Windows – Prevent Windows 10 from resetting default applications

The default browser is set in the Registry under

HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\http

and

HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\https

These user settings take precedent over those in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, which may be ignored.

You could right-click on the command key and change permissions so it is less likely that Windows will mangle your settings on the next update.

You can also make a small .reg file, exporting those settings, so the next time MS does foul it up, you just need to merge it back into the Registry.

Minimum system requirement

I don't know, I am using PowerShell 7.2 preview 2 x64 on Windows 10 20H2, I have tested the script and confirmed it is working, and found a minor bug and fixed it; But I have tested my code on PowerShell 5.1.19041.610 and confirmed my code won't work on it, so maybe you need at least PowerShell Core 6? I don't really know, but it is advised to use the latest version of PowerShell.

I solved it via:

1. Save as pintotaskbar.ps1:

   param(
     [parameter(mandatory=$true)] [validatenotnullorempty()]$execs
   )
   
   if (!(test-path $home\pinnedshortcuts)) {new-item $home\pinnedshortcuts -type "directory" > $null}
   $execs  = $execs -split "\|"
   
   foreach ($exec in $execs) {
     $path = ($exec -split "::")[0]
     $name = ($exec -split "::")[1]
   
     if ($path -notmatch "[C-Zc-z]:(\\[^(<>:`"\/\\|?*\x00-\x1f\x7f)]+)+") {$path=where.exe $path}
   
     $shortcutpath         = "$home\desktop\$name.lnk"
     $wshshell             = new-object -comobject wscript.shell
     $shortcut             = $wshshell.createshortcut($shortcutpath)
     $shortcut.targetpath  = $path
     $shortcut.save()
   
     $bytes                = [system.io.file]::readallbytes($shortcutpath)
     $bytes[0x15]          = $bytes[0x15] -bor 0x20
     [system.io.file]::writeallbytes($shortcutpath,$bytes)
   
     copy-item -path $shortcutpath -destination $home\pinnedshortcuts
   }
   
   $template         = get-content "$psscriptroot\template.xml"
   $pinnedshortcuts  = (get-childitem -path $home\pinnedshortcuts -filter "*.lnk").fullname | %{"`t`t<taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath=`"{0}`" />" -f $_}
   $template         = $template | % {$_;if ($_ -match "<taskbar:taskbarpinlist>") {$pinnedshortcuts}}
   
   $template | out-file  -path "$home\pinnedshortcuts\pinnedshortcuts.xml"
   import-startlayout    -layoutpath $home\pinnedshortcuts\pinnedshortcuts.xml -mountpath c:\
   get-process           -name "explorer" | stop-process & explorer.exe
   

   
   
2. Save template.xml in the same directory as pintotaskbar.ps1:

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
   <LayoutModificationTemplate
       xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification"
       xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout"
       xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout"
       xmlns:taskbar="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/TaskbarLayout"
       Version="1">
     <CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection>
       <defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>
         <taskbar:TaskbarPinList>
         </taskbar:TaskbarPinList>
       </defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>
     </CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection>
   </LayoutModificationTemplate>
   

   
   

3. # Accepts a string like:
     # cmd::Command Prompt|pwsh::PowerShell 7|python::Python
   
   .\pintotaskbar.ps1 "cmd::Command Prompt|pwsh::PowerShell 7|python::Python"
   

I have found a strange issue, using the above example will generate a working shortcut named "Command Prompt pwsh" that points to %comspec%, I got rid of this by deleting [string] type specifier of $execs and it magically went away, I still have no idea how it happened...