Windows Components › Windows Media Player
Prevent Desktop Shortcut Creation
Supported on Windows Media Player 9 Series and later.
What it does
This policy setting allows you to prevent a shortcut icon for the Player from being added to the user's desktop. If you enable this policy setting, users cannot add the Player shortcut icon to their desktops. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, users can choose whether to add the Player shortcut icon to their desktops.
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
- Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer- Value name
DesktopShortcut- When enabled
- "no"
- When disabled
- "yes"
In Intune
Native Intune setting: Yes — Policy CSP
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_WindowsMediaPlayer/PreventWMPDeskTopShortcutADMX_WindowsMediaPlayer on Microsoft LearnADMX-backed: Windows ships this template, so it is set with the template's own values, without an import.Windows builds listed: 10.0.22000, 10.0.19043.1202, 10.0.19042.1202, 10.0.19041.1202.
From Microsoft's Policy CSP DDF files (DDF v2 Files, February 2026), read 18 Oct 2026.
Configure and deploy
Choose a state; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.
Enabled · Computer · template defaults
Registry file (.reg)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer]
"DesktopShortcut"=dword:00000001
PowerShell
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
function Set-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
}
New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}
function Remove-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return
}
foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Prevent Desktop Shortcut Creation
# Name: PreventWMPDeskTopShortcut
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: windowsmediaplayer.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'DesktopShortcut' -PropertyType 'String' -Value 'no'
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'DesktopShortcut' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1
These deployment candidates come from the ADMX template; they are separate from the native CSP mapping above.
- The OMA-URI is an inferred ADMX-backed Policy CSP candidate derived from the source ADMX file name and policy name.
- Some Microsoft policies use built-in Policy CSP pages whose area names don't match the ADMX file name, so verify the candidate against Microsoft Learn before deployment.
ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_windowsmediaplayer/PreventWMPDeskTopShortcutADMX SyncML candidate
<SyncML xmlns="SYNCML:SYNCML1.2">
<SyncBody>
<Replace>
<CmdID>1</CmdID>
<Item>
<Meta>
<Format>chr</Format>
<Type>text/plain</Type>
</Meta>
<Target>
<LocURI>./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_windowsmediaplayer/PreventWMPDeskTopShortcut</LocURI>
</Target>
<Data><enabled/></Data>
</Item>
</Replace>
<Final/>
</SyncBody>
</SyncML>Intune remediation scripts
Detection
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
$reasons = [System.Collections.Generic.List[string]]::new()
function Test-RegistryValueExists {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return $false
}
return $null -ne (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
}
function Test-RegistryValueEquals {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Kind,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Expected
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return $false
}
$valueObject = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
if ($null -eq $valueObject) {
return $false
}
$actual = $valueObject.$Name
switch ($Kind) {
'String' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
'ExpandString' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
'DWord' { return [uint32]$actual -eq [uint32]$Expected }
'QWord' { return [uint64]$actual -eq [uint64]$Expected }
'MultiString' {
$actualArray = @($actual)
$expectedArray = @($Expected)
if ($actualArray.Count -ne $expectedArray.Count) { return $false }
for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Count; $index++) {
if ([string]$actualArray[$index] -cne [string]$expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
'Binary' {
$actualArray = [byte[]]$actual
$expectedArray = [byte[]]$Expected
if ($actualArray.Length -ne $expectedArray.Length) { return $false }
for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Length; $index++) {
if ($actualArray[$index] -ne $expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
default { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
}
}
# Policy: Prevent Desktop Shortcut Creation
# Name: PreventWMPDeskTopShortcut
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: windowsmediaplayer.admx
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'DesktopShortcut' -Kind 'String' -Expected 'no'
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer\DesktopShortcut') | Out-Null
}
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'DesktopShortcut' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 1
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer\DesktopShortcut') | Out-Null
}
if ($reasons.Count -eq 0) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
$reasons | ForEach-Object { Write-Output $_ }
exit 1
Remediation
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
function Set-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
}
New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}
function Remove-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return
}
foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Prevent Desktop Shortcut Creation
# Name: PreventWMPDeskTopShortcut
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: windowsmediaplayer.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'DesktopShortcut' -PropertyType 'String' -Value 'no'
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'DesktopShortcut' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1
History 2 retained releases
- 22H2 · 1.015 Jul 2024
- Template changed.
- 1607 · 2.015 Jul 2024
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.
Template
- Internal name
PreventWMPDeskTopShortcut- Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer- Template file
windowsmediaplayer.admx- Release
- Windows 10 22H2 · 1.0 · file set
bc15f6a5271783ee…
Definition, editor controls and support
Definition
<policy class="Machine" displayName="$(string.PreventWMPDeskTopShortcut)" explainText="$(string.PreventWMPDeskTopShortcutExplain)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer" name="PreventWMPDeskTopShortcut" valueName="DesktopShortcut" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:WMPCat" />
<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:SUPPORTED_WMP9" />
<enabledValue>
<string>no</string>
</enabledValue>
<disabledValue>
<string>yes</string>
</disabledValue>
</policy>Editor controls
Supported platforms and category
Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:category:WMPCat
<category displayName="$(string.WMPCat)" name="WMPCat" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:definition:SUPPORTED_WMP9
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WMP9)" name="SUPPORTED_WMP9" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<range minVersionIndex="9" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer" />
</or>
</definition>
Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:WindowsMediaPlayer
sha256:d3dc4d88cb8b8862bc6a34e76f531ff2c831cbda36ab2518e615cfd90227a6be
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:category:WMPCat
<category displayName="$(string.WMPCat)" name="WMPCat" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:WMPCat">Windows Media Player</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:definition:SUPPORTED_WMP9
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WMP9)" name="SUPPORTED_WMP9" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<range minVersionIndex="9" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer" />
</or>
</definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:SUPPORTED_WMP9">Windows Media Player 9 Series and later.</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:WindowsMediaPlayer
<product displayName="$(string.WindowsMediaPlayer)" name="WindowsMediaPlayer" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsMediaPlayer8)" name="WindowsMediaPlayer8" versionIndex="8" />
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsMediaPlayer9)" name="WindowsMediaPlayer9" versionIndex="9" />
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsMediaPlayer10)" name="WindowsMediaPlayer10" versionIndex="10" />
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsMediaPlayer11)" name="WindowsMediaPlayer11" versionIndex="11" />
</product>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer">Windows Media Player</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer10">Windows Media Player 10</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer11">Windows Media Player 11</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer8">Windows Media Player 8</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer9">Windows Media Player 9</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents">Windows Components</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents_Help">Contains settings for operating system components.</string></strings>