Disable Edge Chromium desktop shortcut creation

Looks like is controlled through the master_preferences file.

You can deploy it with a preference set to not add the desktop icon.

Here is some documentation from Google: https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/187948?hl=en

I've attempted using the master_preferences file but have failed to get it to work, Do I need to deploy the master_preferecnces file before I install chrome ?

Thanks for your reply Jonah.
The information you've provided looks promising however I don't have the file in the location it should be in. This is definitely after running chrome a number of times and after reboots. Also the function in the file that pertains to icons does not seem to be related to removing the desktop icon, I think it's saying what exe chrome should look at to get it's icon file from.

Do you have any more information?

I am guessing the creat_all_shortcuts pref could be set to false, and would prevent this.

The instructions say to "You only need to create and populate the master_preferences file when you deploy Google Chrome. All users on a machine will get those master settings when they first start Google Chrome."

If you can test this, you could push it out with something like PDQ Deploy, or get is set in a image clone.

jonahzona wrote:

I am guessing the creat_all_shortcuts pref could be set to false, and would prevent this.

Text

"distribution" : { "skip_first_run_ui" : true, "show_welcome_page" : true, "import_search_engine" : true, "import_history" : false, "create_all_shortcuts" : true, [maybe set to false?] "do_not_launch_chrome" : true, "make_chrome_default" : false },

The instructions say to "You only need to create and populate the master_preferences file when you deploy Google Chrome. All users on a machine will get those master settings when they first start Google Chrome."

If you can test this, you could push it out with something like PDQ Deploy, or get is set in a image clone.

Doesnt work with the Local Administrator,

This is what i have at the moment;


And always creates the Desktop Shorcuts, am with you on the false config, Could someone try and run and confirm thus?

Update #1;

Have editied my preferences file to set create_all_shortcurs  to false, and will report back later once the sequence has finished!

Update #2;

I can confirm that this ini file script works and does not add Shortcuts to the Desktop and Taskbar




Update #3 - Rebooted my Virtual Machine and has the Taskbar Icon...
Back to the drawing board.

Edited Jul 20, 2015 at 21:15 UTC

Thanks S.Lee, brilliant, for me this should do the trick as I remove all Taskbar icons with GP anyway so our users don't see the chrome taskbar icon anyway, but I'm aware of it. Haven't tested this yet but I believe you!

Would be nice to find what line can also prevent the taskbar icon (if possible).

PPC wrote:

Thanks S.Lee, brilliant, for me this should do the trick as I remove all Taskbar icons with GP anyway so our users don't see the chrome taskbar icon anyway, but I'm aware of it. Haven't tested this yet but I believe you!

Would be nice to find what line can also prevent the taskbar icon (if possible).

Yeh! Ive half tested it, i know it doesnt create the Desktop Icon, But havent had time to prevent the taskbar icon, if i can find the reg key i might kill that, but havent got the time, as working on a server migration and automating it completety, and supposed to be doing a big OSD Project next wednesday, but could do with sorting the chrome thingie as well! #NotEnoughHoursInTheDay

FWIW: I just stumbled upon chrome gpo policy templates today

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/187202?hl=en

https://www.chromium.org/administrators/policy-templates

I haven't had a chance to dig into see what they can manage, but its worth a shot to see if they resolve your problem.

Hi George, had a good look at them a few months back, relatively limited and didn't offer help with this particular issue but thanks, that is unless they've been updated recently. I'm talking about desktop icon now, not taskbar, haven't checked them for that.

Interestsing, a little google-fu found this page:

http://woshub.com/how-to-configure-google-chrome-via-group-policies/

it says that the admx file can control 260 different settings. You'd might think that desktop icon would be one of them.

George1421 wrote:

Interestsing, a little google-fu found this page:

http://woshub.com/how-to-configure-google-chrome-via-group-policies/

it says that the admx file can control 260 different settings. You'd might think that desktop icon would be one of them.

Isn't that post deplyoment tho?

S.Lee wrote:

George1421 wrote:

Interestsing, a little google-fu found this page:

http://woshub.com/how-to-configure-google-chrome-via-group-policies/

it says that the admx file can control 260 different settings. You'd might think that desktop icon would be one of them.

Isn't that post deplyoment tho?

Yes, post deployment.

There is a philisoply here of deploying standard images and then correcting them via GPO. Its just a methodology that allows changes post deployment without having to remaster the reference image. That would give you the "option" to reverse it later.

That admx template creates registry keys, someone could mimic the action by creating these registry keys during/post application deployment in MDT then these settings still could be reversed with AD GPO if needed. I'm not suggesting that other methods are bad, I just like to avoid being called back to fix wizardry that I created 6 months before.

George1421 wrote:

S.Lee wrote:

George1421 wrote:

Interestsing, a little google-fu found this page:

http://woshub.com/how-to-configure-google-chrome-via-group-policies/

it says that the admx file can control 260 different settings. You'd might think that desktop icon would be one of them.

Isn't that post deplyoment tho?

Yes, post deployment.

There is a philisoply here of deploying standard images and then correcting them via GPO. Its just a methodology that allows changes post deployment without having to remaster the reference image. That would give you the "option" to reverse it later.

That admx template creates registry keys, someone could mimic the action by creating these registry keys during/post application deployment in MDT then these settings still could be reversed with AD GPO if needed. I'm not suggesting that other methods are bad, I just like to avoid being called back to fix wizardry that I created 6 months before.

Hmmmm might look into it,

Does this happen only if you installed with a standalone exe, or also just from a straight download? I know this is an old post, but just ran across this issue.

maggieoconnor wrote:

Does this happen only if you installed with a standalone exe, or also just from a straight download? I know this is an old post, but just ran across this issue.

Hi Maggie, What ive found is that even with the enterprise msi download,only part of the master_preferences file actually works for example I still get a desktop icon and taskbar icon, however you can remove the desktop icons using some simple PowerShell to remove the .ink file, however to remove the taskbar icon I am a still stumped, I know theres a reg value you could use - I just need to find it!

For example the PowerShell am using is " Remove-Item -Path "C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Google Chome.ink -Force"

Did you ever get this worked out? I am experiencing the same issue and previously have tried all the same avenues with no joy.

Agree with the same approach that S.Lee suggested. Quick Powershell script that runs at logon to kill the desktop shortcut. Not necessarily the greatest approach but definitely effective and easier than dealing with GPO's, pref files, etc...

You can find the pinned shortcut here, but good luck editing it.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband

scottbradbury wrote:

Agree with the same approach that S.Lee suggested. Quick Powershell script that runs at logon to kill the desktop shortcut. Not necessarily the greatest approach but definitely effective and easier than dealing with GPO's, pref files, etc...

and it also works :-) I just add it to the end of the MDT Task Sequence for the "Production" images when they deploy.

Might have a look at this when I have some time over the next week or so

https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/chrome-admins/7ymVAeBHhq0

You can run a few simple lines in a logon script to detect and delete if the .lnk exists. use the following lines in batch:

IF EXIST "C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Google Chrome.lnk" DEL /Q /S "C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Google Chrome.lnk"

IF EXIST "C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\Google Chrome.lnk" DEL /Q /S "C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\Google Chrome.lnk"

After a restart the pinned icon should disappear.

Callan

We ended up removing Chrome and reinstalling without the shortcuts. Easy to do with a manifest file.

You can follow this document from Google:

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/187948?hl=en