diff --git a/build/cmake/setup.h.in b/build/cmake/setup.h.in
index 506c4655f4..db6e294e51 100644
--- a/build/cmake/setup.h.in
+++ b/build/cmake/setup.h.in
@@ -294,31 +294,15 @@
 
 #cmakedefine01 wxUSE_MIMETYPE
 
+#cmakedefine01 wxUSE_WEBREQUEST
 
-#if defined(_MSC_VER) || \
-    (defined(__MINGW32__) && (__GNUC__ > 4 || __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 8))
-#cmakedefine01 wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP
-#else
-#cmakedefine01 wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP
-#endif
-
-#if defined(__APPLE__) && defined(MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9) && MAC_OS_X_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED >= MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9
-#cmakedefine01 wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION wxUSE_WEBREQUEST
 #else
 #cmakedefine01 wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION
 #endif
 
-#if defined(__WINDOWS__) || defined(__APPLE__)
 #cmakedefine01 wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL
-#else
-#cmakedefine01 wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL
-#endif
-
-#if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL
-#cmakedefine01 wxUSE_WEBREQUEST
-#else
-#cmakedefine01 wxUSE_WEBREQUEST
-#endif
 
 #cmakedefine01 wxUSE_PROTOCOL
 
@@ -707,6 +691,12 @@
     #cmakedefine01 wxUSE_GRAPHICS_DIRECT2D
 #endif
 
+#if defined(_MSC_VER) || defined(__MINGW64_VERSION_MAJOR)
+    #cmakedefine01 wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP
+#else
+    #cmakedefine01 wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP
+#endif
+
 
 #cmakedefine01 wxUSE_OLE
 
diff --git a/include/wx/android/setup.h b/include/wx/android/setup.h
index 0443cf7f9e..3fd3ce552b 100644
--- a/include/wx/android/setup.h
+++ b/include/wx/android/setup.h
@@ -632,53 +632,37 @@
 // wxMimeTypesManager class
 #define wxUSE_MIMETYPE 1
 
-// wxWebRequest backend based on WinHTTP
+// wxWebRequest allows usage of system libraries for HTTP(S) requests.
+//
+// Note that for wxWebRequest to be built, at least one of its backends must be
+// available. Under MSW and macOS this will always be the case unless
+// explicitly disabled.
 //
 // Default is 1
 //
-// Recommended setting: 1 on Windows
-
-// Notice that we can't use wxCHECK_VISUALC_VERSION() nor wxCHECK_GCC_VERSION()
-// here as this file is included from wx/platform.h before they're defined.
-#if defined(_MSC_VER) || \
-    (defined(__MINGW32__) && (__GNUC__ > 4 || __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 8))
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 1
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 0
-#endif
+// Recommended setting: 1, setting it to 0 may be useful to avoid dependencies
+// on libcurl on Unix systems.
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 1
 
 // wxWebRequest backend based on NSURLSession
 //
-// Default is 1
+// Default is 1 under macOS.
 //
-// Recommended setting: 1 on macOS 10.9+
-#if defined(__APPLE__) && defined(MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9) && MAC_OS_X_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED >= MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 1
+// Recommended setting: 1, can be set to 0 if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL==1,
+// otherwise wxWebRequest won't be available at all under Mac.
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION wxUSE_WEBREQUEST
 #else
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 0
 #endif
 
 // wxWebRequest backend based on libcurl, can be used under all platforms.
 //
-// Default is 1
+// Default is 0 for MSW and macOS, detected automatically when using configure.
 //
 // Recommended setting: 0 on Windows and macOS, otherwise 1 as it is required
 // for wxWebRequest to be available at all.
-#if defined(__WINDOWS__) || defined(__APPLE__)
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 0
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 1
-#endif
-
-// wxWebRequest and related classes: This will allow usage of system libraries
-// for HTTP(S) requests
-//
-// Default is 1
-#if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 1
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 0
-#endif
 
 // wxProtocol and related classes: if you want to use either of wxFTP, wxHTTP
 // or wxURL you need to set this to 1.
diff --git a/include/wx/gtk/setup0.h b/include/wx/gtk/setup0.h
index d22b87749a..77b1827e0f 100644
--- a/include/wx/gtk/setup0.h
+++ b/include/wx/gtk/setup0.h
@@ -633,53 +633,37 @@
 // wxMimeTypesManager class
 #define wxUSE_MIMETYPE 1
 
