Microsoft Redesigns Windows 11 Settings UI for Default Apps Including Browsers

Microsoft’s Recognition of Default App Choices

In September of this year, Microsoft officially acknowledged the significant role that default app selections play in enhancing user workflow and system performance. This acknowledgment marks a pivotal shift in the company’s approach, one that underscores the necessity and implications of user preferences in software.

The Backstory: Controversies Surrounding Default Apps

To understand the current dialogue around default app choices in Windows 11, it’s essential to revisit the company’s historical actions. Microsoft has faced scrutiny for its efforts to steer users toward its own applications as defaults. This trend has been particularly pronounced in the realm of web browsers, drawing criticism from third-party developers.

Critics, including the browser Vivaldi, have labeled Microsoft as “openly abusive”and “desperate”in their attempts to maintain a monopoly over default applications. The situation escalated when the European Union was urged to intervene, showcasing the friction between Microsoft and other software providers. Additionally, earlier this year, the company introduced a “UCPD”driver aimed at preventing third-party Registry modifications related to default app settings.

UI Revamp for Default App Settings

Recently, Microsoft has been working on enhancing the user interface (UI) within the Settings app of Windows 11, particularly concerning the section dedicated to default app choices. Insights shared by Windows enthusiast and X user Albacore revealed that the current design is cluttered with placeholder elements, including incomplete ViewModels and poorly aligned text descriptions.

This update is tied to Windows 11 build 24H2 (version 26120.2213), which has been rolled out under update KB5045885. Albacore’s observations indicate that while the overhaul is intended to streamline the default app configuration process, the current state of the UI is far from polished.

Configuring default apps is getting an overhaul. It’s a mess of placeholders and broken viewmodels at the moment, all very early. pic.twitter.com/C3Pg7Pm9MK

— Albacore ☁️ (@thebookisclosed) November 10, 2024

What’s Next for Default App Choices?

The latest UI updates hint at a new format for the Default Apps selection interface, now featuring prompts like “Set a default for a file type or link type.” However, it remains uncertain what the finalized changes will entail once the design is fully realized. Users will be keen to see how these modifications will ultimately affect their experience navigating default application settings.

For further details on Microsoft’s evolving strategy regarding default app selections, you can read more here.