en-US edge computer

Remove Desktop Shortcuts upon update

Verified with Microsoft Edge 152.0.4191.53 — updated on July 12, 2026

Microsoft Edge 152.0.4191.53

Supported on: Microsoft Edge Update 1.3.155.1 and later

Path in the GPO console

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Edge Update\Applications\Microsoft Edge Canary

Description

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. If you don't configure this policy for a channel, the 'Remove Desktop Shortcuts upon update default' policy configuration determines desktop shortcut removal.

Registry

HKLM Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate

Value name: RemoveDesktopShortcut{65C35B14-6C1D-4122-AC46-7148CC9D6497}

More options available

Options

RemoveDesktopShortcut{65C35B14-6C1D-4122-AC46-7148CC9D6497} enum
  • Force delete system-level Desktop Shortcuts -> 1 (default)
  • Force delete system-level and user-level Desktop Shortcuts -> 2
  • Prevent Desktop Shortcut creation on install -> 0

Export Builder

BETA

Configure 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
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: Microsoft Edge Update 1.3.155.1 and later

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate]
"RemoveDesktopShortcut{65C35B14-6C1D-4122-AC46-7148CC9D6497}"=dword:00000001
"RemoveDesktopShortcut{65C35B14-6C1D-4122-AC46-7148CC9D6497}"=dword:00000001
More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)

PowerShell

# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Remove Desktop Shortcuts upon update
# 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 'RemoveDesktopShortcut{65C35B14-6C1D-4122-AC46-7148CC9D6497}' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'RemoveDesktopShortcut{65C35B14-6C1D-4122-AC46-7148CC9D6497}' -Value 1 -Type DWord

Building a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.

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