Microsoft has released the new version of Windows 10 22H2 in preview and for the Insider test channel. The update focuses on compliance with European Union laws on digital markets.

You already know that Microsoft (and other software providers) They must update their development to meet the new European standard which aims, among other things, to promote competition and to regulate (if possible) the exploitation and abuse carried out by companies that monopolize individual sectors. Microsoft is one of them (not the only one) and uses Windows market share to favor its own services and applications.

Settings in Windows 10 22H2

Microsoft has already released an update for Windows 11, and now it’s Windows 10’s turn, all the more important because it’s still – by far – the most used operating system on PCs. Both systems must be DMA compliant before the March 6, 2024 deadline, so stable versions are expected to be released before that deadline.

The Windows 10 22H2 update is KB5034203 and carries the build number 19045.3996. Although the company has announced that it will not release new features for this system, that one includes a new weather widget for the lock screen that few people use, but it’s there. Microsoft also implements Copilot in Windows 10, and when it matters (you can’t do without 1 billion computers to make investment in AI profitable), the previous arguments are eliminated.

However, the relevant part of the update is the changes in line with the European Water Framework Directive. Some of them, like uninstalling Edge, were listed as “impossible” because they “broke” the operating system according to Microsoft… The most important ones are:

• Windows clearly identifies operating system functionality in places like Settings, Home, and Search, for example distinguishing between system tools and added apps.
• Windows application can be uninstalled and include the Camera, Cortana, Microsoft Bing web search, Photos or Microsoft Edge browser, which until now was considered “system”.
• Interoperability with Windows features that should make it easier to compete with third-party solutions. In addition to the previous ones, two new points of interoperability will now be included, namely on the Widgets panel and on the search panel.
• Microsoft account. Windows will need to ask users if they want to sync their Microsoft account with Windows so that the data is available on other Windows devices and Microsoft products.
• Default application. Windows notifies users when they open content registered by a newly installed app so they can easily change its default settings. The system will use the default settings of each application that have been configured by customers for the types of links and files, including standard browser links that have been compromised.

We will test all these changes and let you know. They should arrive on the stable channel before March 6 for Windows 10 and 11.