Remove Desktop Shortcuts upon update default
Verified with Microsoft Edge 152.0.4191.53 — updated on July 12, 2026
Supported on: Microsoft Edge Update 1.3.155.1 and later
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Edge Update\Applications Description
Lets you specify the default behavior for all channels for creating a desktop shortcut when Microsoft Edge is installed. If you set this policy to "Force delete system-level Desktop Shortcuts" (1), any existing system-level Microsoft Edge desktop shortcuts will be deleted when the browser updates or the machine reboots. If you set this policy to "Force delete system-level and user-level Desktop Shortcuts" (2), any existing system-level Microsoft Edge desktop shortcuts will be deleted when the browser updates or the machine reboots and any existing user-level desktop shortcuts will be deleted when the browser updates. This includes user-level desktop shortcuts that users might have made themselves. If you don't configure this policy or disable it (0), nothing will happen to existing Microsoft Edge desktop shortcuts.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate Value name: RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Remove Desktop Shortcuts upon update default
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: Microsoft Edge Update 1.3.155.1 and later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate]
"RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault"=dword:00000001
"RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Remove Desktop Shortcuts upon update default
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge Update 1.3.155.1 and later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Remove Desktop Shortcuts upon update default
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge Update 1.3.155.1 and later
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate' -Name 'RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate' -Name 'RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Remove Desktop Shortcuts upon update default
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge Update 1.3.155.1 and later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Remove Desktop Shortcuts upon update default
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge Update 1.3.155.1 and later
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Remove Desktop Shortcuts upon update default
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge Update 1.3.155.1 and later
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate' -Name 'RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate' -Name 'RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Remove Desktop Shortcuts upon update default
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge Update 1.3.155.1 and later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.