Microsoft wants to make choosing default apps in Windows 11 easier

Microsoft wants Windows 11 users to soon be able to more easily indicate the correct default application for opening certain file types. The company also wants developers to ask for permission before pinning an app to the taskbar.

The American tech company states in a blog post that Windows users should have more control over what gets pinned to the taskbar, desktop, or Start menu. To achieve that, Microsoft is announcing a new API that allows developers to pin their app to the taskbar, but also asks users for permission.

Windows users should also have more control over which apps they want to use by default with certain file types, the so-called default apps, according to the company. The company is therefore introducing a uniform resource identifier, uri for short. This allows app developers to immediately call up the correct section in the settings menu in which the default applications in Windows can be indicated.

Both the new api and the uri will be introduced in the Windows Insider Dev Channel in the coming months, according to Microsoft. It is not clear when the new features will make their appearance in Windows 11.

Default application settings menu Windows 11