-// wxWebRequest backend based on WinHTTP
+// wxWebRequest allows usage of system libraries for HTTP(S) requests.
+//
+// Note that for wxWebRequest to be built, at least one of its backends must be
+// available. Under MSW and macOS this will always be the case unless
+// explicitly disabled.
 //
 // Default is 1
 //
-// Recommended setting: 1 on Windows
-
-// Notice that we can't use wxCHECK_VISUALC_VERSION() nor wxCHECK_GCC_VERSION()
-// here as this file is included from wx/platform.h before they're defined.
-#if defined(_MSC_VER) || \
-    (defined(__MINGW32__) && (__GNUC__ > 4 || __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 8))
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 1
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 0
-#endif
+// Recommended setting: 1, setting it to 0 may be useful to avoid dependencies
+// on libcurl on Unix systems.
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 1
 
 // wxWebRequest backend based on NSURLSession
 //
-// Default is 1
+// Default is 1 under macOS.
 //
-// Recommended setting: 1 on macOS 10.9+
-#if defined(__APPLE__) && defined(MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9) && MAC_OS_X_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED >= MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 1
+// Recommended setting: 1, can be set to 0 if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL==1,
+// otherwise wxWebRequest won't be available at all under Mac.
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION wxUSE_WEBREQUEST
 #else
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 0
 #endif
 
 // wxWebRequest backend based on libcurl, can be used under all platforms.
 //
-// Default is 1
+// Default is 0 for MSW and macOS, detected automatically when using configure.
 //
 // Recommended setting: 0 on Windows and macOS, otherwise 1 as it is required
 // for wxWebRequest to be available at all.
-#if defined(__WINDOWS__) || defined(__APPLE__)
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 0
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 1
-#endif
-
-// wxWebRequest and related classes: This will allow usage of system libraries
-// for HTTP(S) requests
-//
-// Default is 1
-#if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 1
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 0
-#endif
 
 // wxProtocol and related classes: if you want to use either of wxFTP, wxHTTP
 // or wxURL you need to set this to 1.
@@ -1630,7 +1614,7 @@
 
 /* --- start MSW options --- */
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Graphics backends choices for Windows
+// Windows-specific backends choices
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 // The options here are only taken into account if wxUSE_GRAPHICS_CONTEXT is 1.
@@ -1658,6 +1642,20 @@
     #define wxUSE_GRAPHICS_DIRECT2D 0
 #endif
 
+// wxWebRequest backend based on WinHTTP.
+//
+// This is only taken into account if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST==1.
+//
+// Default is 1 if supported by the compiler (MSVS or MinGW64).
+//
+// Recommended setting: 1, can be set to 0 if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL==1,
+// otherwise wxWebRequest won't be available at all.
+#if defined(_MSC_VER) || defined(__MINGW64_VERSION_MAJOR)
+    #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 1
+#else
+    #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 0
+#endif
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Windows-only settings
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/include/wx/motif/setup0.h b/include/wx/motif/setup0.h
index f88c0fefb7..9a6b48601d 100644
--- a/include/wx/motif/setup0.h
+++ b/include/wx/motif/setup0.h
@@ -633,53 +633,37 @@
 // wxMimeTypesManager class
 #define wxUSE_MIMETYPE 1
 
-// wxWebRequest backend based on WinHTTP
+// wxWebRequest allows usage of system libraries for HTTP(S) requests.
+//
+// Note that for wxWebRequest to be built, at least one of its backends must be
+// available. Under MSW and macOS this will always be the case unless
+// explicitly disabled.
 //
 // Default is 1
 //
-// Recommended setting: 1 on Windows
-
-// Notice that we can't use wxCHECK_VISUALC_VERSION() nor wxCHECK_GCC_VERSION()
-// here as this file is included from wx/platform.h before they're defined.
-#if defined(_MSC_VER) || \
-    (defined(__MINGW32__) && (__GNUC__ > 4 || __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 8))
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 1
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 0
-#endif
+// Recommended setting: 1, setting it to 0 may be useful to avoid dependencies
+// on libcurl on Unix systems.
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 1
 
 // wxWebRequest backend based on NSURLSession
 //
-// Default is 1
+// Default is 1 under macOS.
 //
-// Recommended setting: 1 on macOS 10.9+
-#if defined(__APPLE__) && defined(MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9) && MAC_OS_X_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED >= MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 1
+// Recommended setting: 1, can be set to 0 if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL==1,
+// otherwise wxWebRequest won't be available at all under Mac.
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION wxUSE_WEBREQUEST
 #else
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 0
 #endif
 
