Set Recycle Bin to Permanently Delete Items Immediately in Windows
InformationThe Recycle Bin provides a safety net when deleting files or folders. When you delete any of these items from your hard disk, Windows places it in the Recycle Bin and the Recycle Bin icon changes from empty to full.
This tutorial will show you how to set the Recycle Bin to permanently delete files automatically instead for selected drives in Windows.
NoteRemovable drives do not use or have a Recycyle Bin. Files deleted from removable drives are permanently deleted instead.
You could also right click on a file, press and hold Shift, and click on Delete to permanently delete the file.
WarningIf you set this option for bypassing sending files to the recycle bin, you will no longer have the Disk Cleanup option from that drive's properties window, as posted here: post
Here's How:
1. Right click on the Recycle Bin on the desktop, and select Properties
2. Select a listed HDD (ex: Local Disk (C: )) under the Recycle Bin Location column that you would like to set step 3 or 4 below for.
3. To Set the Recycle Bin to Permanently Delete Files
A) Select (dot) Don't move files to the recycle bin..., and click on Apply.4. To Set the Recycle Bin to Not Permanently Delete Files
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Select Custom size, and click on Apply.5. Repeat steps 2-4 above for any other listed HDD that you would like to set this for.
6. when finished, click on OK. (see screenshot below step 2)TipIf you like, you can also disable the confirmation dialog if you wish
That's all there is to it.
Related Tutorials
- How to Add or Remove "Disk Cleanup" from Properties Page of Drive in Windows
- How to Turn the Recycle Bin Delete Confirmation On or Off in Windows
- How to Add or Remove Properties from Recycle Bin Context Menu
- How to Add "Empty Recycle Bin" to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8
- How to Change Recycle Bin Maximum Storage Size in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
- How to Add "Permanently Delete" to the Context Menu of Files and Folders
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