Here’s how to get the Recycle Bin on your desktop in Windows 10:
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Select the Start button, then select Settings .
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Select Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings.
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Select the RecycleBin check box > Apply.
Notes:
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To get to desktop icon settings in Windows 8.1, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, then select Search. Type desktop icons in the search box, and then select Show or hide common icons on the desktop.
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To get to desktop icon settings in Windows 7, select the Start button, type desktop icons in the search box, and then select Show or hide common icons on the desktop.
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If you like to keep your desktop clean, you can remove recycle bin from the desktop. Follow these steps to hide recycle bin on the desktop in Windows 10 & 11.
Generally, you can remove all the icons except Recycle Bin from the desktop. In fact, Microsoft itself removed the My Computer icon from the desktop. Though not so obvious, you can easily unpin or remove the recycle bin icon from the desktop. i.e., you can remove the trash can or garbage bin icon from the desktop.
Even after removing the recycle bin icon, you can still access it. Simply put, you won’t lose any functionality, but you will have a squeaky clean desktop. So, without further ado, let me show how it’s done.
Table of contents:
- Windows 11
- Windows 10
- From registry
In Windows 11, you can use the Settings app to remove the recycle bin from the desktop. All it takes is a couple of clicks, and you are good to go. Here is how.
- Open Settings with “Win + I” shortcut.
- Choose “Personalization” on the sidebar.
- Click on “Desktop icon settings” under “Related settings.”
- Uncheck the “Recycle bin” checkbox.
- Click “Apply.”
- Click “Ok.”
- With that, the recycle bin icon is hidden from desktop in Windows 11.
Hide Recycle Bin on Desktop in Windows 10
To remove or hide the recycle bin icon in Windows 10, you don’t have to change any group policy settings or registry settings. Windows has a built-in option to hide it.
- Use “Win + I” to PC Settings.
- Click on the “Personalization” option.
- Choose “Themes” on the sidebar.
- Click on “Desktop icon settings” under “Related settings.”
- Uncheck the “Recycle bin” checkbox.
- Click “Apply.”
- Click “Ok.”
- With that, the recycle bin icon is hidden from desktop in Windows 10.
1. First, open the PC Settings app by pressing the Win + I keyboard shortcut. Go to the “Personalization > Themes” page in the Settings app. Click on the “Desktop Icon Settings” link on the right panel under the “Related settings” section.
2. The above action will open the Icon Settings window. Here, uncheck the “Recycle Bin” checkbox and click on the “Apply” and “Ok” buttons.
3. That is it. You’ve successfully hidden the recycle bin icon from the desktop.
If you ever want to show recycle bin icon back, simply select the “Recycle Bin” option step 2 and save changes.
Hide recycle bin on desktop from Registry Editor
To remove the recycle bin icon from the desktop using the registry, you must make a couple of modifications. It is pretty easy to do. However, I recommend you create a full registry backup before making changes and proceeding.
- Use “Win + R” to open Run.
- Type “regedit” and click “Ok.”
- Paste the below path in the address bar and press Enter.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel\ - Right-click on the “NewStartPanel” folder.
- Select the “New > DWORD Value” option.
- Type “{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}” as its name.
- Double-click on the “{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}” value.
- Type “1” in the Value Data field.
- Click the “Ok” button.
- Paste the below path in the address bar and press Enter.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ - Right-click on the “HideDesktopIcons” folder.
- Name the new folder as “ClassicStartMenu.”
- Right-click on the “ClassicStartMenu” folder.
- Select the “New > DWORD Value” option.
- Name the value as “{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}” and press Enter.
- Double-click on the “{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}” value.
- Type “1” in the Value Data field.
- Click the “Ok” button.
- Close the Registry Editor and reboot.
- With that, the recycle bin icon is hidden on desktop.
To restore or show the recycle bin icon on desktop, simply delete the “{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}” value in both “ClassicStartMenu” and “NewStartPanel” folders in the Registry Editor.
