What is undoubtedly the most frustrating behavior of Edge on Windows 11 has now been fixed by Microsoft. Even if Edge is not your usual browser, when you click a link from the operating system, the latter will open it on Edge automatically. Thanks to the European Union, this is no longer the case.
Even though Edge has largely corrected the shortcomings of its forebear, many people are still accustomed to using Chrome, Firefox, or even another browser to access the internet. Additionally, it can be really irritating to see Windows 11's logo when you click on a link from a third-party application. To avoid this, you typically need to make your way through the OS settings or utilize a specialized program like EdgeDeflector or MSEdgeRedirect.
Fortunately, Microsoft has added another useful function to its browser today, following the addition of a feature that makes it easy to screenshot YouTube. In fact, the Redmond company has somewhat changed how Edge behaves in Windows 11 build 23531, which is now accessible through the Insider program's Dev channel. From this point forward, Edge no longer launches when you click on a link from the Start menu or another application.
WINDOWS 11 NOW PREFERS YOUR DEFAULT BROWSER TO EDGE, Phew
Instead, (miracle!) the default browser that you have set up for use opens. Microsoft has also included a clarification to their changelog that is, to put it mildly, fascinating and clarifies that this alteration is, in fact, only applicable within the European Union. Therefore, it is safe to assume that the Redmond company was compelled to cease advertising its own browser and eventually let customers to pick their own choice in order to avoid some legal issues.
However, this also implies that, if the change ever occurs, you may have to wait a bit longer if you're reading us from a nation outside the European Union before it appears on your PC. If you wish to prevent Edge from opening abruptly until then, the aforementioned alternatives are still quite effective even though they are less practical.