How to open the Recycle Bin from the Windows command line?

Question

How do I open the Recycle Bin from the command line?

I'd be very glad if there is a built-in Windows command.

Do you mean the *Recycle Bin* window or just the directory? Does it have to be for all drives or a specific one? — Synetech, Feb 28 '12 at 23:02

Peter Mortensen · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-02T10:51:37.390

95

Command line

On the command line, type

start shell:RecycleBinFolder

It is not case sensitive, so you can just type start shell:recyclebinfolder.

Run dialog

An alternative is to use the Run dialog (menu Start/Run or Win + R) - there is less to type. Type

shell:RecycleBinFolder

and press OK (or hit Enter).

It is portable!

This method works on all versions of Windows, at least back to Windows 2000.

edited Mar 02 '12 at 10:51

answered Feb 28 '12 at 22:26

Peter Mortensen

12,090
23
70
90

1

[More shell shortcuts](http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/94-more-secret-windows-shortcuts/1630) (94). – Peter Mortensen Nov 09 '12 at 13:46
1

Worked in Windows 10! – Davidson Lima Feb 26 '21 at 15:45
[complete shell:commands](https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/shell-commands-to-access-the-special-folders/) – Time Killer Jun 29 '21 at 01:02

score 41 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 28 '12 at 23:14

41

(Depending on the OS and filesystem, the directory may be $Recycle.bin, Recycled, or Recycler.)

To open the Recycle Bin window (showing deleted objects on all drives):

C:\> start ::{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
or
C:\> start shell:RecycleBinFolder
or
C:\> start C:\$Recycle.bin
To list deleted objects on a specific drive:

C:\> dir /s/a <driveletter>:\$Recycle.Bin

(NB, the original filenames will not be shown in this mode.)

edited Feb 28 '12 at 23:14

Synetech

68,243
36
223
356

answered Feb 28 '12 at 17:19

roman

671
1
5
8

2

In windows 7 `start C:\$Recycle.bin` just gave me an empty directory. I needed to use `start shell:RecycleBinFolder` – icc97 Apr 17 '13 at 09:01
That command does not show files in this directory, because they are Super Hidden files. You must use a Super Hidden solution. Go to: Tools > Folder Options > View and select 'Show hidden files folders and drives', and untick 'Hide protected operating system files'. – Ed999 Mar 15 '17 at 13:42

score 20 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 28 '12 at 17:19

20

You can open the Recycle Bin window by using its GUID:

explorer ::{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

answered Feb 28 '12 at 17:19

iglvzx

23,459
13
85
122

This works in Windows 7, in a command window. And it opens the Recycle Bin normally: i.e. it shows you the original names of the files. – Ed999 Mar 15 '17 at 13:39

score 12 · Answer 4 · edited Nov 20 '15 at 20:40

12

This should work. Tested on Windows 7 successfully.

Open a command prompt and enter

CD \$Recycle.Bin

edited Nov 20 '15 at 20:40

nixda

26,823
17
108
156

answered Feb 28 '12 at 17:18

xXPhenom22Xx

537
2
6

1

Cool! How do you view files in RecycleBin that way? dir doesn't work for me. Are you also able to empty recycle bin? – Alexander Bird Jul 31 '13 at 17:17
In Windows 7, to view the files, at the command prompt type the following (although, if the Recycle Bin contains a lot of files, the results will possibly scroll off your screen) - but this method will not show you the original filenames: DIR /A /S – Ed999 Mar 15 '17 at 13:34
To save the list to a log file, type the following: DIR /A /S > C:\LOG.TXT – Ed999 Mar 15 '17 at 13:35
I get `Set-Location: Cannot find path 'D:\.Bin' because it does not exist.` – Ooker Mar 24 '22 at 16:57

score 1 · Answer 5 · edited Mar 23 '18 at 14:27

None of the previous 'run' commands for Recycle Bin worked on my Windows 10 machine. The start shell:RecycleBinFolder from inside the command window worked. I could not however find a way to have the system display the usual desktop icon. None of the solutions worked. I was however able to re-create the icon by making an Internet Explorer shortcut:

Target = "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" shell:RecycleBinFolder

And then changing the icon to the expected icon by browsing the shell icon DLL file. I now have it back...

score 0 · Answer 6 · edited Feb 07 '16 at 15:27

0

Windows button on keyboard + R; then type "shell:RecycleBinFolder" and press Enter: This will take you into the Recycle bin folder and shows the deleted items.

Items deleted using "Shift + Delete" won't be available in Recycle bin because they are permanently deleted. These items can be recovered using data recovery software like Easerus data recovery

Tried and worked perfectly on Windows 10.

edited Feb 07 '16 at 15:27

shA.t

488
4
18

answered Dec 02 '15 at 03:49

user2339224

11

4

Welcome to Super User! This duplicates another answer and adds no new content. Please don't post an answer unless you actually have something new to contribute. – DavidPostill Dec 02 '15 at 21:10
The bit about `Shift + Delete` was new to the thread and relevant (IMHO). – BillP3rd Feb 07 '16 at 18:42

How to open the Recycle Bin from the Windows command line?

6 Answers6

Command line

Run dialog

It is portable!