Microsoft Edge turned the default browser developed by Microsoft for their Windows 10 operating software that replaced the indeed slow, bulky and buggy Internet Explorer back then. Being lighter in weight and more streamlined, feature-rich for web services, it aimed a reduction in bloatware. However, like any other software, Microsoft Edge too has always been vulnerable to minor and major bugs. One of the errors users have reported too be facing these days is that Microsoft Edge shortcut keeps appearing on Desktop of the user’s PC. In this article, let us find out how to fix this issue while we learn more about Microsoft Edge shortcut.
How to Fix Microsoft Edge Shortcut Keeps Appearing on Desktop
Even though with something or other issue it faces, we still believe that Edge has unmatched supremacy when compared to the nostalgic and sluggish Internet Explorer. However, it’s been a few years and we still think Microsoft sometimes misses on inspections. We understand the brand’s continuity of eagerness to welcome users to experience the not so new product but keeping the Edge too edgy and induce silent tactics on users on not a gun but an irksome desktop shortcut point to switch towards them doesn’t seem like a great idea. That being said, let us remind you of the reports of Microsoft’s investment in Open AI and how in the near future, it is going to integrate ChatGPT to Microsoft Office products and Bing. At this vital period for Microsoft, let us see what actually goes wrong that Microsoft Edge shortcut keeps appearing on Desktop and put their users into annoyance.
What Causes Microsoft Edge Shortcut Error?
As we all can sense this might be a company’s stunt to enforce users to use Edge and set it as the default browser on their PCs, things seem ugly and fishy when Microsoft edge shortcut error keeps recreating and reappearing to the PCs where it is already the default browser as well as a shortcut is already there on the desktop. With the very fact that the error start to be convincingly noticeable after the updates Microsoft pushed in the month of January’ 2023, we can guess that there is a chance of a few bugs and malwares in the update that needs to be fixed. Because there is no official statement from Microsoft on this, we can just speculate of a bug on the desktop or a bed bug strategy.
Solutions to Fix Microsoft Edge Shortcut Keeps Appearing on Desktop
Here, we have given the solutions to solve the issue.
Method 1: Turn Off Microsoft Edge Startup Boost
A startup boost is a feature that activates and launches an app fast and soon after a user boots his or her PC. If that may be a possible reason to cause the shortcut appear again and again, disabling it would help.
1. Qalisa Microsoft Edge kwi PC yakho.
2. On the top right corner, click the amachaphaza amathathu oxwesileyo.
3. From the pop-up menu. select izicwangciso ukhetho.
4. Khetha System and performance tab ukusuka kwinqanaba lasekhohlo.
5. Toggle to turn off Startup boost.
Method 2: Remove Microsoft Edge as Default Browser
Using Microsoft Edge as the default browser on your computer, it gains the advantage to run tasks and services, thereby possibly also creating a Microsoft Edge shortcut on desktop frequently. Prevention of exploitation may possible by restriction of the privileged. Henceforth remove Edge as the default browser on your computer.
1. Cinezela Izitshixo zeWindows + I kunye ukuvula izicwangciso.
2. Cofa kwi apps.
3. From the panel on the right-side, navigate to Iifayile ezizenzekelayo.
4. Scroll down to search or enter Google Chrome directly on the search bar.
5. Cofa kwi Misela okwendalo.
Funda kwakhona: How to Change Chrome as Default Browser
Method 3: Disable Microsoft Edge on Windows Startup
If you have allowed Microsoft Edge to run during the PC startup, it can unnecessarily start various Edge-related tasks just right after you turn the PC on, which can cause a desktop shortcut to appear. You can try to disable Edge browser from running during startup.
1. Cinezela Ctrl + Shift+ Esc keys together to launch Umlawuli womsebenzi.
2. Now, tab to the Isiqalo zokusebenza.
3. Khangela uze ukhethe Microsoft Edge.
4. Now, locate and click on Khubaza option at the bottom-right side of the screen.
Funda kwakhona: How to Disable Microsoft Edge in Windows 11
Method 4: No More Edge-Related Scheduled Tasks
Often, Microsoft Edge runs various scheduled tasks after you login to your PC. In the above method, we disabled Microsoft Edge to run during startup. To absolutely exclude any Edge-related tasks, stopping these scheduled tasks can help and fix the error.
1. vula Task Schedular isuka e Menu Qala.
2. Kwimenyu yecala lasekhohlo, cofa ku Task Schedular Library.
3. Khangela tasks scheduled by Microsoft Edge by scrolling down through the list of tasks.
4. Kwipheyini ekunene, cofa ku Khubaza.
5. Follow the same for every task in schedule by Microsoft Edge.
Funda kwakhona: Lungisa iMicrosoft Edge ayisebenzi kuyo Windows 10
Method 5: Change Microsoft Edge Group Policy
Group policies can help you change the way you run apps on your computer. If you have allowed Microsoft Edge to run automatically on your computer, it can prompt your computer to create desktop shortcuts. Therefore, changing group policy can help you resolve this issue.
