Security News > 2021 > December > Microsoft reverses Windows 11's annoying default browser setting changes

Microsoft has reversed a Windows 11 design change that made it highly annoying to change the default browser used by the operating system.
Previously, web browsers could configure themselves as the default browser by modifying the Windows Registry.
After adware and other unwanted programs began hijacking default program settings without permission, Microsoft added restrictions in Windows 10 that required users to specifically choose their default programs.
Microsoft decided to make it difficult for Windows 11 users to change their default browser.
With the release of the Windows 11 Insider build 22509, Microsoft has reversed its decision and added a 'Set default' button that allows you to configure your default web browser quickly.
"In the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22509 released to the Dev Channel on Wednesday, we streamlined the ability for a Windows Insider to set the 'default browser' to apps that register for HTTP:, HTTPS:,.HTM, and.HTML," Aaron Woodman, vice president of Windows marketing, told The Verge.
News URL
Related news
- Microsoft lifts Windows 11 update block for some AutoCAD users (source)
- Microsoft replacing Remote Desktop app with Windows App in May (source)
- Microsoft: Recent Windows updates make USB printers print random text (source)
- Microsoft patches Windows Kernel zero-day exploited since 2023 (source)
- Microsoft: March Windows updates mistakenly uninstall Copilot (source)
- Microsoft fixes Windows update bug that uninstalled Copilot (source)
- Microsoft lifts Windows 11 upgrade block after Asphalt 8 crash fix (source)
- Microsoft: Recent Windows updates cause Remote Desktop issues (source)
- Microsoft fixes printing issues caused by January Windows updates (source)
- Microsoft: New Windows scheduled task will launch Office apps faster (source)