In a bid to comply with the European Economic Area’s (EEA) Digital Markets Act (DMA), Microsoft has announced updates to Windows 10 and 11 that aim to reduce the frequency of prompts for single sign-on (SSO) when accessing applications that support Microsoft account logins. The tech giant has been working to refine the user experience by limiting the number of continue to sign in prompts that have been causing frustration among users.
Background on the DMA and SSO Changes
The DMA, which came into effect in May 2023, is designed to ensure fair competition in the digital market by imposing rules on large tech companies, including Microsoft. One of the key aspects of the DMA is to give users more control over their data and privacy, particularly when it comes to SSO processes.
Previously, when users accessed applications like Outlook and Word, their Microsoft accounts would automatically log in, but this is no longer the case. With the latest updates, users are now presented with a continue to sign in prompt, asking if they want to log into their Microsoft account rather than being automatically signed in.
User Frustration and Microsoft’s Response
While the intention behind the DMA-compliant changes is to enhance user privacy, the reality has been less than ideal. Users have reported being bombarded with prompts, even after explicitly granting permissions to applications. This has led to dissatisfaction, as the frequency of the prompts has been deemed excessive.
Microsoft acknowledged the issue, stating that the single sign-on behavior applies to all users, including those with personal Microsoft accounts, work, or school Entra IDs. The company noted that prompts should not appear frequently unless 90 days have passed without a login. However, some users have experienced persistent pop-ups despite manually granting permissions.
In response, Microsoft has been working on a fix for the error that causes the continue to sign in reminders to appear too frequently. The fix is set to be included in Windows 10 Build 19045.4955 or later versions, available for testing in the Release Preview channel.
The Upcoming Fix and Its Features
The upcoming fix, scheduled to be released as an optional update later this month, specifically addresses the issue of frequent SSO prompts required by the DMA. Microsoft noted in an update log that the problem arises when using certificates for authentication.
Currently, the fix is applicable only to Microsoft Entra single sign-on (SSO), but the company hints that it will likely be expanded to personal accounts in the future. Windows 11 will also receive the same error fix in upcoming updates.
EU SSO Functionality and Workarounds
The EU SSO functionality in Windows 10 and 11 is tied to a JSON file named IntegratedServicesRegionPolicySet.json, which can be found in the System32 folder. Users have the option to manually edit this file to change their region, effectively bypassing certain DMA-related features.
For example, by changing the Edge uninstallable setting to enabled and modifying the region to the EU, users can uninstall the Microsoft Edge browser, even if they are located in the United States. This workaround is available in both Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s updates to Windows 10 and 11 are a step towards compliance with the DMA, aiming to provide users with more control over their privacy and data. While the initial changes have led to user frustration due to frequent prompts, the upcoming fix is expected to alleviate these issues. As the tech landscape continues to evolve, companies like Microsoft must balance innovation with regulatory requirements to ensure a smooth and user-friendly experience.
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