Windows 11 gets to dodge Edge in Europe (again), but don't hold your breath for this in the US

Microsoft has made another change in Windows 11 which is for European users only, moving away from the practice of promoting Edge - and we wish these nuances would be more widely deployed to the US and elsewhere.

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Windows Latest reports that in the European Economic Area (EEA), the widgets board in Windows 11 now opens links in the default browser, rather than overriding that preference to use Microsoft's own Edge app.

So, if you've set Chrome - or Firefox, Opera, or whatever alternative - as your default web browser, links from the widget panel will open in that browser, as they should do.

Like other changes relating to not promoting Edge (or other Microsoft properties), this is happening due to European regulations (the Digital Markets Act to be precise).

Windows Latest tested the behavior using a virtual machine, confirming that it works - and that Spotlight links on the desktop and lock screen are also fired up in the correct default browser, rather than Edge.

However, if you're based in Europe and this isn't happening for you, it's likely because an update that's piped through from the Microsoft Store hasn't been applied yet.

Windows Latest explains that you need to go into the Microsoft Store, head to Downloads and then click 'Check for updates' - the relevant update you need is for Start Experiences App apparently. Once that's installed, you should get your default browser with widget board links.

Might Microsoft eventually bring this, and other Edge-dodging changes, which are currently Europe-only, to the rest of the world? We're not holding our breath, frankly, and we don't see this happening in the US, not unless similar regulatory pressures as seen in the EU are exerted on Microsoft.