How to Stop Microsoft Edge from Creating Desktop Shortcuts
Microsoft Edge creates unwanted browser icons on your desktop during routine updates by default. Stopping this behavior keeps your desktop clean and stops the browser from adding new shortcuts after every major update.
You can turn off this feature by changing a single entry in the Windows Registry (a database that stores low-level settings for the operating system and apps) so Edge stays off your desktop for good.
You stop Microsoft Edge from creating desktop shortcuts by modifying the Windows Registry. Open Registry Editor, navigate to the Update folder, create a new DWORD value named RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault, and set its data to 1.
How to Stop Edge from Creating Desktop Shortcuts
Step 1Open the Registry Editor
Step 1: Open Registry Editor (a database for low-level system settings) requires care, as incorrect changes cause system instability.
Step 2Navigate to the Correct Folder
Go to this folder location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\UpdateLook for a subfolder named EdgeUpdate inside the Microsoft directory. Missing it means right-clicking the Microsoft folder instead and creating a new key called EdgeUpdate.
Step 3Create a New Value ⚠️ Requires Admin Access
The Windows Registry editor lets you create new registry entries. Right-click any blank space in the right-hand pane, hover over New, and select DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Now, type this name for the new value:
RemoveDesktopShortcutDefaultStep 4Set the Value
In the box that opens, enter 1 as the value.
Setting the value to 1 stops Edge from creating desktop shortcuts.
Conversely, setting it to 0 allows Edge to continue creating them automatically.
Step 5Restart Your Computer
After a computer restart, Microsoft Edge should stop creating desktop shortcuts automatically. Note that this change only takes effect if you've also disabled the "Allow Windows to show notifications from Microsoft Edge" setting in Edge's privacy settings. Verifying the fix happens by checking your desktop for new Edge shortcuts.
Summary
A related issue: what if your Windows Desktop icons have a brown box over them? Brown boxes on Desktop icons
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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