However, it’s not universally admired, primarily because it means you effectively have to delete files twice before they’re removed from your device. Many people will appreciate the safety net this offers, but if you’d rather files were deleted instantly, here’s how it’s done.
How to skip the Recycle Bin when deleting files
You can bypass the Recycle Bin for one-off occasions, or set it to always delete items immediately. First up, something you can implement each time you want to delete something:
If you can’t see yourself wanting the Recycle Bin for the foreseeable future, there is a more permanent change: By default, this will be set to the C: drive, although you may have to repeat the process if the Recycle Bin stores files from other locations.
How to get the Recycle Bin to empty automatically
If removing that safety net is a step too far, you can also set the Recycle Bin to empty itself automatically after a set number of days. This gives you some peace of mind should you accidentally delete something important, while at the same time ensuring your PC isn’t clogged up with files you don’t need. By default, it is set to empty after 60 days, but this can easily be customised via the Storage Sense menu:
While you’re here, check out more ways to get the most out of your Windows 10 PC. As the resident expert on Windows, Senior Staff Writer Anyron’s main focus is PCs and laptops. Much of the rest of his time is split between smartphones, tablets and audio, with a particular focus on Android devices.