 // wxWebRequest backend based on libcurl, can be used under all platforms.
 //
-// Default is 1
+// Default is 0 for MSW and macOS, detected automatically when using configure.
 //
 // Recommended setting: 0 on Windows and macOS, otherwise 1 as it is required
 // for wxWebRequest to be available at all.
-#if defined(__WINDOWS__) || defined(__APPLE__)
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 0
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 1
-#endif
-
-// wxWebRequest and related classes: This will allow usage of system libraries
-// for HTTP(S) requests
-//
-// Default is 1
-#if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 1
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 0
-#endif
 
 // wxProtocol and related classes: if you want to use either of wxFTP, wxHTTP
 // or wxURL you need to set this to 1.
diff --git a/include/wx/msw/setup0.h b/include/wx/msw/setup0.h
index ed9a9e5072..28a21cffed 100644
--- a/include/wx/msw/setup0.h
+++ b/include/wx/msw/setup0.h
@@ -633,53 +633,37 @@
 // wxMimeTypesManager class
 #define wxUSE_MIMETYPE 1
 
-// wxWebRequest backend based on WinHTTP
+// wxWebRequest allows usage of system libraries for HTTP(S) requests.
+//
+// Note that for wxWebRequest to be built, at least one of its backends must be
+// available. Under MSW and macOS this will always be the case unless
+// explicitly disabled.
 //
 // Default is 1
 //
-// Recommended setting: 1 on Windows
-
-// Notice that we can't use wxCHECK_VISUALC_VERSION() nor wxCHECK_GCC_VERSION()
-// here as this file is included from wx/platform.h before they're defined.
-#if defined(_MSC_VER) || \
-    (defined(__MINGW32__) && (__GNUC__ > 4 || __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 8))
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 1
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 0
-#endif
+// Recommended setting: 1, setting it to 0 may be useful to avoid dependencies
+// on libcurl on Unix systems.
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 1
 
 // wxWebRequest backend based on NSURLSession
 //
-// Default is 1
+// Default is 1 under macOS.
 //
-// Recommended setting: 1 on macOS 10.9+
-#if defined(__APPLE__) && defined(MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9) && MAC_OS_X_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED >= MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 1
+// Recommended setting: 1, can be set to 0 if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL==1,
+// otherwise wxWebRequest won't be available at all under Mac.
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION wxUSE_WEBREQUEST
 #else
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 0
 #endif
 
 // wxWebRequest backend based on libcurl, can be used under all platforms.
 //
-// Default is 1
+// Default is 0 for MSW and macOS, detected automatically when using configure.
 //
 // Recommended setting: 0 on Windows and macOS, otherwise 1 as it is required
 // for wxWebRequest to be available at all.
-#if defined(__WINDOWS__) || defined(__APPLE__)
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 0
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 1
-#endif
-
-// wxWebRequest and related classes: This will allow usage of system libraries
-// for HTTP(S) requests
-//
-// Default is 1
-#if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 1
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 0
-#endif
 
 // wxProtocol and related classes: if you want to use either of wxFTP, wxHTTP
 // or wxURL you need to set this to 1.
@@ -1630,7 +1614,7 @@
 
 /* --- start MSW options --- */
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Graphics backends choices for Windows
+// Windows-specific backends choices
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 // The options here are only taken into account if wxUSE_GRAPHICS_CONTEXT is 1.
@@ -1658,6 +1642,20 @@
     #define wxUSE_GRAPHICS_DIRECT2D 0
 #endif
 
+// wxWebRequest backend based on WinHTTP.
+//
+// This is only taken into account if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST==1.
+//
+// Default is 1 if supported by the compiler (MSVS or MinGW64).
+//
+// Recommended setting: 1, can be set to 0 if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL==1,
+// otherwise wxWebRequest won't be available at all.
+#if defined(_MSC_VER) || defined(__MINGW64_VERSION_MAJOR)
+    #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 1
+#else
+    #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 0
+#endif
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Windows-only settings
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/include/wx/msw/setup_inc.h b/include/wx/msw/setup_inc.h
index c764432c9d..9a077f6156 100644
--- a/include/wx/msw/setup_inc.h
+++ b/include/wx/msw/setup_inc.h
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Graphics backends choices for Windows
+// Windows-specific backends choices
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 // The options here are only taken into account if wxUSE_GRAPHICS_CONTEXT is 1.
@@ -36,6 +36,20 @@
     #define wxUSE_GRAPHICS_DIRECT2D 0
 #endif
 
