Although Microsoft Edge consumes fewer system resources than Chrome, it still has some issues. Recently, many Windows 11 users have been experiencing issues with the Microsoft Edge shortcut. 🖥️

Windows users have reported that the shortcut for Microsoft Edge It automatically appears on the desktop. The problem is that the shortcut remains even after deleting it. Some users on the Microsoft Forums have also mentioned that the Edge shortcut reappears after restarting.

If you're using Windows and experiencing the same issue, here's how to fix it. 🔧

1. Add a new entry to the Registry

This method will add a new entry to the Windows registry, avoiding the Edge browser to create shortcuts on your desktop. Here's what you need to do:

1. Right click on your desktop and select New > Text Document.

2. In the text document, copy and paste the following content.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate] "CreateDesktopShortcutDefault"=dword:00000000 "RemoveDesktopShortcutDefault"=dword:00000001

3. Once done, click on the menu Archive in the upper right corner and select the option Save As.

4. In the Save As dialog box, enter a file name as desired. However, make sure the name ends with .reg. For example, safe.reg.

5. After saving the .reg file, go to your desktop and double-click the file. You'll see a confirmation message; click the button. Yeah.

2. Remove Microsoft Edge as Default Browser

When you set a web browser as your default, you grant it many system permissions to run background services and tasks. So, if you have Microsoft Edge as your default browser, the best option is to remove it. ❌

It's easy to remove Microsoft Edge as your default browser in Windows; just follow these simple steps:

1. First, click on the Windows start menu and select Configuration.

2. In Settings, switch to the section Applications on the left.

3. On the right side, click on Default applications.

4. Use the search bar for any web browser other than Edge.

5. After selecting the web browser, click on the option Set default in the upper right corner.

3. Disable Microsoft Edge on Startup

If the Microsoft Edge shortcut appears on your desktop after restarting, you need to find and disable Edge from the Startup Apps tab of Task Manager. To do so, follow these simple steps:

1. First, click on Windows search and type Task Manager.

2. When Task Manager opens, switch to the startup applications to the left.

3. On the right side, find and select msedge.exe.

4. In the upper right corner, click on Disable.

This will prevent the Microsoft Edge browser from running at Windows startup. From now on, the Edge shortcut will no longer appear on the desktop after a restart. 🚫

4. Disable Edge-related tasks in Task Scheduler

Microsoft Edge runs many background processes. Scheduled tasks for the Edge browser include checking for updates, creating a desktop shortcut, and so on. Therefore, scheduled tasks are often responsible for adding a new Edge shortcut to your Windows desktop. 🗓️

To do this, you'll need to access the Windows Task Scheduler and stop all Edge-related tasks. Here's how:

1. Click on Windows search and type Task Scheduler. Next, open the Task Scheduler app from the list of available options.

2. When Task Scheduler opens, select Task Scheduler Library.

3. Now, right click on MicrosoftEdgeUpdateTaskMachineCore and disable it.

4. You also need to disable the MicrosoftEdgeUpdateTaskMachineUA.

5. Modify the Local Group Policy Editor

You can also make some changes in the Local Group Policy Editor to prevent the Microsoft Edge shortcut from appearing on your desktop. To do so, follow these simple steps:

1. First, click on Windows search and type Local Group Policy Editor. Then, open the corresponding app from the list.

2. In the Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the following path:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Edge.

3. On the right side, find and double-click the policy Allow Microsoft Edge to preload at Windows startup, when the system is idle, and every time Microsoft Edge is closed.

4. In the dialog box, select Disabled and click the button Apply.

6. Update your Windows Operating System

If the Microsoft Edge shortcut continues to appear on your desktop even after following all the methods, you need to update your Windows operating system. 📥

Updating your operating system is a great way to ensure your system is bug-free and has the latest features. Additionally, updating Windows will install all the necessary drivers on your system.

So, if the Microsoft Edge shortcut keeps appearing on your desktop due to a system error or software issue, it's time to update your operating system via Settings > Windows Update > Check for Update. 🔄

These are some of the best and easiest methods to fix the shortcut problem of Microsoft Edge that keeps appearing on the desktop in Windows. Let us know in the comments if you need more help troubleshooting this issue. Also, if you found this article helpful, share it with your friends. 😊