One of the most frequent complaints about Windows 11 since its release in 2021 has been how Microsoft handles programme defaults. When compared to Windows 10, the more recent OS makes it harder for people to abandon the company’s first-party products. You must access Windows 11’s Settings menu in order to alter the default programme by file and link type, for instance, if you don’t want Edge to open every time you click on a webpage or PDF. Customizing Windows 11 is a complicated process that takes an excessively long time.
Microsoft is now responding to some of those complaints. The business stated that it was “reaffirming our long-standing approach to put people in control of their Windows PC experience” in a blog post that was published on Friday (via Bleeping Computer). Microsoft unveiled a feature that, according to the company, will give Windows 11 customers control over modifications to their app defaults. When users wish to modify how Windows 11 reacts to particular links and file types, the firm will later this year release a new deep link unified resource identifier (URI), which will enable developers to direct users to the appropriate portion of the Settings menu.
A new public API from Microsoft will display a prompt asking you to grant programmes permission before they appear on those interface components, giving users more choice over which apps are pinned to their desktop, start menu, and taskbar. Prior to being included in the general release of Windows 11, these capabilities will initially be made available to PCs signed up for the Windows Insider Dev Channel in the upcoming months. In a noteworthy statement, Microsoft pledges to “lead by example” and offer updates for Edge that will enable the browser to integrate those capabilities when they become available.