Yesterday, Microsoft reaffirmed its long-standing approach that Windows 11 users will be able to control of what gets pinned to their Desktop, their Start menu and their Taskbar as well as to be able to control their default applications such as their default browser. In line with this commitment, Microsoft announced two new features that are coming to Windows soon.
- Microsoft will soon announce a new Settings deep link URI for apps to take their users directly to the appropriate location in Settings for the user to change their defaults. This new feature will be an extension of its existing ms-settings: URI scheme.
- Microsoft will soon announce an API that will enable apps to pin either primary or secondary tiles to the Taskbar. A trusted Windows user experience will be invoked when this API is launched to clarify what is being requested to be pinned and to confirm that the user indeed wants to allow the pinning process to happen or not. The UX will be something like the below.
Microsoft will bring these two features to Windows Insiders in the coming months.
Microsoft also confirmed that Microsoft’s own apps including Microsoft Edge will adopt these features. Microsoft Edge will release an update that adopts the new Settings deep link URI for defaults and public pinning APIs when it is released to the public.
As a platform we also believe that to deliver the trust, safety and security that customers look to Windows to provide, we have a responsibility to ensure user choices are respected. – Microsoft
