How to Turn the Recycle Bin Delete Confirmation On or Off in Windows
Information
The 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 enable or disable the Recycle Bin delete confirmation dialog box for when you delete anything in Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the Recycle Bin delete confirmation dialog box for when you delete anything in Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.
Note
Removable drives do not use or have a Recycyle Bin. Files deleted from removable drives are permanently deleted instead.
EXAMPLE: Recycle Bin Delete Confirmation
OPTION ONE
Turn Delete Confirmation On or Off in Recycle Bin Properties
NOTE: This option shows how a user could turn the Recycle Bin delete confirmation on or off in their user account.
1. Right click on the recycle bin and select Properties
2. To Turn Off Recycle Bin Delete Confirmation Dialog
A) Under the General tab, uncheck the box next to Display delete confirmation dialog
B) Go to step 4.
3. To Turn On Recycle Bin Delete Confirmation Dialog
A) Under the General tab, check the box next to Display delete confirmation dialog
4. Click on OK.
OPTION TWO
Turn Delete Confirmation On or Off using a REG File Download
NOTE: This option affects all users on the computer. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this option.
1. To Have Recycle Bin Delete Confirmation Always Enabled for Only Current User
NOTE: This option will check and gray out the Display delete confirmation dialog setting in OPTION ONE above.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Always_Display_Recycle_Bin_Delete_Confirmation_Dialog.reg
Download
2. To Allow Current User to Turn Recycle Bin Delete Confirmation On or Off
NOTE: This is the default setting. It allows users to be able to use OPTION ONE above.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Allow_Changing_Display_Recycle_Bin_Delete_Confirmation_Dialog_Setting.reg
Download
3. Save the .reg file to the desktop.
4. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
5. Click/tap on Run, Yes (Windows 7/8) or Continue (Vista), Yes, and OK when prompted.
6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.
OPTION THREE
Turn Delete Confirmation On or Off in Local Group Policy Editor
NOTE: You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this option.
1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy to be applied.
2. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and Windows Explorer. (see screenshot below)
3. In the right pane, double click/tap on Display confirmation dialog when deleting files to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4. To Allow Users to Turn Recycle Bin Delete Confirmation On or Off
NOTE: This is the default setting. It allows users to be able to use OPTION ONE above.
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 6)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
5. To Have Recycle Bin Delete Confirmation Always Enabled
NOTE: This option will check and gray out the Display delete confirmation dialog setting in OPTION ONE above.
A) Select (dot) Enabled, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 6)
6. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.
Related Tutorials
- How to Set the Windows 7 Recycle Bin to Permanently Delete Items Immediately
- How to Add or Remove Properties from Recycle Bin Context Menu
- How to Add Empty Recycle Bin to the Windows 7 Desktop Context Menu
- How to Change Recycle Bin Maximum Storage Size in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
- How to Empty Recycle Bin in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Customize Delete Confirmation Dialog Prompt Details in Windows
- How to Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows
Last edited by a moderator:
