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How to empty Recycle Bin when shutting down your PC

3 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Emptying theRecycle Binis like eating junk food. We don’t really pay attention to theprocessuntil it takes too much space. Luckily, you can get rid ofthe Recycle Binjunk with just a few clicks, which isn’t exactly the case with weight loss, though.

But why even bother and not eliminate the effort at all?

If you’re like me, emptying theRecycle Binis not even in the back of your mind. In fact, I’m almost positive you’d be surprised what treasures yourRecycle Binhides if you open it right now.

But there’s a little trick that will make you forget about theRecycle Binforever. Yes, you can set yourRecycle Binto empty automatically when you shut down your computer. And here’s how:

How to empty Recycle Bin automatically in Windows 10

All you need to do to make theRecycle Binempty on everyshutdownis to create a script that which automate this task. But before we start, keep in mind that doing this is only possible in Windows 10 Pro, because theGroup Policy Editoris involved in the procedure.

On top of that, you’ll also need to be logged in with an administrator account.

If you meet all the ‘pre-requisites’, let’s carry one with the task. Here’s what you need to do:

That’s it for the script. Now, every time you run this file, it will empty theRecycle Bin. However, it still won’t do it automatically, as you’ll have to open it every time.

That’s where the Group Policy Editor comes into play to automate the task. Here’s what you need to do:

That’s about it, the script is ready and set, and now every time you reboot your computer it will empty theRecycle Binautomatically. You won’t have to worry about theRecycle Binever again.

Just keep in mind to make sure you don’t delete any important documents or files, because they’ll be lost forever when you restart your computer.

If you want to remove this functionality, just head back to the Group Policy Editor and remove the delete the script.

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More about the topics:All the Windows 10 tips you need to Know,Recycle Bin,Windows 10 Guides

Ivan Jenic

Windows Hardware Expert

Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.

When he’s not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.

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Ivan Jenic

Windows Hardware Expert

Ivan has delved deep into understanding the Windows OS, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.