How do I open the Recycle Bin from the command line?
I'd be very glad if there is a built-in Windows command.
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2Do you mean the Recycle Bin window or just the directory? Does it have to be for all drives or a specific one?– SynetechFeb 28, 2012 at 23:02
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6 Answers
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.
answered Feb 28, 2012 at 22:26
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(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.binTo 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.)
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2In windows 7
start C:\$Recycle.binjust gave me an empty directory. I needed to usestart shell:RecycleBinFolder– icc97Apr 17, 2013 at 9:01 -
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'.– Ed999Mar 15, 2017 at 13:42
This should work. Tested on Windows 7 successfully.
Open a command prompt and enter
CD \$Recycle.Bin
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1Cool! How do you view files in RecycleBin that way? dir doesn't work for me. Are you also able to empty recycle bin? Jul 31, 2013 at 17:17
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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– Ed999Mar 15, 2017 at 13:34
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To save the list to a log file, type the following: DIR /A /S > C:\LOG.TXT– Ed999Mar 15, 2017 at 13:35
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I get
Set-Location: Cannot find path 'D:\.Bin' because it does not exist.– OokerMar 24, 2022 at 16:57
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...
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.
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4Welcome 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 2, 2015 at 21:10
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The bit about
Shift + Deletewas new to the thread and relevant (IMHO).– BillP3rdFeb 7, 2016 at 18:42