How to Use Recycle Bin in Windows 10

A Recycle Bin of Windows 10 is a folder mostly found on the Desktop, that consists of all the files that you’ve deleted from your PC.  The Recycle Bin holds these files if in any case, you want to recover them back if deleted by mistake.

A Recycle Bin has two forms: first, consist of all the deleted items, and the second is an emptied Recycle Bin. The icons of both the forms vary, and thus can be changed according to your preference.

How to change the Recycle Bin icon in Windows 10?

The steps to change the Recycle Bin icon in Windows 10 are:

  1. Go to the ‘Settings’ window by typing in the search bar.
  2. Under the ‘Personalization’ tab, click on the ‘Themes’ button from the toolbar on the left side of the window.
  3. On the right of the window, click on the ‘Desktop icon Settings’ button highlighted in blue.
  4. Select the ‘Recycle Bin (Full)’ option from the pop-up window and click ‘Change icon.’
  5. A window with icons will appear. Select the desired icon and tap ‘Ok’ to save the changes.

To change the icon for ‘Recycle Bin (Empty),’ repeat the steps above and select the other option to change the icon.


You may also choose to set dark mode or the dark icons for your Recycle Bin folder. The steps to do the same are as follows:

  1. Firstly, download the ‘Recycle Bin Dark icons’ from the Websites that offer the same. For example- DeviantArt.
  2. Right-click on an empty space on the Desktop and select the ‘Personalize’ option.
  3. Click on the ‘Themes’ button from the toolbar on the left side of the screen.
  4. On the right of the window, click on the ‘Desktop icon Settings’ button highlighted in blue.
  5. Select the ‘Recycle Bin (Full)’ option from the pop-up window and click ‘Change icon.’
  6. A window with dark icons will appear. Select the desired icon and tap ‘Ok’ to save the changes.

To change the icon for ‘Recycle Bin (Empty),’ repeat the steps above and select the other option to change the icon.

To get back to the default icons of the Recycle Bin, click on the ‘Restore Default’ button under the ‘Desktop icon Settings’ tab.

How to Empty Recycle Bin in Windows 10?

There is not one, but four ways mentioned below to empty a Recycle Bin. Let’s get started!

From the Desktop context menu

As the Recycle Bin icon appears on the Desktop by default, it can be emptied using the Desktop context menu. All you need to do is right-click on the Recycle Bin icon present on the desktop, and click on the ‘Empty Recycle Bin’ option from the menu.

From File Explorer

If the Recycle Bin appears on the File Explorer, this method is effective to use. Add the Recycle Bin to the File Explorer navigation pane and click on the icon. The ribbon will appear with an option named ‘Recycle Bin Tools,’ click on the same and tap on the ‘Empty Recycle Bin’ button.

Using Disk Cleanup

Using the Disc Cleanup method in Windows 10 can create space for your PC by removing the extra. The steps to use Disc Cleanup are:

  1. Click on the ‘This PC’ icon on the desktop.
  2. Locate the ‘C Drive’ folder and right-click on the same.
  3. Select ‘Properties’ from the pop-up menu.
  4. Click on the ‘Disc Cleanup’ button under the ‘General tab.’
  5. A pop-up window will appear with a list of icons. Keep the Recycle Bin icon marked and remove the checkbox for the rest of them.
  6. Click ‘Ok’ and then ‘Delete Files’ to confirm.

Using Storage sense

Storage sense automatically empties the Recycle Bin to create space for your PC. The steps to enable the Storage sense are:

  1. Go to the ‘Settings’ app of your Windows.
  2. Locate the ‘System’ tab from the list of the menu.
  3. Click on the ‘Storage’ button present on the left side of the window.
  4. Turn the slider on for ‘Storage Sense.’

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