Windows users in the EEA will soon be able to uninstall Edge, Bing & Co.
Microsoft is adapting Windows for many users in Europe due to the Digital Markets Act. From March 2024 at the latest, Bing and Edge, among others, can be uninstalled. This will make it easier to use other standard programmes.
Windows is becoming more user-friendly. Since yesterday, Microsoft has been testing the uninstallation of system apps such as Camera, Photos, Cortana, Bing web search and the Edge web browser in the release preview version of Windows 11. However, the last two programmes can only be uninstalled in countries in the European Economic Area (EEA). Countries such as Switzerland will therefore not benefit from this for the time being. This makes it easier to use an alternative default browser or search provider. This and other features will be rolled out for Windows 10 and 11 by 6 March 2024 at the latest. By then, Windows must be ready for the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which will then come into force.
As Microsoft writes in its blog, it is currently working on the interoperability - the smooth interaction - of various Windows functions. And there are two points that will also only be available for EEA countries (due to the DMA): Widget Feeds will in future allow third-party providers to serve as a source. This enables news from sources other than MSN. Third-party providers will also be able to make their web search available as the default for Windows search. In future, EEA residents will be able to search Duckduckgo and Co. directly in the taskbar or in the Start menu, provided that the desired search provider creates a corresponding app using the Windows App SDK. If several search providers are installed, Windows will always provide the last one used.
Those who live outside the EEA will still be able to use the exclusive functions with a trick. Microsoft will determine whether a computer receives them or not based on the country selected during setup. This means that new and reset computers in non-EEA countries will also benefit if they are assigned an EEA country. Changing the country after the first start has no effect.
If you want to uninstall system apps today, I recommend using the Revo Uninstaller or participating in the Windows Insider Programme.
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