How to make files not go to the Recycle Bin in Windows.
Question
How to make files not go to the Recycle Bin in Windows.
Answer
Caution: Following these recommendations will make it much more difficult or impossible to recover a file once deleted.
There are two methods of making files NOT go to the Recycle Bin when deleting them.
Method One
When deleting the file press and hold Shift and then press Delete. This is a great shortcut key for users who may want to keep the option of sending files to the Recycling Bin but not send other files to the Recycling Bin.
Method Two
Following the below steps will disable the feature of sending files to Recycling Bin for all files.
- Right-click on the Recycle Bin on the desktop.
- Click Properties.
- Select the box that says "Do not move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted" or "Do not move items to recycling bin once deleted."
- Click Ok.
- After following the above steps you may also want to hide the Windows Recycle Bin desktop icon.
Additional information
- See the Recycle Bin definition for further information and related terms.
- How do I empty or manage the Windows Recycle Bin?