A solution to the Edge shortcuts appearing on the desktop?

Wisewiz · Jan 22, 2023

Martin Brinkmann over at GHacks.net has published a possible solution to this annoyance. He says "Our Deskmodder colleagues have published a workaround to block Microsoft's Edge web browser from planting new icons on the desktop."
The article (by Brinkmann) is called "How to block Microsoft Edge from creating desktop shortcuts." In it, he proposes (following his colleagues) a small registry hack that looks promising.

Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\
If an EdgeUpdate subkey does not exist, right-click on the Microsoft key and select New > Key. Name it EdgeUpdate.
Right-click on EdgeUpdate and select New > Dword (32-bit) Value.
Name it CreateDesktopShortcutDefault.
That Dword should automatically be set to 0 (zero). If not, double-click on the new Dword and set it to 0.
Close your registry editor.

I haven't yet had the chance to see whether it holds twenty-four hours later -- or when there's a new Edge update -- but we'll see sometime soon, if MS updates to Edge keep happening at the recent pace.

Edwin · Jan 22, 2023

I've noticed it for the last few days! I find it annoyingly intrusive!

I'll let you know...

TM21 · Jan 22, 2023

Thanks for the Heads Up! It's amazing what can be done, if you "Know your Registry". I don't pretend to, but I'm still learning.
I'll bet it won't be long, before someone @Brink will write that Tweak into a registry script. Adding things to the registry by hand, so to speak, just leaves one open to registry corruption.
I'll do it manually, but I'd rather have the script.

Thanks again, Guys,
TM

Brink · Jan 22, 2023

I'm afraid it's not working.

Latest Microsoft Edge released for Windows

Microsoft Edge help & learning Download and Deploy Microsoft Edge for Business Microsoft Edge channel overview Microsoft Edge release schedule | Microsoft Docs ADV200002 | Chromium Security Updates for Microsoft Edge (Chromium-Based) | MSRC Microsoft Edge Supported Operating Systems Microsoft...

www.elevenforum.com

abactuon · Jan 22, 2023

Microsoft Edge Update Policy Documentation

Documentation for all policies supported by the Microsoft Edge Updater

learn.microsoft.com

Melchior · Jan 22, 2023

Brink said:
I'm afraid it's not working.

Latest Microsoft Edge released for Windows

Microsoft Edge help & learning Download and Deploy Microsoft Edge for Business Microsoft Edge channel overview Microsoft Edge release schedule | Microsoft Docs ADV200002 | Chromium Security Updates for Microsoft Edge (Chromium-Based) | MSRC Microsoft Edge Supported Operating Systems Microsoft...

www.elevenforum.com

aahh no way.. and I just added it too.. lol

Edwin · Jan 22, 2023

I have the solution!!!

badrobot · Jan 22, 2023

Why is this a big deal in the first place? It is only a matter of right click and delete. A barely 2 second task to complete like nothing happened. That's just me.

Edwin · Jan 22, 2023

badrobot said:
Why is this a big deal in the first place? It is only a matter of right click and delete. A barely 2 second task to complete like nothing happened. That's just me.

That was my thought too, but, it's not really the point.
The point is: why is MS all of a sudden doing this, again, now? They don't have enough people using Edge yet? Another coercion tactic? Who knows!

Gotta roll with the punches, I guess!

badrobot · Jan 22, 2023

Edwin said:
That was my thought too, but, it's not really the point.
The point is: why is MS all of a sudden doing this, again, now? They don't have enough people using Edge yet? Another coercion tactic? Who knows! Gotta roll with the punches, I guess!

I always thought it is an update involving security. Like when you update Macrium, if it is not a patch, it replaces the installation and create a new shortcut.
It is a good thing right?

Thomas4 · Jan 22, 2023

A much better solution, uninstall it and use a proper browser instead of the Microsoft/Google bastardized version of Chromium, a FOSS browser.
A couple of good browsers based on the same underlying base are Brave and Opera.
And by the way, you can remove Edge, but do leave the items in the registry intact as there are some that the phone home applications that you need require them.

Stigg · Jan 22, 2023

Thomas4 said:
A much better solution, uninstall it and use a proper browser instead of the Microsoft/Google bastardized version of Chromium, a FOSS browser.
A couple of good browsers based on the same underlying base are Brave and Opera.
And by the way, you can remove Edge, but do leave the items in the registry intact as there are some that the phone home applications that you need require them.

The problems that I have found in the past by removing an ingrained application that Microsoft absolutely want to be there is, you're always swimming against the tide, and the tide eventually wins as you grow weary from swimming against it.

Ghot · Jan 22, 2023

Edwin · Jan 23, 2023

Thomas4 said:
A much better solution, uninstall it...

Problem with that is...
as soon as you do that, you get this dead, non-functioning Edge-Legacy remnant in your Start Menu!

Wisewiz · Jan 23, 2023

Well, it was worth a shot. Brinkmann thought his colleagues were on to something, but if @Brink says it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.

Ah well, back to the old delete button, I guess.

Edwin · Jan 23, 2023

Wisewiz said:
Well, it was worth a shot. Brinkmann thought his colleagues were on to something, but if @Brink says it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.

Ah well, back to the old delete button, I guess.

Post the date and time when you get next one..., I'll check here!

Wisewiz · Jan 23, 2023

Will do.

csun · Jan 23, 2023

Saw the below article today, haven't tried.

The only way to prevent the desktop shortcut from showing up again, no matter if this happens after an update or due to another reason, is to create a new registry entry that will define a new rule in this regard.

To do this, launch the Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Start menu and then navigate to the following location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate

Next, create a new DWORD (32-bit) value called CreateDesktopShortcutDefault and set its value to 0. Close the Registry Editor, delete the current Microsoft Edge shortcut (if it’s still available on the desktop) and reboot the device.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/mic...op-shortcut-here-s-how-to-fix-it-536871.shtml

Wisewiz · Jan 23, 2023

@csun

Mmmm, please see post #1 in this thread.

csun · Jan 23, 2023

Wisewiz said:
@csun

Mmmm, please see post #1 in this thread.

I read that before, but thought there was a difference since some following replies are negative in its use.

Reading again, only difference is Brinkmann gives instructions if the EdgeUpdate key is missing. My bad ! False hope.

A solution to the Edge shortcuts appearing on the desktop?

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