How to Remove the Recycle Bin From Desktop

Quick Tips

• The Recycle Bin is a staple of the desktop, but it can be removed from it.
• You can use Windows Settings to remove the Recycle Bin via Personalization.
• For a more advanced approach, you can either remove it via Group Policy Editor or the Registry.

The Recycle Bin is an institution by this point, a staple feature on most versions of Windows. That said, if you don’t want it on your desktop for whatever reason, then you’re probably looking for ways to get rid of it. If so, this article is for you, because we’re looking at how to remove the Recycle Bin from desktop.

How to Remove the Recycle Bin From Desktop – Different Approaches

As with most things in Windows, there’s more than one way to skin a cat, or remove a Recycle Bin in this case. We’ve got a few methods below for you to use:

Via Personalization

A quick and easy way to remove the Recycle Bin from desktop is via the Personalization section of Settings. Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop, and click “Personalization” from the context menu that pops up. You can also access this menu by hitting (Win + I) and choosing “Personalization” from the sidebar.

Step 2. In the Personalization section of Settings, click on “Themes” in the main window.

Step 3. In the next screen, click on “Desktop icon settings.”

Step 4. A new window will pop up. Simply uncheck “Recycle Bin” and click “OK” to finalize.

Step 5. The Recycle Bin should now be gone from your desktop. If you ever want it back, simply retrace these steps and recheck the box.

Using Group Policy Editor

If you’re using a Pro version of Windows 11, then you can use the Group Policy Editor to get rid of the Recycle Bin. It’s a little more advanced, but it will still do the trick. Here’s what to do:

Step 1. Open the Run dialog by clicking (Win + R).

Step 2. Type “gpedit.msc” into the box provided, before pressing (Ctrl + Shift + Enter) to run as Admin.

Step 3. Click on “User Configuration” in the sidebar and then “Administrative Templates.”

Step 4. Double-click “Desktop.”

Step 5. Double-click on “Remove Recycle Bin icon from Desktop” in the next menu.

Step 6. A new window will pop up. Choose “Enabled” to hide the Recycle Bin. Hit “OK” to finalize. If you ever want to undo this, simply click “Disabled” or “Not Configured.”

Using the Registry

If you’re feeling up to the challenge, you can also remove the Recycle Bin via the Registry. Be careful, as changing anything you don’t understand in the Registry could destabilize your PC. Follow these steps carefully:

Step 1. Open the Run dialog (Win + R) and type “regedit” into the box before pressing Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run it as Administrator.

Step 2. In the Registry, navigate to the following path via the Address Bar:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace

Step 3. In the right pane, right-click an empty area and choose “New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.”

Step 4. Name the new value:

{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

Step 5. Double-click the new value and set its Value data to 1, then click “OK.”

Step 6. Restart File Explorer or sign out and back in for the change to take effect.

Step 7. To add the Recycle Bin back, change the Value data to 0 or delete the DWORD value.