How to Remove Recycle Bin from Desktop Windows 10/11

The Recycle Bin is a critical feature on the Windows system that lets users cancel accidental deletion and recover deleted data. It provides convenience for some users. However, other users may find it more bothersome than helpful to have the Recycle Bin icon on their desktop. Fortunately, it is not a tough thing to remove the Recycle Bin icon from the desktop on Windows 10/11. You can remove it to make your desktop more concise and save space for other commonly used icons. Here, learn the step-by-step process to remove the Recycle Bin from the desktop on Windows 10/11. Easy and informative methods will be mentioned here. Go on reading to tailor your desktop to your preferences.

How to Remove Recycle Bin from Desktop Windows 11

As mentioned, removing Recycle Bin from the desktop on Windows is just a piece of cake. There are several methods available to delete the Recycle Bin icon on Windows 11. Figure out how to fulfill the Recycle Bin deletion below.

Method 1. Remove the Recycle Bin Icon in Windows 11 Settings

By hiding it in the Windows Settings, you can effortlessly remove the icon. In the following, check how to remove the Recycle Bin on Windows 11 step by step.

Step 1. On the desktop, right-click any empty space, then choose Personalize from the pop-up menu.

Step 2. Select the Themes option in the Personalization box. In the Related Settings section, scroll down and pick the Desktop icon settings.

Step 3. Disable the Recycle Bin box by checking it. To preserve the modifications, click Apply and then OK.

Then, Windows 11 will then be able to conceal the Recycle Bin icon from the desktop. Similar to the Windows 11 system, you can also remove the Recycle Bin from the desktop in the Windows 10 Settings.

Method 2. Hide Recycle Bin from Desktop Using Local Group Policy Editor

Using the Local Group Policy Editor, you can also remove the Recycle Bin from the Windows 11 desktop. It is a snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) that offers a Windows computer’s local Group Policy settings management interface. You can use it to add, remove, or manage the icons on your desktop.

To use the Local Group Policy Editor, follow the steps below:

Step 1. Right-click the Windows button and select “Run”.

Step 2. Click “OK” after entering gpedit.msc in the Run box.

Step 3. Locate “Administrative Template”. Select “Desktop > Remove Recycle Bin icon from desktop” by double-clicking.

Step 4. Check the “Enabled” option. Click “Apply” and “OK” after that.

Step 5. To make this setting function, restart your computer. 

How to Remove Recycle Bin from Desktop Windows 10

On the Windows operating system, several solutions exist to remove the Recycle Bin icon from the desktop. Apart from setting it in the Windows Settings (same as the instructions mentioned in the Windows 11 system), you can also use the Registry to remove the desktop icon. Check the instructions below to successfully delete the Recycle Bin from your desktop.

Delete Recycle Bin from Desktop Using Registry

An effective way to remove the Recycle Bin from the desktop is to directly change the Windows registry. The Windows registry is a hierarchical database tool default in the Windows system that allows you to make several edits to the kernel, device drivers, services, Security Accounts Manager, and user interfaces. It is easy to operate but we recommend you back up the original Windows registry to avoid corruption and damage caused by the changes.

To change the Windows registry and further delete Recycle Bin from the desktop, you can:

Step 1. Press the Win + R keys to run the Windows registry.

Step 2. Type Regedit and Click OK. Then allow the Registry to make changes on your computer.

Step 3. Locate HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace.

Step 4. Locate and remove the registry key, 645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E.

Step 5. Restart your computer and exit the registry, then you will see that the Recycle Bin symbol is removed from the desktop.

How to Access Recycle Bin after Hiding It

After you remove the Recycle Bin shortcut from the desktop, you can still open the Recycle Bin. It is not permanently deleted from your computer. To access the hidden Recycle Bin, you can type “Recycle Bin” in the Windows search bar to open it.

How to Disable Recycle Bin

Suppose you find the Recycle Bin feature useless and want to close it, you can disable the Recycle Bin. Then the files you delete will be permanently removed from your computer. To do so, you can:

Step 1. Right-click the Recycle Bin icon and select Properties.

Step 2. Choose the “Don’t move files to the Recycle Bin”. Remove files immediately when deleted option.

Step 3. Press the Apply button and click OK to save the setting.

You have to note that the Recycle Bin can prevent you from accidentally deletion. If you disable the Recycle Bin, then it will be hard to recover those deleted files.

How to Recover Data from the Recycle Bin

The recently deleted files will be stored in the Recycle Bin. In terms of not emptying the Recycle Bin, you have a great chance to recover those deleted documents.

How to recover data from Recycle Bin in Windows

Step 1. Right-click the Recycle Bin icon or search for Recycle Bin in the Windows search bar to open it.

Step 2. Search for the target document you want to recover.

Step 3. Left-click to pick the file then right-click it and select Restore to recover it to the desktop again.

How to Recover Permanently Deleted Data from Recycle Bin

Suppose you have emptied the Recycle Bin; the deleted files will be permanently removed from your computer. Is there still a chance to recover those accidentally deleted critical files? Thanks to that professional data recovery software, you can retrieve them back. ONERECOVERY is a trustworthy desktop software that provides comprehensive solutions for data recovery. It has a dedicated feature that can recover files deleted from recycle bin. Those accidentally deleted and lost files will be easily scanned. In simple steps, you can find the permanently deleted files from Recycle Bin.

Check how to recover deleted data from the Recycle Bin with ONERECOVERY.

Step 1. Download and install the ONERECOVERY software on your computer, then launch it. 

Step 2. Select the Recycle Bin drive and start scanning.

Step 3. Select the Recycle Bin category and search for the target file you want to recover. Pick it up and hit the Recover button to restore it to your computer.

As you can see, ONERECOVERY is a simple-to-use data recovery software that enables you to recover data from the Recycle Bin. Give it a trial if you find that you have lost crucial data in the Recycle Bin.

Other FAQs about Windows Recycle Bin

How to show the hidden Recycle Bin on the desktop?

If you can’t find the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop, the Recycle Bin may be disabled. To show the Recycle Bin icon on Windows again, just right-click the blank area on your desktop. Then select View>show desktop icon. 

How to pin the Recycle Bin to the taskbar?

First, you have to show the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop (following the instructions in the above answer). Then right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop. Select Show More Options and click Pin Taskbar (Windows 11). On Windows 10, select Pin to Start.

What happens if the Recycle Bin is full?

The oldest contents of the recycle bin will be removed to make way for the most recent deletions once the maximum capacity has been reached. Your Windows drive will begin automatically deleting files without notifying you as soon as it reaches its capacity.

What is the shortcut key for Recycle Bin?

To open the Recycle Bin on Windows with a shortcut, you can first press Win + R to launch File Explorer. Then search for Recycle Bin in the search bar.

Conclusion

This guide walked you through how to remove the Recycle Bin from the desktop. Along with the detailed instructions mentioned above, you can easily delete the Recycle Bin icon to make your desktop cleaner and leave more space for more necessary icons. Recycle Bin is a great feature that allows you to cancel accidental deletion. If you just lost or deleted critical files, might as well check the Recycle Bin in the first place.