Access Recycle Bin After Hiding or Removing it from Desktop
Now, you might be wondering how you can access the recycle bin folder after removing it from the desktop. After all, there will be times when you need to delete or restore files from recycle bin. There are quite a number of ways. I will show three main methods. Follow the one you like.
Method #1: Shell Commands
Windows has a wide range of shell commands to access various folders and applications. Recycle Bin is no different. It has its shell command; when used, will launch the recycle bin folder.
1. To open the recycle bin with the shell command, press Win + R, type the below command, and press Enter.
shell:RecycleBinFolder
2. The above action will instantly open the Recycle Bin folder.
Alternatively, you can also use the shell:desktop command. This command will open the desktop folder, which contains the “Trash” icon. Double-click on it, and the recycle bin folder will open.
Method #2: Create a Keyboard Shortcut with AutoHotKey
If you’d like to assign a keyboard shortcut to open the Recycle Bin folder, you can do that using AutoHotKey.
I assume you’ve already had AutoHotKey installed. If not, download and install it from the official website.
1. First, create a new text document and rename it to anything you want. Make sure that you replace the .txt extension with .ahk.
2. Right-click on the file and select the “Edit Script” option. This action will open the script in Notepad.
3. Now, copy the below code and paste it into the file. Save the file by selecting the “File → Save” option.
;Open recycle bin with Win + / shortcut
/:: Run ::{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
4. Finally, close the file and double-click on it to run the file.
If you already have a dedicated AHK script for keyboard shortcuts, you can incorporate the above code into it. That way, you don’t have to run two AHK scripts. Also, you can start the AutoHotKey script with Windows.
That is it. As long as the script is running, you can open the recycle bin folder by pressing the Win + / keyboard shortcut. You can customize the shortcut to anything you want if you want to. Follow this official document to get to know the key list.
Wrapping Up
That is all. It is that simple to hide or remove recycle bin from the desktop in Windows 10. If you are stuck or need some help, comment below, and I will try to help as much as possible.
- To hide the Recycle Bin in Windows 10, you’ll need to open your computer’s «Personalization» menu.
- You can use this same method to unhide the Recycle Bin later if you want it back.
- Even after you hide the Recycle Bin, you’ll still be able to delete files, as well as open the Recycle Bin by searching for it.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more.
The Recycle Bin is one of the most recognizable programs on your Windows 10 computer. It holds all your deleted files, and allows to restore them if you want to take them back.
However, some people find the Recycle Bin to be useless, and would rather it not be stuck on their desktop at all times.
Fortunately, Windows 10 lets you hide your Recycle Bin. When it’s hidden, you can still delete files, and still open the Bin by searching for it using your computer’s search bar, but it won’t appear on your desktop anymore.
Here’s how to hide it.
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How to hide the Recycle Bin on your Windows 10 computer
1. Go to your desktop and right-click on any empty space. In the right-click menu that appears, click «Personalize.»
2. On the Personalization page that opens, click on the tab that reads «Themes.»
3. In the «Themes» tab, move your cursor to the right of the screen and look for «Related Settings.» Under it you should see a link that reads «Desktop Icon Settings.» Click on it.
Taylor Lyles/Business Insider
4. In «Desktop Icon Settings,» you’ll see small checkboxes for a few Desktop icons. Uncheck the «Recycle Bin» box, then hit «Apply.» The icon will be removed from your Windows 10 computer screen.
Taylor Lyles/Business Insider
Of course, you might later change your mind and want to bring the Recycle Bin icon back.
To unhide the Recycle Bin, simply make your way back to the Desktop Icon Settings menu and check the box next to «Recycle Bin.» Once you click «Apply,» your Bin will reappear.
Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:
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How to change the size of your desktop icons on a Windows 10 computer
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How to add icons to your desktop on a Windows 10 PC to easily access the system folders or apps you use regularly
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How to change the admin user on a Windows 10 computer, and add or remove admin accounts
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Taylor Lyles is a freelance writer for Business Insider.
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Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.
