How to Remove the Recycle Bin Icon from the Desktop in Windows 10/11 - 3 Methods

The Recycle Bin is an integral component of the Windows operating system, not a standalone software program. Consequently, it cannot be permanently deleted. However, if you prefer not to display it or desire a cleaner desktop, you can choose to remove or hide it from the desktop.

This tutorial outlines three simple methods to remove the Recycle Bin from the desktop on Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. Choose your Windows version and follow the steps to hide the Recycle Bin from your desktop.

If you accidentally lose important files while cleaning the Recycle Bin, don't worry. Utilize a professional file recovery tool like Data Recovery Wizard to retrieve deleted or permanently erased files from Windows.

Method 1: Remove Recycle Bin from Desktop in Windows 10 via Settings

It's quite simple to remove the Recycle Bin from the desktop in Windows 10 or Windows 11. Follow these steps to do so: 1. **Right-click on the Desktop**: First, locate the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and perform a right-click on it. 2. **Select "Properties"**: From the context menu that appears, choose the "Properties" option. 3. **Uncheck "Show icon on desktop"**: In the Recycle Bin Properties window, you'll see a checkbox labeled "Show icon on desktop." Deselect this checkbox by clicking on it. 4. **Click "Apply" and "OK"**: After unchecking the box, click on "Apply" to apply the changes, and then click "OK" to close the window. 5. **Verify the Change**: The Recycle Bin icon should now disappear from your desktop. If it doesn't immediately, log out and back in or restart your computer for the change to take effect. That's it! The Recycle Bin is no longer displayed on your desktop. If you ever need it back, just follow the same steps and re-check the "Show icon on desktop" option.

Step 1. Press Win + I to open the Windows "Settings". Then, select "Personalization". Alternatively, you can right-click on your desktop and choose "Personalize".

Step 2. On the Personalization Settings window, select "Themes" in the left panel. Next, click "Desktop icon settings" under "Related Settings".

Step 3. To remove or hide the Recycle Bin from the desktop, uncheck the "Recycle Bin" box and click "Apply".

Method 2: Remove Recycle Bin from Desktop using Registry in Windows 10

Another practical method to remove the Recycle Bin icon from the desktop is by directly editing the Windows Registry. Before making changes to the Windows Registry, it's highly recommended that you back up the Registry to prevent corruption that could impact your computer.

Step 1. Press Win + R keys to open the Run utility.

Step 2. Type Regedit in the Run box and click "OK".

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

Step 3. Locate the following registry key: 645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E and delete it.

Step 4. Exit the Registry and restart your computer. You will then see that the Recycle Bin icon is no longer on the desktop.

Method 3: Hide Recycle Bin from Desktop using Local Group Policy Editor

You can also attempt to remove the Recycle Bin from the desktop on Windows 11 using the Local Group Policy Editor.

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

Step 2. Type gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box and click "OK".

Step 3. Find "Administrative Template". Double-click "Desktop > Remove Recycle Bin icon from desktop".

Step 4. Check "Enabled" to remove the Recycle Bin from the desktop, File Explorer, programs that use File Explorer windows, and the standard Open dialog box. Then, click "Apply" and "OK".

Step 5. Restart your computer to apply the setting. If you need to restore the Recycle Bin functionality in the future, simply select "Disabled" or "Not Configured" options within this window.

How to Retrieve Permanently Erased Files from the Recycle Bin in Windows 10

Removing the Recycle Bin from the desktop permanently deletes the files stored within it, making them inaccessible on your computer. If you have accidentally deleted important files and need to recover them, how can you retrieve permanently lost files from Windows 10 or Windows 11? The solution lies in using data recovery software.

< a href="/datarecoverywizardpro/">Data Recovery Wizard Tools< /a> are developed with the most advanced data recovery algorithms, supporting NTFS, FAT32, EXT, ExFAT, HFS+, and other file systems. This < a href="/data-recovery/free-undelete-tool-program.html">Windows undelete software< /a> can restore various lost file types from different storage devices, including HDD, SSD, external devices, memory cards, USB drives, and other media.

What can the tool Data Recovery Wizard do?

• Recover lost data due to deletion, formatting, OS crash, virus attack, lost partition, etc.
• Recover deleted emails, photos, videos, audio, music, and documents from any storage device
• Restore files from formatted, inaccessible, or corrupted storage devices
• Retrieve lost data on Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista/XP, Windows Server, and macOS 11.2 ~ 10.9

Download this data recovery program for free to recover deleted or lost files in just three steps.

Step 1. To recover files from the emptied Recycle Bin on Windows 11/10/8/7, hover your mouse pointer over the "Recycle Bin" option under the "Locations" section and click "Scan".

Step 2. The data recovery software will immediately initiate a quick scan for all deleted files, and subsequently, a deep scan will automatically start to search for more lost files. Upon completion of the scanning process, you can utilize the "Filter" feature to choose a specific file type, such as Pictures, Word documents, videos, etc.

Step 3. Once you find the files you wish to restore, double-click on them for a full preview. Next, select the target files and click "Recover." It's recommended that you choose a different volume or an external USB drive to save the recovered files, preventing any potential data overwrite.

More Information on the Windows 10 Recycle Bin

Refer to the following content to learn how to remove the Recycle Bin icon from the desktop in Windows 7/8.

1. Where is the Recycling Bin in Windows 10?

How can you locate the Recycle Bin? And where is the Recycle Bin in Windows 10? Refer to the comprehensive guide to access the Recycle Bin.

The Recycle Bin icon should typically be located in the upper-left corner of your desktop in both Windows 10 and Windows 11. If the Recycle Bin is missing, you can restore it by following these steps:

• Adding Recycle Bin to the desktop through Settings
• Creating a Recycle Bin shortcut from the $RECYCLE.BIN folder
• Restoring a missing Recycle Bin using Windows PowerShell

2. How to Restore the Recycle Bin?

Find a fast method to restore the Recycle Bin in Settings:

Step 1. Right-click on your desktop.

Step 2. Select Personalize to open Personalization in Settings.

Step 3. Click on the Themes tab, then click Desktop icon settings under Related Settings.

Step 4. Check the box next to "Recycle Bin" and click "Apply" and "OK".

3. How to Remove the Recycle Bin Icon from the Desktop in Windows 7?

Follow the steps below to hide Recycle Bin from the desktop in Windows 7 and Vista:

Step 1. Right-click on your desktop.

Step 2. Choose Personalize from the context menu.

Step 3. In the Personalize appearance and sounds window, click "Change desktop icons".

Step 4. Clear the "Recycle Bin" checkbox and click "OK".

Or you can click the Start button , type desktop icons in the search box, and then select "Show or hide common icons on the desktop".

4. How to Hide the Recycle Bin from the Desktop in Windows 8?

The method for removing the Recycle Bin from the desktop in Windows 8 is similar to that in Windows 7:

Step 1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen to access desktop icon settings.

Step 2. Choose "Search" and look for desktop icons.

Step 3. Choose "Show or hide common icons on the desktop".

Closing Remarks

Here are the complete steps to remove the Recycle Bin from the desktop in Windows 10, Windows 11, as well as earlier versions like Windows 7/8. Even if you're a regular user, you can easily follow these solutions to hide the Recycle Bin seamlessly.

If unexpected data loss occurs due to accidental deletion or emptying the Recycle Bin, promptly utilize data recovery software tools to swiftly restore lost files.