enhance user choice.

Also, when users in Europe set a browser other than Microsoft Edge as their default, Windows 11 (and 10) will now apply this preference to a broader range of file and link types, including “.htm,” “.html,” “.svg,” and “FTP” links.

In addition, the selected browser will be pinned to the Taskbar by default unless the user opts out.

If you want to set another browser as the system default, open Settings > Apps > Default apps, select the new browsing application, and click the “Set as default” button.

After changing the browser settings, the Widgets and Lock Screen features will open web content with the new default browser. Also, starting with Edge version 137.0.3296.52 and later, you won’t be prompted to set it as default unless you open it directly.

Finally, if you choose to uninstall the app, other apps developed by Microsoft won’t ask you to reinstall Edge unless they’re web apps distributed by the Microsoft Store that require the browser to work.

Microsoft Store uninstall option

In addition, for the first time, users in the EEA will have the option to uninstall the Microsoft Store app. However, updates for apps installed through the Store will continue, and the app can be reinstalled at any time as necessary.

It’s important to note that Windows 11 (and 10) already offer an option to uninstall Microsoft Edge in the European Economic Area to comply with the Digital Markets Act.

If you want to uninstall the Microsoft Store app, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, open the app’s menu and choose the “Uninstall” button.

Windows Search with search providers

Finally, Microsoft is making changes to the Windows Search experience to allow third-party services to integrate into the feature, offering more flexibility in how search functions within the operating system.

If you want to change the web search provider, open Settings > Privacy & security > Search permissions, and use the “Let search apps show results” setting.

According to the support page, developers will make additional search providers available as MSIX packages, which you can then uninstall from the “Installed apps” page.

Some developers have created apps that add search providers like Google and DuckDuckGo to Windows 11 in the EEA, which you can download from this GitHub page.

I also assume that most developers will publish their search providers through the Microsoft Store, even though the announcement and support pages aren’t mentioned.

Although these are welcome changes for Windows 11 and Windows 10 users, Microsoft should make these types of changes in all supported markets and not only in those territories where the company is being forced to comply.

These changes have begun rolling out in preview builds and are expected to be generally available to all EEA users in June 2025. Microsoft has stated that it will update its official blog post as these changes ship, first in Insider builds and eventually in retail builds for all EEA users.