Previewing modifications in Home windows to adjust to the Digital Markets Act within the European Financial Space
Hi there Home windows Insiders,
Microsoft is working to make sure compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) within the European Financial Space (EEA). We have now launched the November 2023 non-security preview replace for Home windows 11, model 23H2 to the Launch Preview Channel (Build 22631.2787) that previews most of the modifications we’ve made to Home windows 11 to fulfill these obligations. [UPDATE 12/7] We have now additionally enabled the November 2023 non-security preview replace for Home windows 10, model 22H2 Build 19045.3758 with most of the modifications we’ve made to Home windows 10 to fulfill these obligations. These modifications will steadily be rolling out to gadgets in Launch Preview over the following couple weeks. We will likely be previewing modifications for Home windows 10 within the Launch Preview Channel at a later date. We’ll be updating Home windows 10, model 22H2 and Home windows 11, model 23H2 PCs within the EEA to be compliant by March 6th, 2024.
Home windows working system and apps
Prospects utilizing Home windows have at all times used a mix of working system performance in addition to apps, however now Home windows will clearly establish working system performance in locations like Settings, Begin, and Search:
- Settings > System > System Parts will present notable working system parts.
- Begin menu’s All Apps checklist has been renamed to All and working system parts are labeled with “system”.
- Beneath Search, search outcomes will present working system parts labeled with “system”.
All apps in Home windows might be uninstalled. In fact, apps can at all times be put in once more from the Microsoft Retailer and web. Settings > Apps > Put in apps proceed to indicate all of the apps put in on the PC and we’ve added the flexibility to uninstall:
- Digital camera
- Cortana
- Net Search from Microsoft Bing, within the EEA
- Microsoft Edge, within the EEA
- Images
Interoperability with Home windows options
Home windows is an open platform and has a sturdy API floor that builders use to create thousands and thousands of Home windows apps. Many current options in Home windows have been constructed particularly to allow richer app performance, resembling toast notifications (Toast notifications – Windows apps | Microsoft Learn) and widgets (Windows Widgets – Windows apps | Microsoft Learn).
Extra interoperability factors in Home windows at the moment are out there. Persevering with with the mannequin used for cloud information (Build a Cloud Sync Engine that Supports Placeholder Files – Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn), these new interoperability factors additionally use an app-based mannequin. This advantages the app, the app developer, and the client. Apps can convey their distinctive differentiation to extra prospects by being hosted immediately in Home windows options, and prospects can select to make use of their most well-liked expertise for frequent duties in Home windows, like looking out the web.
Within the EEA, two new interoperability factors can be found:
Microsoft account knowledge
Within the EEA, Home windows will ask customers in the event that they wish to sync their Microsoft account with Home windows in order that Home windows knowledge is offered on their different Home windows gadgets and in Microsoft merchandise that customers signal into. The knowledge saved to a person’s Microsoft account from different Microsoft merchandise may also be out there in Home windows. Amongst different issues, this allows a person to revive settings, apps, and passwords from one other computer. It’s going to additionally sync pinned apps and preferences throughout gadgets and shortly discover information and apps.
Default apps
Home windows will proceed to immediate prospects when they’re opening content material {that a} newly put in app registers for to allow them to simply change their default. Prospects can proceed to simply configure app defaults in Settings > Apps > Default apps.
Apps can immediate prospects to vary app defaults by opening Home windows Settings to the app’s defaults web page, as famous in A principled approach to app pinning and app defaults in Windows | Windows Experience Blog. Builders can use the directions right here for his or her apps: Launch the Default Apps settings page – UWP applications | Microsoft Learn .
Within the EEA, Home windows will at all times use prospects’ configured app default settings for hyperlink and file varieties, together with business normal browser hyperlink varieties (http, https). Apps select easy methods to open content material on Home windows, and a few Microsoft apps will select to open internet content material in Microsoft Edge.
European Financial Space PCs
As famous above, some performance is simply out there within the EEA. Home windows makes use of the area chosen by the client throughout machine setup to establish if the PC is within the EEA. As soon as chosen in machine setup, the area used for DMA compliance can solely be modified by resetting the PC.
The replace that we’re previewing in Launch Preview as we speak for Home windows 11, model 23H2 doesn’t embrace Copilot in Home windows (in preview) within the EEA. Copilot in Home windows continues to be rolled out steadily to Home windows Insiders in choose international markets. The preliminary markets for the Copilot in Home windows (in preview) embrace North America, United Kingdom and components of Asia and South America. It’s our intention so as to add further markets over time together with the EEA.
We look ahead to persevering with to work with the European Fee to finalize our compliance obligations.
Thanks,
Home windows Insider Program Crew
EDITOR’S NOTE: We up to date this weblog put up to mirror the provision of the November 2023 non-security preview replace for Home windows 11, model 23H2 to the Launch Preview Channel.