It appears like Microsoft is in hassle once more with European Union regulators over anti-competitive practices, and it might sacrifice Groups in Home windows 11 to keep away from any conflicts.

Whereas I don’t often applaud firms for eradicating options from their merchandise, on this case it might be an excellent transfer.

Let’s be trustworthy: Home windows 11 has a bloat downside, with Microsoft filling it with apps and providers that most individuals don’t use, however can’t be simply faraway from the system the working system is working on.

Groups is a kind of. Whereas Microsoft Groups is a video conferencing app that’s utilized by companies for communication between staff members (therefore the title), Microsoft additionally needed to inflict it on common customers of Home windows 11 as nicely, so constructed it into the working system because the Chat app.

Nevertheless, regardless of Microsoft bundling in Groups by way of the Chat app, it by no means correctly took off. Most individuals use the likes of Fb and WhatsApp for immediate messaging nowadays. That wouldn’t be a lot of a difficulty, however not solely is Chat pre-installed in Home windows 11, you’ll be able to’t uninstall it. Add it to the checklist of different apps you don’t need to use however are put in anyway, and Home windows 11 can begin feeling moderately bloated.

Proper transfer, unsuitable causes

Nevertheless, as Home windows Newest experiences, it appears like Microsoft could also be contemplating including the power to take away Chat in an upcoming model of Home windows 11, with references to “RemoveChat” in early Home windows 11 preview builds.

When enabled, this appears to permit customers to utterly take away Chat from their system, moderately than merely hiding it.

This is able to be an excellent transfer for individuals who need to hold their PCs organized and tidy, with none unused apps clogging issues up.

Nevertheless, it doesn’t look like Microsoft is doing this voluntarily. As Home windows Newest factors out, the EU is retaining an in depth eye on Microsoft and the way it combines its merchandise like Workplace and Groups with Home windows 11, which might give these merchandise an unfair benefit over rivals.

Including an choice to completely take away Chat might keep away from these accusations, whereas additionally permitting Microsoft to nonetheless preinstall it.

Apparently, the RemoveChat choice seems to be linked to geographical knowledge, which suggests this would possibly solely be obtainable to customers in sure areas – such because the European Union.

If that’s the case, then it appears like Microsoft is set to do absolutely the minimal in order that it could keep away from any fines from the EU, however nonetheless attempting to make Chat in style with customers.

That is irritating, as whereas Home windows 11 is a good sufficient working system, Microsoft continues so as to add apps and providers, or adverts for these apps and providers, to the OS, no matter whether or not customers need them or not.

By doing this, and never permitting customers to take away the apps or adverts, many individuals – myself included – have more and more felt like Microsoft has been pushing its luck, and been a bit too aggressive when attempting to get us to make use of its merchandise.

So, whereas I actually would welcome this transfer, I can’t say I’m too thrilled about Microsoft’s seeming reluctance to offer its prospects extra freedom on the expense of its personal industrial ambitions.