Open acroread.msi with orca.

Go to properties.

Add property: DISABLEDESKTOPSHORTCUT=1

Didnt verify it with updates, but for installation it works.

Source: https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/AdminGuide/properties.html

Yes that would be good, it is so annoying to have it there!

Same as other comments, I'm going to start using Chrome to read pdfs if Adobe doesn't stop creating a desktop shortcut every other day. I didn't want it on the initial install why would I want it now

I also have created an account for this issue. This is a significant enough issue since this is happening so frequently, that I will switch to another PDF service. Just give us an option in the settings to not have a desktop icon an make millions on your users happy. I think it is time to find different ways to word this complaint and make multiple threads to encourage Adobe to listen.

it's infuriating to have this **** shortcut keep reappearing on my desktop, I am looking for hacks to force this to stop and if I don't find one (and presumably Adobe won't bother addressing the issue), I'll just use chrome to read pdfs

**** u adobe

I created an account specifically for this comment.

Surely, one can recognise how much of a nuisance the continuous reappearance of the desktop icon must be for numerous users to go through the effort of creating an account for the sole purpose of requesting the removal of this behaviour.

Please, please rectify this issue.

Sincerely,
an otherwise satisfied user

Like many here I'm sick of the BS thrust upon us by Acrobat. The endlessly pointless desktop icon is icing on the cake. Coupled with miserable default display preferences that can not be changed or locked, it's a pathetic show.

Sort your merde out Adobe.

20 **** years Adobe have been installing a desktop shortcut which nobody wants.
Just stop it.
I'm going back to Foxit, again.

Created an account just for this: I'm planning to switch to other PDF readers as all domain users are asking about the icon: it's insane!

Acrobat Reader is used 99.99% to read or sign PDF docs, opening the documents from Windows Exploere. I've seen nobdy opening it form the Desktop icon and, if I delete it once, I don't understand why it has to came back everytime.

Remove it as soon as possible. Thank you.

Just like everyone else I created an account just to complain about this terrible "feature". Clearly this has been reported ages ago and no action has been taken. I do not read enough pdf's for me to tolerate the shortcuts that apear every other day, you are losing users because of this useless, intrusive "feature". Whoever came up with this idea needs to be sacked.

Also created an account just to vote for this. I'm cynical because of how inconvenient they make giving input, making few people do it and giving the excuse for adobe to never do anything. I hate this feature, I keep deleting the shortcut but it comes back and like probably every other user I will never ever have use for it. I don't know what on earth they gain by having a mandatory shortcut, but it's obnoxious and I'll probably uninstall the program soon.

I created an account just to complain about this. It is utterly annoying. Never ever have I used a desktop shortcut to open Adobe Reader, never ever will I. You're just annoying end users with this obtrusive behavior. Please make this a user preference rather than stuffing it down our throats! 😒 Thank you.

The fact of the matter is the average user likely does not want this, but they also are not going to take the time to locate this feedback forum and upvote the request, so Adobe gets to keep on being obnoxious and say, "Well not enough people asked for it" when they intentionally put huge roadblocks in front of the average user to get them to stop being invasive pieces of garbage.

Adobe has been doing this for years, people have been asking them for an option NOT to for years, Adobe have been ignoring us for years.
I really like Adobe over others... But I am now looking for something less intrusive (and something that doesn't have to check for updates every hour to patch issues)

To me, Adobe Acrobat DC is purely a form-filling, document-signing and PDF-viewing tool. I have never opened the program through a shortcut and I suspect I am not unique in this regard.

I understand that automated shortcut creation during the initial installation of the product is useful to some portion of the userbase. But why does the updater re-create shortcuts? Why is there no obvious mechanism for opting out? It's like a 15-year-old with a spray can.

I delete the shortcut - acrobat updates - it comes back. This means that my preferences on my computer are being deliberately ignored. This is outright rude.