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Microsoft’s Windows 11 is undergoing a change that might bring a sigh of relief to those who have been frustrated by the persistent appearance of the Edge browser when opening certain links in the operating system, even if it’s not set as the default browser. This situation is familiar to many: you click a link within a Windows 11 system component, perhaps a help link in a menu, and Edge springs into action, disregarding your preferred browser choice.
Previously, there was no way to alter this setting. However, in the recently released preview build 23531, available on the Dev testing channel, Microsoft has tweaked this so that system components now respect your default browser choice. This change was highlighted in the blog post for build 23531, which stated: “In the European Economic Area (EEA), Windows system components use the default browser to open links.” However, there’s a caveat: this change is currently only applicable in the EEA, leaving users in the US and other regions still dealing with the Edge pop-up issue. This has led to calls for Microsoft to implement this change globally.
While it’s true that system links aren’t clicked frequently, the unexpected appearance of Edge can be a nuisance, particularly when it also displays a banner urging users to set it as the default browser. Speculation is rife as to why this change is currently only in effect in Europe. Could it be due to regulatory or compliance issues? Some believe that Microsoft is making this change to avoid potential penalties from the EU.
However, if the response to this change is positive, it’s possible that Microsoft might extend this feature to other regions, even if it was initially a forced move in Europe. In other developments in build 23531, Microsoft has reintroduced the search flyout when you hover over the search box in the taskbar. Not everyone will welcome this feature, but the good news is that it can be turned off if found irritating. As always with Windows 11 test builds, there’s no guarantee that features tested in earlier previews will be included in the final version of the operating system.
