On Windows 11, the importance of the Recycle Bin can’t be emphasized enough. Acting as a safety net, when you inadvertently delete files, they aren’t immediately purged from your computer. Instead, they’re directed to the Recycle Bin, marking them for eventual deletion but keeping them handy should you realize you need them back. However, this storage space isn’t infinite. The system allocates only a small chunk of your drive (or partition) to house these deleted files, based on its overall size. As this reserved space approaches its limit, Windows 11 starts clearing out the oldest files, consequently restricting your retrieval options.
Nevertheless, Windows 11 offers flexibility to modify these default settings. If you wish to extend or limit the Recycle Bin’s storage size, or if you prefer to bypass the bin altogether when deleting files, it’s all doable. Situated at the base of each volume is a covert system folder named “$RECYCLE.BIN” where these settings reside. Additionally, for those prone to accidental deletions, there’s an option to enable a confirmation prompt, ensuring you’re doubly sure before sending files to oblivion. This risewindows guide will walk you through the steps to tailor the Recycle Bin’s storage capacity on Windows 11, ensuring it aligns perfectly with your needs.
What are the steps to resize the recycling bin size on Windows 11?
To change the Recycle Bin size on Windows 11 computer, use the following steps:-
Step 1. First, right-click on the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop and select Properties from the pop-up menu.
Step 2. When the Recycle Bin Properties window opens, you’ll see each volume is listed. Select the volume under the General tab and click the Custom size option.
Step 3. Then, in the “Maximum size (MB)” field, type a specific size in MB.
Step 4. After that, click “Apply/OK” to save the changes.
So, you need to repeat the above steps for each volume.
When you don’t want to send deleted items to the Recycle Bin, in the above screen, select the option “Don’t move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted.”
You can also apply the additional settings to display the delete confirmation dialog above the window. If you want to see a message before sending the deleted item to recycle bin, check the option “Display delete confirmation dialog.”
Conclusion
The Recycle Bin in Windows 11 serves as an essential safety measure against accidental deletions, storing deleted files temporarily before they are permanently purged. While the system allots a predefined space for this purpose, users can adjust this allocation based on their preferences. Through a few simple steps, one can resize the Recycle Bin’s storage, decide to bypass it altogether when deleting files, or enable confirmation prompts to prevent inadvertent deletions.
