Open Brave in Private Mode by Default

Set-BravePrivate.ps1

# Set shortcuts and registry entries to launch Brave in private mode
# NOTE: This script will likely need to be executed as an administrator
#       in order to complete some of the updates.

using namespace System.IO

Set-StrictMode -Version Latest

# Reference
# https://www.vbsedit.com/html/d91b9d23-a7e5-4ec2-8b55-ef6ffe9c777d.asp
# https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/admin-development/create-desktop-shortcut-with-wsh
# https://stackoverflow.com/questions/484560/editing-shortcut-lnk-properties-with-powershell

# Registry entry as would be found in a *.reg file
# Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
# [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\BraveHTML\shell\open\command]
# @="\"C:\\Program Files\\BraveSoftware\\Brave-Browser\\Application\\brave.exe\" --incognito --single-argument %1"

# From comment at https://superuser.com/a/1456571: Execute script from the web
# From https://stackoverflow.com/q/46073096: Generically link to latest Gist version
# NOTE: The "subshell" is used in case the *.ps1 PowerShell script exits when finished
# powershell -Command { Invoke-RestMethod https://gist.githubusercontent.com/mesheets/c423e1c51427381b9db27efd6f30d1a0/raw/Set-BravePrivate.ps1 | Invoke-Expression }


# Constants
$subpathTaskBar = '\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar'

$registryPath = 'Registry::HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\BraveHTML\shell\open\command'
$executableName = 'Brave.exe'
$shortcutName = 'Brave.lnk'
$flagForPrivate = '--incognito'


function Get-ShortcutFolders {
  # Generate an array of common shortcut folder paths
  [DirectoryInfo[]]$shortcutFolders = @(
    [Environment]::GetFolderPath('StartMenu'),
    [Environment]::GetFolderPath('CommonStartMenu'),
    [Environment]::GetFolderPath('DesktopDirectory'),
    [Environment]::GetFolderPath('CommonDesktopDirectory'),
    (Join-Path -Path ([Environment]::GetFolderPath('ApplicationData')) -ChildPath $subpathTaskBar),
    (Join-Path -Path ([Environment]::GetFolderPath('CommonApplicationData')) -ChildPath $subpathTaskBar)
  )
  
  # Return only those paths that actually exist on the system running this script
  return $shortcutFolders.Where({$_.Exists})
}

function Update-ShortcutArguments {
  param(
    [string]$shortcutFileName = $null,
    [string]$argument = $null
  )
  
  $shell = New-Object -ComObject WScript.Shell
  [DirectoryInfo[]]$directories = Get-ShortcutFolders
  
  $path = dir $directories -Filter $shortcutFileName -Recurse 
  
  $path | ForEach-Object { 
    if ($_) {
      $shortcut = $shell.CreateShortcut($_.FullName)

      $info = @{}
      $info.Hotkey = $shortcut.Hotkey
      $info.TargetPath = $shortcut.TargetPath
      $info.LinkPath = $shortcut.FullName
      $info.Target = try {Split-Path $info.TargetPath -Leaf } catch { 'n/a' }
      $info.Link = try { Split-Path $info.LinkPath -Leaf } catch { 'n/a' }
      $info.WindowStyle = $shortcut.WindowStyle
      $info.IconLocation = $shortcut.IconLocation
      $info.Arguments_Before = $shortcut.Arguments

      if (-not $shortcut.Arguments) {
        # There are no arguments, so just add it
        $shortcut.Arguments = $argument
      }
      elseif ($shortcut.Arguments -iNotMatch $argument) {
        # Other arguments exist; safest is to add as the first argument
        $shortcut.Arguments = $argument + ' ' + $shortcut.Arguments
      }
      
      $info.Arguments_After = $shortcut.Arguments
      
      try {
        $shortcut.Save()
        
        $targetPath = $shortcut.TargetPath
      } catch {
        Write-Error "$_"
      }

      New-Object PSObject -Property $info
    }
  }
}

function Update-RegistryArguments {
  param(
    [string]$regPath = $null,
    [string]$exeName = $nulll,
    [string]$argument = $null
  )
  
  $newRegValue = $null
  $regValue = (Get-ItemProperty -Path $regPath)."(default)"
  Write-Output "Registry value: $regValue"
  
  if ($regValue -iNotMatch $argument) {
    if ($regValue -iMatch "$exeName""") {
      $newRegValue = $regValue -iReplace "$exeName""", "$exeName"" $argument"
    }
    elseif ($regValue -iMatch $exeName) {
      $newRegValue = $regValue -iReplace $exeName, "$exeName $argument"
    }
    else {
      Write-Error "Unable to match registry value for updating"
    }
    
    if ($newRegValue) {
      Write-Output "Updated value:  $newRegValue"
      Set-Item -Path $regPath -Value $newRegValue
    }
    else {
      Write-Output "Reg value unmodified"
    }
  }
}


Update-ShortcutArguments $shortcutName $flagForPrivate

Update-RegistryArguments $registryPath $executableName $flagForPrivate