Windows users in the EEA will finally stop getting nagged about Edge

If you’re in Europe and tired of Windows pushing Microsoft Edge or the Microsoft Store, you’re finally getting some relief—assuming you live in the European Economic Area.

Thanks to ongoing enforcement of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Microsoft is expanding the list of apps and settings that EEA users can freely control. That includes the ability to uninstall the Microsoft Store entirely and dodge those persistent popups nudging users to make Edge their default browser.

EEA users gain more control over browser choices in Windows and can ditch Edge altogether

The changes started rolling out on May 29th with Edge version 137.0.3296.52 and will keep expanding through early June. If you’re in the region, you’ll also notice that switching your default browser (like Chrome or Firefox) now covers more file types—things like .svg, ftp, and read links. And yes, it pins that browser to your taskbar too, unless you tell it not to.

Microsoft even says that web content launched from widgets, Bing, or the lock screen will now open in your chosen browser, finally aligning with what users actually want. Remember, these updates only apply to the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, which means users in places like the US are out of luck—for now.

There’s no word on whether Microsoft plans to bring the same freedom to other regions, even though many of the company’s more aggressive browser and search behaviors have drawn criticism worldwide.

EEA users also get bonus control over how search works inside Windows itself. Third-party apps can now add their own web results into Windows Search, and users can reorder providers to their liking.

You’ll still get app updates even after removing the Microsoft Store, and you can reinstall it if needed. But for those tired of a bloated Start menu and forced defaults, this feels like the stripped-down Windows experience many have been asking for—just not in every country.