But sometimes, you might not want the Recycle Bin icon taking up space there. Don’t worry, you can hide it. The way to do this depends on your version of Windows, as the process has changed over time. In this guide, we’ll explain why you might want to remove the Recycle Bin from your desktop and show you how to do it in Windows 10, 11, 8, and 7. We’ll also cover bringing the Recycle Bin icon back if you change your mind later.
Why Get Rid of the Recycle Bin?
You might not always need the Recycle Bin, especially if you don’t keep many files on your computer.
Cloud document services: Websites like Google Docs and Microsoft 365 save your work online for you.Streaming instead of storing: Nowadays, people usually stream music and films instead of saving them on their computers.Online photo backup: Services like Google Photos and iCloud automatically save your photos in the cloud.Cloud-based trash systems: When you use cloud storage, they often have their ways of retrieving deleted files.
Remove the Recycle Bin from the Desktop in Windows 10 or 11
If you’re using Windows 10 or 11 and want to remove the Recycle Bin icon from your desktop, it’s quite straightforward. All these steps are almost similar on both Windows versions, with a slight interface change. Here’s how you can do it:
Method 1: Remove Recycle Bin from Settings in Windows 10 or 11
Remember, you can’t completely remove the Recycle Bin from Windows 10 or 11. It’s an essential part of Windows, used for deleting and recovering files easily. This method just hides the icon from your desktop.
Method 2: Remove Recycle Bin using Local Group Policy Editor in Windows 10 or 11
You might need to restart your computer or log out and log back in to see the changes. Remember that this method works on all versions of Windows, including Windows 7, 8, and 8.1.
Method 3. Remove Recycle Bin with Registry in Windows 10
Another way to hide the Recycle Bin icon from your Windows 10 and 11 desktop is by using the Registry Editor. Before you start, it’s a good option to back up your Windows registry to avoid any problems with your computer. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace. After you’re done, close the Registry Editor and restart your computer. The Recycle Bin icon should no longer be on your desktop when it turns back on.
Remove Recycle Bin from the Desktop in Windows 7 and 8
Removing the Recycle Bin icon from your Windows 7 and 8 desktop is a simple way to make your desktop look neater and more organized. You’ll need to follow similar steps on both Windows 7 and 8. Here’s how to do it:
Restoring the Recycle Bin Icon on your Desktop
Restoring the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop in Windows is an easy process, and it follows the same steps as when you removed it on every Windows version: After these steps, the Recycle Bin icon will be back on your desktop like before.
