From the macOS-inspired flat design to the centred Start menu, plenty of Windows 11 features have had users up in arms since it was unveiled last year. But arguably the most contentious of them all was the frankly ludicrous method of changing the default web browser.
You'd think changing the browser would be as simple as a single click, right? Surely you wouldn't be expected to choose the preference for each and every file type, right? You wouldn't expect to be strong-armed into growing with Microsoft Edge, right? Well, that's exactly the situation Windows 11 users found themselves in, until this week. (Check out the best Microsoft Surface deals if you're in the market for new gear.)
Windows 11 users haven't loved the centred Start menu (Image credit: Microsoft)
Not only did every extension (such as .html and .pdf) require individually assigning to a browser, but pretty much every web link included in the Windows OS itself would open up Microsoft Edge. That meant the Start menu's search bar was pretty useless to any, say, Chrome users (I hear there are a few of them).
But in a rare moment of acquiescence (like a slightly less dramatic version of Paramount's Sonic the Hedgehog redesign), it seems Microsoft has listened to users. Finally, with the latest Windows 11 update, users can select a system-wide browser under the default apps menu in Settings.
Social media users have been calling the browser selection process a nightmare for nearly a year, so we have a feeling this subtle yet profound change is going to prove a welcome one. Indeed, it's been a busy week in the wacky world of web browsers – take a look at Google's mildly interesting new Chrome icon.
Daniel John is Senior News Editor at Creative Bloq. He reports on the worlds of art, design, branding and lifestyle tech (which often translates to tech made by Apple). He joined in 2020 after working in copywriting and digital marketing with brands including ITV, NBC, Channel 4 and more.
