The Cluttered Desktop
Windows 11, particularly when interacting with the Microsoft Store or Microsoft Edge, has a habit of pushing new web applications (PWAs) and standard apps directly to your desktop. By default, when you install a new app from the Store or “install” a website via Edge, Windows often automatically creates a shortcut icon on your desktop. If you prefer a minimalist workspace or exclusively use the Start menu or taskbar to launch your programs, this automatic shortcut generation creates unnecessary visual clutter that you constantly have to clean up.
Disabling the Shortcut Generator
To maintain a pristine desktop environment and stop Windows 11 from automatically creating shortcuts for new applications, you must adjust the installation behavior in the Microsoft Store and Edge.
There is no single global switch for this in Windows 11; you must address the sources. For the Microsoft Store: Open the Store app. Click your profile icon in the top right corner and select Settings. Look for an option related to “Desktop shortcuts” or “Pinning” (this option moves depending on the Store version, but it is usually near the top). Toggle it off. For Microsoft Edge: When you choose to “Install this site as an app” (from the Apps menu), a prompt will appear before installation finishes. In this specific prompt, you must uncheck the box labelled Create Desktop shortcut before you click the final Install button. If you miss it, you will have to delete the shortcut manually.