1. Qalisa Hlela iPolisi yeQela control panel from the Menu Qala.
2. On the left-side panel, under Local Computer Policy click on Computer Configuration.
3. Jonga Administrative Templets > Windows Components
4. Scroll down to search and select Microsoft Edge.
5. Khangela ngoku Allow Microsoft Edge to pre-launch at Windows startup, when the system is idle… kwaye ucofe kabini kuyo.
6. Khetha Abakhubazekileyo iqhosha.
7. nqakraza Faka ke ngoku OK ukugcina utshintsho.
Method 6: Modify Local Group Policy Editor Settings
If the previous method does not work, you can try to prevent other users from creating the desktop shortcut on your computer. You will again have to change the group policy on your computer.
1. vula Hlela iPolisi yeQela utility from the start menu.
2. From the left-side panel, click on Izikhokelo zoLawulo phantsi Uqwalaselo umsebenzisi.
3. Click and Expand Control Panel branch ifolda.
4. Cofa kwi zobuqu.
5. On the right-hand window pane, locate and select Prevent changing desktop icons.
6. Khetha Kunikwe kwaye nqakraza OK.
Funda kwakhona: Disable Windows 10 Microsoft Edge Notification
Method 7: Modify System Registry
A modification to the Registry Editor is slightly volatile and involves some amount of risk. Despite the fact that this is a sure shot fix to Microsoft Edge shortcut keeps appearing on Desktop, we do not recommend you to perform the method before you try any other troubleshooting solution.
Phawula: Backup your data and create a restore point first.
Option I: Using Registry File
1. Yenza ifayile Uxwebhu olubhaliweyo, i.e., a Inkcazelo ifayile
2. Copy the following umyalelo and paste it on the Notepad:
I-Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftEdgeUpdate] "CreateDesktopShortcutDefault"=dword:00000000 "RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault"=dword:00000001
3. Cofa kwi ifayile option in the top menu and from the pop-up, select Yigcine njenge.
4. While saving the file, name the file in .reg format Umz. edgeshortcut.reg
5. Change the Save as type to All files by clicking on the drop-down arrow.
6. Gcina ifayile, conveniently to the Desktop.
7. From the desktop, double-click on the registry file to launch it.
8. Choose Yes on the prompt that appears.
9. Phinda Uqalele kwiPC.
Option II: Manually Modify Registry Keys
The manual method is more of a bulky and messy way to modify Registry Editor. Nevertheless, if you want to follow a manual way to perform the same, these are the steps you can follow:
1. Cinezela Isitshixo seWindows kwaye uphendule Registry Editor kwaye nqakraza vula.
2. Copy the command from here and paste it into the Registry address bar:
IkhompyuterHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoft
3. Cofa ekunene Microsoft.
4. Khetha New uze uchofoze isitshixo.
5. Rename the newly created key as I-EdgeUpdate.
6. Cofa ekunene I-EdgeUpdate kwaye ukhethe New.
7. From the pop-up, choose I-DWORD (i-32-bit) Ixabiso.
8. On the right pane, right-click on it.
9. Rename it as CreateDesktopShortcutDefault.
10. Right-click on it and from the pop-up, click on ulungise to Set the xabiso ledatha ukuba 0.
11. Create one more I-DWORD (i-32-bit) Ixabiso.
12. Rename it as Susa iDesktopShortcutDefault.
13. Modify and set the value data ukuba 1.
14. Vala Registry Editor kwaye qala kwakhona iPC.
This will finally remove the Edge shortcut and it no more be able to create one.
Funda kwakhona: Fix Microsoft Edge opens multiple windows
Method 8: Uninstall Microsoft Edge
By this time, one of the aforementioned solutions would have fixed Microsoft Edge shortcut on desktop issue for you. However, ultimately if you do not want to perform any of these fixes on your PC or the Edge in a notorious way that has left you bothered to the edge, you can uninstall it completely. Windows does not directly allow a user to uninstall Microsoft Edge browser from a PC.
1. We would have first to Ukukhuphela Geek uninstaller.
2. Qalisa inkqubo ye- uninstaller program kwi PC yakho.
3. From the list of programs, navigate to and right-click on Microsoft Edge.
4. Khetha Force Removal.
5. Approve by clicking on Ewe.
6. Do the same with Microsoft Edge Update program.
Ithethelelwe:
With this, the article ends. Thank you for reading. We hope that this guide was helpful and you were able to fix Microsoft Edge shortcut keeps appearing on Desktop issue. Let us know which method worked for you the best. If you have any queries or suggestions, then feel free to drop them in the comments section below.