Overview – Bypass Recycle Bin in Windows
Windows stores the deleted files into the recycle bin, thus consuming the same storage as allotted before deletion. It seems that you’ve decided to delete the files permanently by not storing them in the recycle bin on deletion.
By the end of this article, you’ll be able to bypass/skip recycle bin when deleting files on Windows:
1. Skip Recycle Bin via Keyboard Shortcut
Step 1: Single-click and select the file that you want to delete and press the “Shift + Delete” key combination on the keyboard.
Step 2: A pop-up message stating the following warning:
“Are you sure you want to permanently delete this file” will appear.
Click the “OK” button to delete the file permanently.
2. Skip Recycle Bin via “Recycle Bin” Properties
Step 1: Right-click the recycle bin icon and click the “Properties” option from the context menu.
Step 2: In the General tab, select the “Don’t move files to the recycle bin. Remove files immediately when deleted” option and click the “Apply” button.
Note: Next time onwards, when you delete any file, it will be deleted permanently rather than being stored in the recycle bin.
3. Skip Recycle Bin via Command Prompt
Step 1: Open the Command Prompt from the Start menu.
Step 2: To change the directory to the folder where you want to delete the file, type the command: “cd File-Location”.
Step 3: To delete the file using command prompt, type the command “del File-Name.extension“. Remember to replace the “File-Name.extension” with the name of the file you want to delete.
For example: You want to delete a file from the desktop. In the command prompt, type: “cd c:/Users/UserName/Desktop” (without quotation marks) to locate into the desktop directory and type “del File-Name.extension” (without quotation). Once the file is deleted using Command Prompt, it will not be stored in the recycle bin.
4. Skip Recycle Bin via PowerShell
Step 1: Open the PowerShell from the Start menu.
Step 2: Use the “cd” command to change the directory to the folder where you want to delete the file.
Step 3: Type the command “Remove-Item File-Name.extension” (without quotation marks). Remember to replace the “File-Name.extension” with the name of the file you want to delete in that folder.
For example: You want to delete a file from the desktop. In the PowerShell, type: “cd c:/Users/UserName/Desktop” (without quotation marks) to locate into the desktop directory and type “Remove-Item File-Name.extension” (without quotation) to remove the file. Once the file is deleted using PowerShell, it will not be stored in the recycle bin
5. Skip Recycle Bin by Adding Permanently Delete option in Right-click menu
NOTE: This method involves adding an extra option named “Delete Permanently” in the context menu. When you delete files using this option, the files will not be stored in the recycle bin.
Step 1: Open the Registry Editor from the Start menu or press the “Windows Logo Key + R” key combination to open Windows Run, type: regedit, and hit the enter key.
Step 2: Navigate to the following path:
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shell. Right-click the empty space and add a new “Key” value and name it as “Windows.PermanentDelete” (without quotation marks).
Step 3: In the “Windows.PermanentDelete” key, right-click the empty space and add the following String Keys:
- CommandStateSync
- ExplorerCommandHandler – Double-click and add the value data as {E9571AB2-AD92-4ec6-8924-4E5AD33790F5}.
- Icon – Double-click and add the value data as shell32.dll,-240.
- Position – Double-click and the value data as Bottom/Top/Middle.
Step 4: Restart your computer to make changes take effect properly.
Suggested Article: Backup and Restore Registry Keys in Windows.
FAQs Related to Recycle Bin
How many days will the Recycle Bin hold deleted data?
By default, the deleted data is retained in the recycle bin until the user removes it from the recycle bin permanently. However, custom settings to delete the data from the recycle bin automatically after a certain time period can be added.
Does the Recycle Bin have a limit?
The recycle bin consumes approximately 5% of the total size of a disk volume. For example, on a 100 GB drive, the recycle bin consumes about 5 GB of storage (which means, rest of the 95 GB is usable).
Does putting a file in recycling bin permanently deletes?
No, simply placing the files in the recycle bin will not delete them permanently, they can be restored. Instead, the recycle bin is used for temporary storage and functions as the final stop for storing the deleted files before they are permanently deleted.
Does files in the recycle bin consume storage?
Yes, the files in the recycle bin take up the same amount of space as originally did before they were deleted.
Next Steps
We’ve covered how to skip recycle bin and delete files permanently, just after pressing the delete key.
You are free to use the methods listed above to remove the files permanently If you aren’t interested to keep the files in the recycle bin and cluttering up your disc capacity by storing the unused deleted files
Further, customize your computer’s settings by referring to the related articles below.
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