How to add Recycle Bin to File Explorer on Windows 11

You can modify the Registry to add different entry points to access the Recycle Bin on Windows 11, and here's how.

File Explorer with Recycle Bin
File Explorer with Recycle Bin / Image: Mauro Huculak
  • To add Recycle Bin access to the left pane of File Explorer, open the Registry in the “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}” path, create a new “System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree” DWORD, and set its value to “1.”
  • To add a Recycle Bin icon to the “This PC” page, open the Registry in the “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace” path, create a new “{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}” key.
  • Alternatively, you can right-click the “Recycle Bin” icon on the desktop and choose the “Pin to Quick access” option to add an entry to the File Explorer home page.

On Windows 11, you can add access to the “Recycle Bin” on File Explorer from the left navigation pane or the “This PC” page, and in this guide, I’ll show you the steps to complete this configuration.

The Recycle Bin is accessible from File Explorer, and it’s not a separate application, so it’s odd that the file manager doesn’t include a dedicated option to access the feature. Usually, I end up typing “Recycle Bin” in the address bar or using the icon from the Start menu or desktop, but this can add some extra steps to the process.

If you’re like me and prefer more direct access to the Recycle Bin, you can modify the Registry to add entries to the navigation pane and the “This PC” page. Alternatively, if you don’t want to modify the Registry, right-click the “Recycle Bin” icon on the desktop and choose the “Pin to Quick access” option. This option will create an entry on the File Explorer home page under the “Quick access” section.

In this guide, I will outline the steps to use the Registry to get rid of the Gallery entry on File Explorer.

Warning: It’s crucial to note that modifying the Registry can cause serious problems if not used properly. It’s assumed you know what you’re doing and created a full backup of your system or Registry backup before proceeding.

Add Recycle Bin to File Explorer on Windows 11

To add a Recycle Bin entry on File Explorer, use these steps:

  1. Open Start on Windows 11.

  2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry.

  3. Navigate to the following path to add Recycle Bin to the left pane:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
  4. Right-click the {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} key, select New, and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.

    Registry System.sPinnedToNameSpaceTree DWORD

  5. Confirm the System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree name and press Enter.

  6. Double-click the newly created key and set the value from 0 to 1.

    Add Recycle Bin to left pane of File Explorer

  7. Click the OK button.

  8. (Optional) Navigate to the following path to add the Recycle Bin to the “This PC” page:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace
  9. Right-click the NameSpace key, select New, and click on Key.

    File Explorer add Recycle Bin to This PC

  10. Confirm the {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} for the key and press Enter.

Once you complete the steps, the Recycle Bin icon will appear on the “This PC” page and the left navigation pane for easier access.

If you want to revert the changes, you can use the same instructions, but in step 4, right-click the “System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree” DWORD and select the “Delete” option. Also, on step 9, right-click the “{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}” key and choose the “Delete” option.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].