Recycle bin grants you the option to retrieve any deleted files that you have previously deleted. Though a dominant system program, many users find its presence useless, and for some, it depreciates the aesthetics of the desktop.
Whatever the reason may be, this guide will instruct you how to hide or remove Recycle Bin from Desktop on Windows 10. Additionally, you will also learn how to access Recycle Bin once you have already discarded it.
Removing the recycle bin from the desktop doesn’t demand any complicated steps. You can quickly learn how to hide the recycle bin from the desktop on Windows 10.
Note: Pin the Recycle Bin to the Start menu to quickly reach it later.
Follow these simple instructions:
- Right-click on the Recycle bin icon on the desktop.
- Select Pin to Start (third option from the list).
Executing these simple steps will enable you to locate the recycle bin later after removing it.
Follow these simple step by step instructions to remove recycle bin from the desktop on Windows 10:
Step 1: Hover to the Start button and select Settings (gear icon).
Step 2: Under Settings, select Personalization
Step 3: On the left menu, select Themes.
Step 4: In the right menu, scroll down to Related Settings.
And choose Desktop icon settings.
Step 5: On the next screen, you will see all the Desktop icons. Uncheck the box allotted to the Recycle bin.
Step 6: Click Apply to hide the recycle bin from the desktop on Windows 10.
Part 2: How to Access Recycle Bin after Removing It from Desktop Windows 10
You might escape the presence of a Recycle bin, but you cannot evade utilizing it. Whether you mistakenly removed a file or want to erase the files permanently, its use is inescapable. Nonetheless, even if you have removed the trash bin from Windows 10, there are methods to locate it.
Follow these simple steps to access Recycle bin after removing it from the desktop on Windows 10:
Method 1: Access Recycle bin from the Search bar
Step 1: Hover to the Search menu in the taskbar and type Recycle bin.
Step 2: On the right menu, click on Open to access the recycle bin.
Method 2: Access Recycle bin from File Explorer
Step 1: Open the File Explorer bar and access This PC option on the left bar.
Then, hover to the address bar.
Step 2: Click on the first “>” option. You will see the Recycle bin option in the drop-down menu.
Click on the option to access the Recycle bin.
Using any of these two methods, you will be able to access the Recycle bin even if you have previously opted to hide the recycle bin on desktop Windows 10.
There are also other alternatives to access the recycle bin after removing it from the desktop on Windows 10. For instance, you can open the run box (Win+R) and type shell: desktop to locate the desktop icons. Although you’ve pre-chosen to remove the recycle bin from the desktop or not—you still will view the Recycle bin icon.
Moreover, you can also follow the steps of Part 1— how to hide the recycle bin from the desktop on Windows 10 —and re-check the box allotted to the Recycle bin to restore the icon on the desktop.
Conclusion
As it is evident, learning how to hide Recycle Bin from desktop on Windows 10 is straightforward and doesn’t require many intricate steps. Accessing the Recycle bin too after hiding it from the desktop is simple and can be achieved by any specified method.
Do you want to keep your desktop looking neat and tidy? Do you find the Recycle Bin icon too distracting? If so, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll show you how to hide the Recycle Bin icon in Windows 10. We’ll also provide some tips on how to make sure you don’t accidentally delete important files. So, if you’re looking for ways to customize your desktop, let’s get started on how to hide Recycle Bin Windows 10.
How to Hide Recycle Bin Windows 10?
- Click on the Windows icon and type in “Control Panel”.
- Click on “Appearance and Personalization”.
- Click on “Change Desktop Icons”.
- Uncheck the “Recycle Bin” box.
- Click “Apply” and then “Ok”.
How to Hide the Recycle Bin in Windows 10
The Recycle Bin is a convenient tool in Windows 10 that helps users manage their files. However, some users may find it annoying or unnecessary and would like to hide it. Luckily, Windows 10 makes it easy to hide the Recycle Bin with just a few clicks. In this article, we will explain how to hide the Recycle Bin in Windows 10.
