Even if you delete the recycle bin icon from the desktop, there are various ways of opening the Recycle Bin, providing users easy and convenient access to the recently or temporarily deleted files.
Here, we will explore the various ways of opening the Recycle Bin icon on your Windows desktop.
Let us now unlock the door to digital trash and help you quickly recover permanently deleted or discarded files.
6 Easy Ways To Open Recycle Bin On Windows PC
The Recycle Bin is a temporary storage location for recovering files and folders. But if you leave the items in the Recycle Bin for too long or empty them, the files get permanently deleted.
To empty the Recycle Bin automatically, you can take the help of this guide.
Below are some of the easiest ways to open icons on your desktop and look at the temporarily deleted files or folders:
1. Use The Run Command
Run command is a quick and efficient way to open Windows 11 Recycle Bin.
Here is how to do it:
- Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
- Now, type “explorer.exe shell: RecycleBinFolder” and click “OK.”
- Following the above steps will help you open up the Recycle Bin.
2. Via Windows Search
This is one of the most common ways of opening the Recycle Bin from the desktop.
Here are the steps to do so:
- Press Windows + S and type “Recycle Bin.”
- Click “Recycle Bin” from the best match and press “Enter”.
3. Through File Explorer
You can open Recycle Bin from File Explorer, and this is the exact way of doing so if you want to recover the files or folders:
- Press the Windows + E key and click on the arrow icon.
- Select the “Recycle Bin” icon from the drop-down to open it.
4. By Pinning Recycle Bin To Start Menu
Pinning the Recycle bin to the start menu is another option for opening it, so follow the steps carefully and pin the recycle bin to the start menu.
- Right-click on Recycle Bin and then choose “Pin to Start.”
- Now, press the Windows key.
- Finally, click on Recycle Bin to open the same.
5. From CMD Command Prompt
Command Prompt can help open the Recycle Bin option with the help of specific commands.
Here is one such command that will help you to open the Recycle Bin icon:
- After clicking on the “Search” icon from the taskbar, type “CMD”.
- Click “Enter” after seeing the Command Prompt in the search results.
- Type “start shell:RecycleBinFolder” in the Command Prompt window and press “Enter.”
Running the same Windows PowerShell command will also open the Recycle Bin.
6. Set A Keyboard Shortcut
Setting up a keyboard shortcut to open the Recycle bin in Windows 11 can significantly improve the workflow and save time. It will also help you to restore deleted files from recycle.
This is how it can be done:
- Press the Win + D keys together on your keyboard and right-click on the desktop in Windows.
- Select New > Shortcut from the context menu.
- In the Shortcut window type : ” %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe shell:RecycleBinFolder” in the location of the item field.
- Click on “Next” to proceed.
- Now, give the shortcut an appropriate name, such as “RecycleBinShortcut,” once done, click “Finish.”
- After the shortcut icon appears on the desktop, right-click on it and select “Properties” from the context menu.
- Now, in the Properties window, click on the Shortcut key field.
- Press any letter key on your keyboard to set the shortcut.
- Doing this will automatically append the CTRL + ALT to the letter key you pressed.
- Then, click “Apply” and “OK” to make the changes.
- Finally, to open the recycle bin folder, press CTRL + ALT + R keys together on your keyboard.
Access The Recycle Bin On Windows 11
Accessing your computer’s Recycle Bin is crucial for a few reasons, and those are listed below:
- To recover the deleted files from the Recycle Bin
- Permanently Deleting Unwanted Files or Folders.
- Managing Storage Space
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How Can You Empty The Recycle Bin In Windows 11?
To empty the Recycle Bin in Windows 11, right-click and select “Empty Recycle Bin”.
There is also another alternate way to open the Recycle Bin and that is by clicking the “Manage” tab and selecting “Empty Recycle Bin.”
- How Can I Recover The Deleted Files From The Recycle Bin In Windows 11?
In order to recover the deleted items from the Recycle Bin in Windows 11, open it and locate the deleted files, right-click on them, and select the “Restore” option.
Doing this will move the files back to their original location.
- How Can I Add The Recycle Bin To The Quick Access Menu In Windows 11?
For adding the Recycle Bin to the quick access menu in Windows 11, follow these steps:
- Open File Explorer and right-click on the Recycle Bin.
- Select “Pin to Quick Access”.
- Doing this will add it to the quick access menu for easy access.
Wrapping Up
With the above methods at your disposal, you can soon open the Recycle Bin on your Windows 11 desktop.
So, choose the approach that best suits your preferences and organize your desktop.