Microsoft will make it simpler in Windows 11 to swap default apps
An often-repeated criticism about Windows is that it is difficult to alter the system’s pre-set default programmes.
According to the company’s blog post, “We want to ensure that people are in control of what gets pinned to their Desktop, their Start menu, and their Taskbar as well as to be able to control their default applications, such as their default browser, through consistent, clear, and trustworthy Windows provided system dialogues and settings.”
As a result of the time-consuming procedure of updating apps, the technology giant has reacted. If you want to switch from Microsoft Edge to Google Chrome, for example, you’ll need to do more than just make Chrome your system’s default browser; you’ll also need to explicitly make it the default for every file type and link type that uses Edge.
Microsoft may have implemented this to give consumers finer control over their apps, but the complicated approach has frustrated users.
In order to facilitate the “ability to make their app the default or pin their app to the taskbar,” Microsoft has introduced a “standard supported mechanism” for app developers.
It also stated that its own apps will follow the same pinning and defaults guidelines to guarantee that its app ecosystem would not be favoured.
Specifically, developers will be given a new Settings deep link URI (Universal Resource Identifier) to employ in order to direct their consumers to the most suitable default settings.
Microsoft will offer an application programming interface (API) that will enable third-party apps to be automatically pinned as primary or secondary tiles on the taskbar.
Microsoft has said that the Windows Insider Channel would be the first to get these updates over the following months.