With the release of Microsoft Edge Version 81.0.416.53 from April 13 2020 we are able to deploy Edge without creating the desktop icon.

This is from the release note:

Added an MSI command line parameter that lets you suppress Desktop icon creation when you install Microsoft Edge. The following example shows how to use this new parameter:
MicrosoftEdgeEnterpriseX64.msi DONOTCREATEDESKTOPSHORTCUT=true
There will be a group policy to support this functionality in an upcoming release.

There is a lot of workaround on the internet for this already – but is it nice to have a build-in install parameter instead of using a custom script.
Remember that there are different reason why Microsoft Edge is installing a icon on the Desktop.

1. The old Edge already has a Desktop icon the new Edge will take over
2. If there is no Edge desktop icon on the desktop – the Edge installer will create a icon on C:UsersPublicDesktop
3. Is there is no icon in C:UsersPublicDesktop first launch will create a desktop icon unless this “do_not_create_desktop_shortcut” :true is present in C:Program Files (x86)MicrosoftEdgeApplicationmaster_preferences

First download Microsoft Edge for business

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/business/download

1. Select channel/version : Stable 81 (Current)
2. Select build : 81.0.416.53
3. Select platform : Windows 64-bit
4. Click Download

If you are just installing MicrosoftEdgeEnterpriseX64.msi you can see in C:Program Files (x86)MicrosoftEdgeApplicationmaster_preferences that
“do_not_create_desktop_shortcut” :false so there will be a Edge icon on the desktop

If you are installing MicrosoftEdgeEnterpriseX64.msi DONOTCREATEDESKTOPSHORTCUT=true so the Edge icon will be removed the desktop, and if the old Edge icon do not exist on the desktop, MicrosoftEdgeEnterpriseX64.msi will not create a new one.

You can see in C:Program Files (x86)MicrosoftEdgeApplicationmaster_preferences you can see that “do_not_create_desktop_shortcut” :true

How to deploy Edge with Intune without a desktop icon:

Download Microsoft Win32 Content Prep Tool

Run the command to create the .intunewin file

IntuneWinAppUtil.exe

Create the Intune Win32 application you can deploy to your end users.

Start Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center

1. Select Apps
2. Select Windows
3. Click Add

1. Select Windows app (Win32)

1. Click Select app package file
2. Upload the .intunewin file
3. Click Ok

1. Enter Publisher : Microsoft

1. Change the install command by adding DONOTCREATEDESKTOPSHORTCUT=true

1. Select Operation system architecture : 64-bit
2. Select Minimum operation system : Windows 10 1709

1. Select Rules format : Manually configure detection rules
2. Click Add
3. Select Rule type : MSI

You can configure dependencies and scope tags as needed.

Assignment can be available or required – if you are running Autopilot t provision new devices it can be a good idea to deploy Microsoft Edge to your autopilot device group.

Happy deployment

Read more:

Release notes for Microsoft Edge Stable Channel