+// wxWebRequest backend based on WinHTTP.
+//
+// This is only taken into account if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST==1.
+//
+// Default is 1 if supported by the compiler (MSVS or MinGW64).
+//
+// Recommended setting: 1, can be set to 0 if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL==1,
+// otherwise wxWebRequest won't be available at all.
+#if defined(_MSC_VER) || defined(__MINGW64_VERSION_MAJOR)
+    #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 1
+#else
+    #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 0
+#endif
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Windows-only settings
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/include/wx/osx/setup0.h b/include/wx/osx/setup0.h
index ead9701e87..5d20b4e33d 100644
--- a/include/wx/osx/setup0.h
+++ b/include/wx/osx/setup0.h
@@ -639,53 +639,37 @@
 // wxMimeTypesManager class
 #define wxUSE_MIMETYPE 1
 
-// wxWebRequest backend based on WinHTTP
+// wxWebRequest allows usage of system libraries for HTTP(S) requests.
+//
+// Note that for wxWebRequest to be built, at least one of its backends must be
+// available. Under MSW and macOS this will always be the case unless
+// explicitly disabled.
 //
 // Default is 1
 //
-// Recommended setting: 1 on Windows
-
-// Notice that we can't use wxCHECK_VISUALC_VERSION() nor wxCHECK_GCC_VERSION()
-// here as this file is included from wx/platform.h before they're defined.
-#if defined(_MSC_VER) || \
-    (defined(__MINGW32__) && (__GNUC__ > 4 || __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 8))
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 1
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 0
-#endif
+// Recommended setting: 1, setting it to 0 may be useful to avoid dependencies
+// on libcurl on Unix systems.
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 1
 
 // wxWebRequest backend based on NSURLSession
 //
-// Default is 1
+// Default is 1 under macOS.
 //
-// Recommended setting: 1 on macOS 10.9+
-#if defined(__APPLE__) && defined(MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9) && MAC_OS_X_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED >= MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 1
+// Recommended setting: 1, can be set to 0 if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL==1,
+// otherwise wxWebRequest won't be available at all under Mac.
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION wxUSE_WEBREQUEST
 #else
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 0
 #endif
 
 // wxWebRequest backend based on libcurl, can be used under all platforms.
 //
-// Default is 1
+// Default is 0 for MSW and macOS, detected automatically when using configure.
 //
 // Recommended setting: 0 on Windows and macOS, otherwise 1 as it is required
 // for wxWebRequest to be available at all.
-#if defined(__WINDOWS__) || defined(__APPLE__)
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 0
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 1
-#endif
-
-// wxWebRequest and related classes: This will allow usage of system libraries
-// for HTTP(S) requests
-//
-// Default is 1
-#if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 1
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 0
-#endif
 
 // wxProtocol and related classes: if you want to use either of wxFTP, wxHTTP
 // or wxURL you need to set this to 1.
diff --git a/include/wx/setup_inc.h b/include/wx/setup_inc.h
index 1eb66bcaa6..28c9c6d5f8 100644
--- a/include/wx/setup_inc.h
+++ b/include/wx/setup_inc.h
@@ -629,53 +629,37 @@
 // wxMimeTypesManager class
 #define wxUSE_MIMETYPE 1
 
-// wxWebRequest backend based on WinHTTP
+// wxWebRequest allows usage of system libraries for HTTP(S) requests.
+//
+// Note that for wxWebRequest to be built, at least one of its backends must be
+// available. Under MSW and macOS this will always be the case unless
+// explicitly disabled.
 //
 // Default is 1
 //
-// Recommended setting: 1 on Windows
-
-// Notice that we can't use wxCHECK_VISUALC_VERSION() nor wxCHECK_GCC_VERSION()
-// here as this file is included from wx/platform.h before they're defined.
-#if defined(_MSC_VER) || \
-    (defined(__MINGW32__) && (__GNUC__ > 4 || __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 8))
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 1
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 0
-#endif
+// Recommended setting: 1, setting it to 0 may be useful to avoid dependencies
+// on libcurl on Unix systems.
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 1
 
 // wxWebRequest backend based on NSURLSession
 //
-// Default is 1
+// Default is 1 under macOS.
 //
-// Recommended setting: 1 on macOS 10.9+
-#if defined(__APPLE__) && defined(MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9) && MAC_OS_X_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED >= MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 1
+// Recommended setting: 1, can be set to 0 if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL==1,
+// otherwise wxWebRequest won't be available at all under Mac.
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION wxUSE_WEBREQUEST
 #else
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 0
 #endif
 
