Microsoft announces upcoming changes to Windows to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act

Update: The changes are now live on the latest Release Preview build (KB5032288).

Microsoft has just announced plans to make some changes to Windows 11 23H2 as well as Windows 10 22H2 so that both versions will comply with the European Union's Digital Market Act.

In a blog post, Microsoft says the changes will be included in an upcoming Windows 11 23H2 build in the Release Preview channel of the Windows Insider Program. Those changes will also be added to a Release Preview build of Windows 10 at a later date. Both Windows 11 23H2 and Windows 10 22H2 will be made to comply with the DMA by its deadline of March 6, 2024;

Here are the details in the blog post:

Windows operating system and apps

Customers using Windows have always used a combination of operating system functionality as well as apps, but now Windows will clearly identify operating system functionality in places like Settings, Start, and Search:

Settings > System > System Components will show notable operating system components.

Start menu’s All Apps list has been renamed to All and operating system components are labeled with “system”.

Under Search, search results will show operating system components labeled with “system”.

System labeling under Start menu’s All list.

All apps in Windows can be uninstalled. Of course, apps can always be installed again from the Microsoft Store and internet. Settings > Apps > Installed apps continue to show all the apps installed on the PC and we’ve added the ability to uninstall:

Camera

Cortana

Web Search from Microsoft Bing, in the EEA

Microsoft Edge, in the EEA

Photos

Interoperability with Windows features

Windows is an open platform and has a robust API surface that developers use to create millions of Windows apps. Many existing features in Windows were built specifically to enable richer app functionality, such as toast notifications and widgets

More interoperability points in Windows are now available. Continuing with the model used for cloud files, these new interoperability points also use an app-based model. This benefits the app, the app developer, and the customer. Apps can bring their unique differentiation to more customers by being hosted directly in Windows features, and customers can choose to use their preferred experience for common tasks in Windows, like searching the internet.

In the EEA, two new interoperability points are available:

Feeds in the Windows Widgets Board:

Web search in Windows Search:

Example of new interoperability point for web search

Example of new interoperability point for widgets.

Microsoft account data

In the EEA, Windows will ask users if they want to sync their Microsoft account with Windows so that Windows data is available on their other Windows devices and in Microsoft products that users sign into. The information saved to a user’s Microsoft account from other Microsoft products will also be available in Windows. Among other things, this enables a user to restore settings, apps, and passwords from another pc. It will also sync pinned apps and preferences across devices and quickly find files and apps.

Default apps

Windows will continue to prompt customers when they are opening content that a newly installed app registers for so they can easily change their default. Customers can continue to easily configure app defaults in Settings > Apps > Default apps.

Apps can prompt customers to change app defaults by opening Windows Settings to the app’s defaults page, as noted in A principled approach to app pinning and app defaults in Windows | Windows Experience Blog. Developers can use the instructions here for their apps: Launch the Default Apps settings page – UWP applications | Microsoft Learn .

In the EEA, Windows will always use customers’ configured app default settings for link and file types, including industry standard browser link types (http, https). Apps choose how to open content on Windows, and some Microsoft apps will choose to open web content in Microsoft Edge.

European Economic Area PCs

As noted above, some functionality is only available in the EEA. Windows uses the region chosen by the customer during device setup to identify if the PC is in the EEA. Once chosen in device setup, the region used for DMA compliance can only be changed by resetting the PC.

The update that we’re previewing in Release Preview today for Windows 11, version 23H2 does not include Copilot in Windows (in preview) in the EEA. Copilot in Windows continues to be rolled out gradually to Windows Insiders in select global markets. The initial markets for the Copilot in Windows (in preview) include North America, United Kingdom and parts of Asia and South America. It is our intention to add additional markets over time including the EEA.

We look forward to continuing to work with the European Commission to finalize our compliance obligations.