Using the Desktop Context Menu
The quickest way to hide the Recycle Bin is to use the desktop context menu. Right-click on the desktop and select “Personalize” from the context menu. This will open the Personalization window, where you can customize the look of your desktop.
In the Personalization window, select the “Themes” tab. Under the “Themes” tab, select the “Desktop Icon Settings” option. This will open the Desktop Icon Settings window, where you can customize the icons on your desktop.
In the Desktop Icon Settings window, uncheck the box next to the “Recycle Bin” option. This will hide the Recycle Bin from your desktop. Click “OK” to save your changes.
Using the File Explorer
Another way to hide the Recycle Bin is to use the File Explorer. Open the File Explorer by pressing the “Windows + E” keys on your keyboard. This will open the File Explorer window.
In the File Explorer window, select the “View” tab. Under the “View” tab, select the “Options” option. This will open the Folder Options window, where you can customize the look of your folders.
In the Folder Options window, select the “View” tab. Under the “View” tab, select the “Don’t show hidden files, folders, or drives” option. This will hide the Recycle Bin from your File Explorer window. Click “OK” to save your changes.
Using the Registry Editor
The final way to hide the Recycle Bin is to use the Registry Editor. Open the Registry Editor by typing “regedit” into the search bar and pressing “Enter”. This will open the Registry Editor window.
In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following key: “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel”. Under the NewStartPanel key, select the “{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}” option. This will hide the Recycle Bin from your desktop. Click “OK” to save your changes.
Using Group Policy Editor
The Group Policy Editor is a powerful tool available in Windows 10 that allows users to customize various settings. To hide the Recycle Bin using the Group Policy Editor, open the Group Policy Editor by typing “gpedit.msc” into the search bar and pressing “Enter”. This will open the Group Policy Editor window.
In the Group Policy Editor window, navigate to the following path: “User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop > Hide Recycle Bin”. Under this path, select the “Enabled” option. This will hide the Recycle Bin from your desktop. Click “OK” to save your changes.
Top 6 Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Recycle Bin?
The Recycle Bin is a Windows feature that stores deleted files and folders before they are permanently removed from your computer. This allows you to recover files that you may have accidentally deleted, or that you may have changed your mind about deleting. The Recycle Bin can be accessed through the desktop, or by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting “Recycle Bin”.
2. How do I hide the Recycle Bin in Windows 10?
To hide the Recycle Bin in Windows 10, right-click on the desktop and select “Personalize”. This will open the Settings app. In the Settings app, select “Themes”, then “Desktop icon settings”. From here, you can uncheck the box next to “Recycle Bin”, and then click “Apply”. This will hide the Recycle Bin from your desktop.
3. How do I get the Recycle Bin back on my desktop?
To get the Recycle Bin back on your desktop, you can follow the same steps as above. Right-click on the desktop and select “Personalize”, then select “Themes” and “Desktop icon settings”. From here, you can check the box next to “Recycle Bin”, and then click “Apply”. This will display the Recycle Bin on your desktop.
4. Does hiding the Recycle Bin delete files?
No, hiding the Recycle Bin does not delete any files. Hiding the Recycle Bin simply removes it from your desktop, making it less visible. Your files will still be stored in the Recycle Bin and can be accessed by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting “Recycle Bin”.
5. What other ways can I access the Recycle Bin?
In addition to accessing the Recycle Bin through the desktop, you can also access it through File Explorer. To do this, open File Explorer and select “This PC”. Next, select “Recycle Bin” from the left pane. This will open the Recycle Bin and allow you to view its contents.
6. What happens if I empty the Recycle Bin?
If you empty the Recycle Bin, all of the files and folders that have been stored in the Recycle Bin will be permanently deleted from your computer. This means that they cannot be recovered, so make sure you are certain that you want to delete these files before doing so.
how to hide recycle bin on windows Laptop – PC
Hiding the Recycle Bin on Windows 10 can be done quickly and easily. All you need to do is follow the steps mentioned above and you will be done in no time. This is a great way to declutter your desktop and free up some extra space. So, go ahead and give it a try and see how it works for you.