 // wxWebRequest backend based on libcurl, can be used under all platforms.
 //
-// Default is 1
+// Default is 0 for MSW and macOS, detected automatically when using configure.
 //
 // Recommended setting: 0 on Windows and macOS, otherwise 1 as it is required
 // for wxWebRequest to be available at all.
-#if defined(__WINDOWS__) || defined(__APPLE__)
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 0
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 1
-#endif
-
-// wxWebRequest and related classes: This will allow usage of system libraries
-// for HTTP(S) requests
-//
-// Default is 1
-#if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 1
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 0
-#endif
 
 // wxProtocol and related classes: if you want to use either of wxFTP, wxHTTP
 // or wxURL you need to set this to 1.
diff --git a/include/wx/univ/setup0.h b/include/wx/univ/setup0.h
index 9c057c2977..72b1ea4a43 100644
--- a/include/wx/univ/setup0.h
+++ b/include/wx/univ/setup0.h
@@ -632,53 +632,37 @@
 // wxMimeTypesManager class
 #define wxUSE_MIMETYPE 1
 
-// wxWebRequest backend based on WinHTTP
+// wxWebRequest allows usage of system libraries for HTTP(S) requests.
+//
+// Note that for wxWebRequest to be built, at least one of its backends must be
+// available. Under MSW and macOS this will always be the case unless
+// explicitly disabled.
 //
 // Default is 1
 //
-// Recommended setting: 1 on Windows
-
-// Notice that we can't use wxCHECK_VISUALC_VERSION() nor wxCHECK_GCC_VERSION()
-// here as this file is included from wx/platform.h before they're defined.
-#if defined(_MSC_VER) || \
-    (defined(__MINGW32__) && (__GNUC__ > 4 || __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 8))
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 1
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 0
-#endif
+// Recommended setting: 1, setting it to 0 may be useful to avoid dependencies
+// on libcurl on Unix systems.
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 1
 
 // wxWebRequest backend based on NSURLSession
 //
-// Default is 1
+// Default is 1 under macOS.
 //
-// Recommended setting: 1 on macOS 10.9+
-#if defined(__APPLE__) && defined(MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9) && MAC_OS_X_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED >= MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 1
+// Recommended setting: 1, can be set to 0 if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL==1,
+// otherwise wxWebRequest won't be available at all under Mac.
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION wxUSE_WEBREQUEST
 #else
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 0
 #endif
 
 // wxWebRequest backend based on libcurl, can be used under all platforms.
 //
-// Default is 1
+// Default is 0 for MSW and macOS, detected automatically when using configure.
 //
 // Recommended setting: 0 on Windows and macOS, otherwise 1 as it is required
 // for wxWebRequest to be available at all.
-#if defined(__WINDOWS__) || defined(__APPLE__)
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 0
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 1
-#endif
-
-// wxWebRequest and related classes: This will allow usage of system libraries
-// for HTTP(S) requests
-//
-// Default is 1
-#if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 1
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 0
-#endif
 
 // wxProtocol and related classes: if you want to use either of wxFTP, wxHTTP
 // or wxURL you need to set this to 1.
diff --git a/setup.h.in b/setup.h.in
index 640791704a..711f4dc682 100644
--- a/setup.h.in
+++ b/setup.h.in
@@ -294,31 +294,15 @@
 
 #define wxUSE_MIMETYPE 0
 
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 0
 
-#if defined(_MSC_VER) || \
-    (defined(__MINGW32__) && (__GNUC__ > 4 || __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 8))
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 0
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 0
-#endif
-
-#if defined(__APPLE__) && defined(MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9) && MAC_OS_X_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED >= MAC_OS_X_VERSION_10_9
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 0
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION wxUSE_WEBREQUEST
 #else
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION 0
 #endif
 
-#if defined(__WINDOWS__) || defined(__APPLE__)
 #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 0
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL 0
-#endif
-
-#if wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_URLSESSION || wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_CURL
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 0
-#else
-#define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST 0
-#endif
 
 #define wxUSE_PROTOCOL 0
 
@@ -707,6 +691,12 @@
     #define wxUSE_GRAPHICS_DIRECT2D 0
 #endif
 
+#if defined(_MSC_VER) || defined(__MINGW64_VERSION_MAJOR)
+    #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 0
+#else
+    #define wxUSE_WEBREQUEST_WINHTTP 0
+#endif
+
 
 #define wxUSE_OLE           0