Microsoft Stops Bing Compulsion In Europe in Windows 11

The content presented in Windows search from the Internet will soon no longer be limited to Bing. Microsoft opens up in Europe and lets Google move into the start menu. But the search engine competitors have to become active for this.

Google instead of Bing, also in the start menu

Microsoft’s recent Windows 11 Insider Preview (Build 23521) patch notes within the Dev Channel reveal two fundamental changes to Windows search and data sharing between Microsoft services that only apply to the European Economic Area (EEA) and therefore affect German Windows users – both positively and negatively.

“Windows Search now uses the Microsoft Bing Search app to display web content and search results. In the European Economic Area (EEA), you can use settings to enable installed Microsoft Store apps that implement a web search provider to display web content and search results in the Show Windows search.”

As a result of these changes, search engines such as Google will also be able to move into the Windows search in the future – if they offer a suitable app in the Microsoft Store. It can be strongly assumed that the Redmond company will bow to current or upcoming rules of the European Union in order to avoid possible sanctions in advance.

This is easily recognizable by the detours that competitors have to put up with via the app store instead of giving users a choice from Google, from the factory.

Data protection in Windows services

“In the European Economic Area (EEA), Windows will now require consent to share data between Windows and other signed-in Microsoft services. Without consent to share data between Windows and other signed-in Microsoft services, some features in Windows features may not be available.”

The hitherto quick registration for Microsoft services with the Windows account could therefore take a little more time in the future, at least until all approvals have been granted. If you don’t want to do this, Microsoft sees, among other things, restrictions on “certain types of file recommendations under “Recommended,” in the Start menu”. It remains to be seen which comfort functions will also be restricted.

So far, the changes only apply to Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23521 in the dev channel. It is not yet certain when the new options for the Windows search and the changes in data protection will also reach the average consumer. An introduction on the occasion of the Windows 11 23H2 update in the course of autumn would be conceivable.