If you have recently updated Windows 11 or are using the newest File Explorer interface, you might notice that things have moved. Unlike the Desktop, the Recycle Bin isn't immediately visible inside the File Explorer app by default.
Here is how to find it, unhide it, and pin it for easy access in the updated File Explorer.
Q: Can I add Recycle Bin to “This PC” in File Explorer?
A: Not without a Registry hack. Microsoft removed this ability after Windows 8. Pinning to Quick Access is the safe, supported alternative.
Q: Does the Recycle Bin work differently in Windows 11 24H2?
A: No major changes. The address bar trick and pinning method remain valid as of the latest 2025 updates.
Q: Why does typing “Recycle Bin” in search not work?
A: Windows Search excludes system folders by default. Use the address bar instead of the search box. where is the recycle bin in file explorer upd
Q: Can I access the Recycle Bin from the command line?
A: Yes, use start shell:RecycleBinFolder in Command Prompt or PowerShell.
After a feature update, some users report the Recycle Bin icon incorrectly showing as full. To fix:
Warning: This permanently deletes all currently deleted files (empty the Recycle Bin first if you want to keep any).
The Recycle Bin is not lost after a Windows Update—it simply requires a non-obvious path or a one-time pinning action to appear in File Explorer. Microsoft has not changed this behavior for over a decade, and no current update roadmap suggests altering it. Users looking for the Recycle Bin inside File Explorer should use the address bar or Quick Access pinning, not browse through This PC. If you have recently updated Windows 11 or
Appendix – Quick Reference
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Here’s a plain-text explanation of where to find the Recycle Bin in File Explorer on Windows (updated for Windows 10 and Windows 11):
Look in the left navigation pane
If you don’t see Recycle Bin in the left pane:
Alternative way (address bar)
Note: The Recycle Bin is not inside “This PC” or a drive (like C:). It’s a special system folder located at the desktop level, but accessible via File Explorer’s navigation pane.
Contrary to common expectation, the Recycle Bin does not appear as a standard folder under "This PC" or in the left-hand navigation pane of File Explorer by default. However, it is accessible via a specific address bar trick or by pinning it manually. Recent Windows Updates have not moved or removed the Recycle Bin, but they have reinforced its status as a system desktop tool rather than an Explorer folder. After a feature update, some users report the