How do I set my Recycle Bin to automatically empty? This is a common question among users of desktop computers who would like to know how to empty recycle bin on Windows 10.
Storage is a pertinent factor to consider when using any device be it a computer or mobile phone.
Using Windows 10 inbuilt features commonly known as Storage Sense you can save up on a lot of space on your Windows 10 computer.
You can configure your Windows 10 Computer to automatically delete certain files located in your recycle bin after a specified period of time.
Should I empty my Recycle Bin?
It is usually recommended that you empty your recycle bin when you are certain that you no longer need the files you intend to delete.
It pays to remember that deleting your files from the recycle bin is permanent since your files will be permanently deleted.
So take precaution when deleting files in your recycle bin and only delete those that you don’t need anymore.
How to empty recycle bin – Windows 10
There are many ways on how to empty recycle bin on Windows 10.
You can empty your recycle on windows 10 in three easy ways;
- Using the Manage menu
- Using the Contextual menu
- Using Storage Sense
In this blog post I shall be emphasizing how to empty your recycle bin on schedule.(More on that later on this blog post)
However, let me highlight some other ways you can empty your recycle bin.
How to empty recycle bin on Windows 10 using the “Manage” menu
- Turn on your Windows 10 Computer and open your recycle bin.
- Now click on the “Manage” tab located in the menu bar and tap the “Empty Recycle Bin” option.
- Simply click on the “Empty Recycle Bin” option to empty your recycle bin.
How to empty recycle bin on Windows 10 using the “Contextual” menu
This is perhaps the most commonly used method to empty recycle bins on Windows 10.
- To use this method, simply turn on your Windows 10 computer and right click on your recycle bin to open the contextual menu.
- Now click on the “Empty Recycle Bin” option to empty your recycle bin.
So that’s how to empty recycle bin on windows 10 using the contextual menu.
So how do I set my Recycle Bin to automatically empty?
Here’s how to empty recycle bin on windows 10.
Click on the Start Menu.
Head over to the “Settings “option and tap on it.
You can also press Windows+I to open Settings quickly and bypass all the steps above.
In Settings, tap the “System” icon and then click “Storage.”
At the top of the Storage options, you should see a small paragraph of text explaining briefly all about the Storage Sense feature.
Now click the sliding switch just below it to set it to the “On” position.
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Once the “Storage Sense” feature is turned on then tap “Configure Storage Sense or run it now.”
This will allow you to configure the Storage Sense feature to your preference based on how you want to empty recycle bin on your Windows 10 Computer.
You can set the feature to run on a daily basis, weekly, or monthly.
There is also an option to set it to whenever disk space is low.
Click the menu, and then choose the option that works best for you.
Since we only want to delete files in the Recycle Bin, uncheck the box beside “Delete temporary files that my apps aren’t using”. This will prevent Storage Sense from deleting your old temporary files.
However if you desire to fully optimize space on your computer, then I recommend checking the box beside “Delete temporary files that my apps aren’t using”. This will allow Storage Sense to always delete your old temporary files based on your chosen schedule.
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Just after the “Delete temporary files that my apps aren’t using” option , you’ll find a drop-down menu labeled “Delete files in my Recycle Bin if they have been there for over.”
The options available are “Never,” “1 day,” “14 days, “30 days,” or “60 days.”
You can now set how frequently you would like Storage Sense to automatically delete files in your recycle bin.
So depending on the frequency you chose (either “Never,” “1 day,” “14 days, “30 days,” or “60 days.”) Storage Sense will automatically delete files that have been dumped in your Recycle Bin for longer than that period of time.
You can now set it depending on what works best for you using the menu.
You can now close the Settings.
You can always change the frequency of the Recycle Bin automatically emptying itself by simply revisiting Setting.
How to stop recycle bin automatically deleting files in Windows 10
If you want to disable the Storage Sense automatic emptying of the recycle bin, just revisit Settings > Storage again and set Storage Sense to “Off.”
This will stop Windows 10 from automatically emptying your recycle bin.
You can also change the interval options available to meet your needs.
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How long do files stay in Recycle Bin in Windows 10?
The normal retention period is 30 days before the recycle bin automatically empties itself.
Does Windows 10 automatically empty recycle bin?
By default, all PCs running the May 2019 update automatically delete files that have stayed in the recycle bin for more than 30 days.
The Windows 10 feature “Storage Sense” will automatically run when you re low on space and delete all old files in your recycle bin in order to create more storage space.
That is basically how to empty recycle bin on Windows 10.
Conclusion
Setting your computer to empty the recycle bin on schedule will help save you a lot of time.
With a schedule in place to automatically delete files in your recycle bin, you can then focus on more important things.
Do you have any questions on how to empty recycle bin on Windows 10?
Let me know in the comments below.
Also share this blog post with your friends and family.