Windows Recycle Bin is the icon that looks like a wastebasket in the upper-left corner of your desktop. It works pretty much like a real recycle bin. It lets you retrieve deleted desktop files you thought you’d never need or files that you accidentally deleted. If you are new to the world of computers and have wondered how does Windows Recycle Bin works, don’t worry. This article will clear your doubts regarding working on Windows Recycle Bin.
Working on Windows Recycle Bin
You can transfer an object from the desktop, for example, a file or folder, into the Recycle Bin using either of these ways:
- Simply right-click the unwanted file and choose Delete from the pop-up menu. Windows pulls up a caution message asking if you’re sure that you want to delete the item. Click Yes, and Windows dumps it into the Recycle Bin, almost as if you’d dragged it there.
- For quick deletion, click on the unwanted object and click the Delete key on your keyboard
In case you want your file back, double-click the Recycle Bin icon to see your recently deleted items. Right-click on the file you want to retrieve and choose Restore. Recycle Bin conveniently returns your item to the same spot from where you deleted it. You can also restore deleted items by dragging them to your desktop or any other folder. Drag them back into the Recycle Bin to delete them again.
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The Recycle Bin can get pretty cluttered. If you’re desperately searching for a recently deleted file, you can sort the items in the Recycle Bin by the date and time you deleted it. Simply right-click an empty area inside the Recycle Bin and choose Sort By. Now click on Date Deleted from the pop-up menu.
To delete something permanently, delete the file from inside the Recycle Bin. Select it and press the Delete key on your keyboard. To delete all files in your Recycle Bin, right-click the Recycle Bin icon and choose Empty Recycle Bin. You can also bypass a file from entering the Recycle Bin by holding down the Shift key while pressing Delete. The deleted object disappears without a trace, as this shortcut deletes it permanently from your hard drive. This trick comes in handy when dealing with sensitive items, such as credit card numbers or bank statements.
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There are a few noticeable quirks in The Recycle Bin icon. It changes from an empty wastepaper basket to a full one as soon as any deleted file or files get stored in it. Keep in mind that Recycle Bin stores only those items deleted from the desktop. Information deleted from Start menu apps does not get stored in the Recycle Bin.
Ways To retrieve permanently deleted material from Windows Recycle Bin
Windows Recycle Bin stores deleted files until the space it consumes reaches about 5 percent of your computer’s available space. In such a situation, it switches to clearing your oldest deleted files to make room for the new ones. If you’re running low on disk space, you can also opt to reduce the bin’s size by right-clicking the Recycle Bin and clicking on Properties. Reduce the Custom Size number to clear the bin more quickly; increase the number, and the Recycle Bin hangs onto files a little longer.
Windows Recycle Bin only saves files deleted from your computer’s native drives. This means that it won’t save anything deleted from external memory devices like CD, memory card, flash drive, digital camera, phone, and MP3 players.
In case you are searching for a file already cleared from the Recycle Bin, you might still be able to retrieve the ‘permanently deleted’ file from the Windows File History backup.
If you delete a file from somebody else’s computer over a network, it cannot be retrieved. The Recycle Bin houses only those items deleted from your own computer, not somebody else’s computer. For some reason, the Recycle Bin on the other person’s PC does not store the item.
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