Windows 10 Recycle Bin settings and location
Windows 10 Recycle Bin settings are controlled from System Storage in Recycle Bin Properties and Settings Storage. By setting the trash can, you can display a confirmation screen when deleting, the capacity of the trash can, the period for automatically emptying the trash can, and completely delete it without putting it in the trash can.
The location of the trash can is the “$Recycle.Bin” folder directly under the drive, but it cannot be displayed normally. You can display it by setting the folder option. This page introduces how to set up the Recycle Bin and where it is located.
Open trash properties
Right-click the Trash icon and click Properties on the menu.
Show confirmation screen when deleting
When deleting a file or the like, display a confirmation screen so that it can be executed by selecting “Yes” or “No”. Click “Show deletion confirmation message”, mark the check box and click “Apply” or “OK”.
A confirmation message will now appear the next time you delete.
Enter a size in the Custom size (maximum size) box.
The setting unit is megabyte (MB). Finally, click “Apply” or “OK”.
Permanently delete without putting in trash
Deleted items cannot be recovered from the Trash, so if you delete them by mistake, you will need a dedicated app to recover them, and you will not be able to recover them by normal methods. Check the “Purge files upon deletion instead of moving them to the Trash” checkbox.
* If you use this setting, it will not be saved in the Trash, so the size setting will be disabled. Recommendation:
To prevent accidental deletion, mark the “Display deletion confirmation message” check box to enable it.
Automatically delete trash on a regular basis
The setting to automatically delete the contents of the trash can is operated in the storage settings.
Open Trash auto-delete storage settings
Click the Start menu and click Settings on the menu.
Click System on the Windows Settings screen.
Click “Storage” in the menu to open the storage setting screen.
Setting to auto-delete trash
Click the switch button next to “Storage Sense” to turn it “On”.
Set the period for auto-delete trash
Click Configure Storage Sense or Run Now.
Click the selection box for “Delete files older than after moving to Trash” to set the period for automatically emptying the Trash.
The period can be set to 1 day, 14 days, 30 days, 60 days, and not permitted (not deleted).
The settings are now complete. It’s okay to close the screen.
Trash can location
Trash location A folder named “$Recycle.Bin”, located directly under the drive but not normally visible.
You’ll need to use Folder Options.
Display of the “$Recycle.Bin” folder that manages the trash
Click “View” in File Explorer and click “Options” to open Folder Options.
Windows 10 folder options
When Folder Options opens, click the View tab.
- Click to select Show hidden files, folders, or drives.
- Click Hide protected operating system files to clear the checkbox.
- If you remove the check mark, a warning screen will be displayed, so click “Yes”.
Check the contents of the settings and click “Apply” or “OK” to complete the display of the folder where the trash is managed.
Recycle Bin Location $Recycle.Bin Folder Description
The location of the trash can is in “$Recycle.Bin” directly under the drive.
“$Recycle.Bin” folder (contents of Trash)
By displaying “Hide protected operating system files” in folder options, important files related to Windows 10 startup will be displayed. In order to prevent accidental deletion, please disable it only when necessary, and return it to “enabled” for safety if you do not need it .