How to hide the Recycle Bin from the desktop in Windows 10 & 11

Learn how to hide the Recycle Bin icon from your desktop in Windows 10 and 11.

Windows 10

1. First, you'll need to pin the Recycle Bin to File Explorer. This way, you'll still be able to access the Recycle Bin easily and quickly via File Explorer. To pin the Recycle Bin to File Explorer, you simply drag the Recycle Bin icon to the File Explorer icon.

Now it's time to remove the Recycle Bin icon from your desktop.

2. Click on the Windows start menu button.

3. Click on Settings.

You can also right-click on the Windows start menu button and then click on Settings.

You can also press the Windows + I keys on your keyboard to open settings in Windows 10.

4. Click on Personalization.

You can also open the Personalization settings by right-clicking on the desktop and then click on Personalize.

5. In the left menu, you click on Themes.

6. On the right side, under Related Settings, you click on Desktop icon settings.

A “Desktop Icon Settings” window will appear.

7. Uncheck the checkbox next to Recycle Bin.

8. Click on the Apply button at the bottom of the “Desktop Icon Settings” window.

The “Recycle Bin” icon is now hidden from the desktop.

9. Click on the OK button.

10. You can now close the Settings window.

To unhide and show the Recycle Bin icon, you follow the same steps but then check the checkbox next to Recycle Bin.

Alternatively, you can hide all desktop icons by right-clicking on the desktop, moving the mouse cursor on View, and then clicking on Show desktop icons.

Windows 11

1. First, you'll need to pin the Recycle Bin to the start menu. This way, you'll still be able to access the Recycle Bin easily and quickly via the start menu. To pin the Recycle Bin to the start menu, you right-click on the Recycle Bin icon and then click on Pin to Start.

Now it's time to remove the Recycle Bin icon from your desktop.

2. Right-click on the Start menu button and then click on Settings. You can also press the Windows + I keys on your keyboard to open settings.

3. Click on Personalization. Note: You may need to click on the ≡ menu button in the top left corner to open a menu and see the Personalization option.

4. Click on Themes.

You can also open the Personalization settings by right-clicking on the desktop and then click on Personalize.

5. Click on Desktop icon settings located at the bottom of the “Personalization” page.

A “Desktop Icon Settings” window will appear.

6. Uncheck the checkbox next to Recycle Bin.

7. Click on the Apply button at the bottom of the “Desktop Icon Settings” window.

The “Recycle Bin” icon is now hidden from the desktop.

8. Click on the OK button.

9. You can now close the Settings window.

To unhide and show the Recycle Bin icon, you follow the same steps but then check the checkbox next to Recycle Bin.

Alternatively, you can hide all desktop icons by right-clicking on the desktop, moving the mouse cursor on View, and then clicking on Show desktop icons.