How to Hide/Un-Hide Recycle Bin Icon on Desktop in XP

Posted by Shailendra Doke | Jan 21, 2008
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recycleIn this post you will learn How to Hide or Un-Hide the Recycle Bin Icon in Windows XP.  Many  people hate this icon, I don't know why, they just don't want to let it appear on their Desktop.

I am explaining two ways from which you can Hide the Recycle Bin Icon and whenever you need it, you can Un-Hide it.

1)     This is the simple way as compare to second one.

From Group Policy Editor we will Hide the Recycle Bin Icon.

  • Click Start, Click Run, Type GPEDIT.MSC, Press Enter
  • On the Left Column Expand Administrative Templates, click on Desktop
  • On the Right Column Find Remove Recycle Bin Icon from Desktop
  • Double click on it, A Property Window will Appear
  • Select Enable option, Press OK.
  • Refresh Desktop, Enjoy!

To Show Recycle Bin Icon on Desktop, Do same steps but instead of Enable select      Not Configured.

 

2)     This step is somewhat risky, if you done this incorrectly you may have to Reinstall
         your Operating System. This Blog's Author will not be liable if any damage occurs.
         Do it on your own risk or choose the first way.

NOTE : - Backup your Registry File before Proceeding.

Copy the following code into notepad and save it as recycle.reg.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced\Folder\RecycleBinOnDesktop]
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\
HideDesktopIcons\\NewStartPanel"
"Text"="Show Recycle-Bin Icon on the Desktop"
"Type"="checkbox"
"ValueName"="{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}"
"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000
"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001

  • Double click on the file, click YES, click OK.
  • A new option will be added in the Folder Option.
  • Goto My Computer, then Tools Menu, then Folder Option
  • Select View tab, find Show Recycle-Bin Icon on the Desktop option select it.
  • Press OK, Enjoy!

Related Posts:           Find more Windows XP Tricks 

66 comments
  • # Unknown on 4/29/2008 12:07:00 AM  

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  • # Unknown on 4/29/2008 12:09:00 AM  

    hey tried this tip, only prob is that it takes my whole desktop background with it! any ways to make sure that doesnt happen??

  • # Anonymous on 4/29/2008 01:05:00 AM  

    Hi apu,

    All the steps must be done correctly to hide the Recycle Bin.

    Both the tricks are correct!
    I still use the second trick! If you don't want to mess with registry then try only first step.

    Have you tried both tricks?

  • # Anonymous on 7/20/2008 03:32:00 AM  

    hey, i have the same problem as apu. i have a .swf as my desktop background and ive tried both ways to make the recycle bin go away. it works, except it leaves my background blank... and it will only show up when ive restored the recycle bin. is it possible to have a moving .swf pic with nothing else on my background?

  • # Anonymous on 9/21/2008 06:03:00 AM  

    Brett, I have the same problem with a .mjpg webcam. I don't know why they'd block having a empty desktop except for a video. I even tried a third method: the XP Powertoy Tweak UI.

  • # Anonymous on 1/20/2009 11:28:00 AM  

    Works for me thanks!

  • # Unknown on 1/24/2009 05:52:00 AM  

    http://www.download.com/3001-2131_4-10730556.html?spi=a6831a2ba1092d39505ee3a6bab31dca FROM DIDO BG

  • # Lydon on 1/31/2009 03:35:00 AM  

    Thanks! Very handy.

  • # Anonymous on 2/03/2009 02:21:00 AM  

    2nd trick doesn't work...
    nothing about the recycle bin shows up in Tools>Folder Options>View

  • # Anonymous on 2/03/2009 06:00:00 PM  

    Try refreshing after making the change... if that doesn't help, then maybe you have to reinstall (repair using Win XP CD) windows...

  • # Anonymous on 2/09/2009 10:57:00 AM  

    The 2nd tip didn't work for me either, on XP Home SP3. Ignore the guy who said reinstall Windows. All you need is to add a DWORD value named {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} with data 1.

  • # Anonymous on 2/09/2009 10:58:00 AM  

    I meant to say, add that DWORD value to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel

  • # Anonymous on 2/09/2009 11:00:00 AM  

    The result of adding that value will be the disappearance of the Recycle Bin from the desktop after you refresh the desktop (F5). Change the data to 0 and refresh to bring it back.

  • # Anonymous on 3/29/2009 12:30:00 PM  

    The 2nd tip didn't work for me either, on XP Home SP3. Ignore the guy who said reinstall Windows. All you need is to add a DWORD value named {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} with data 1.

    meant to say, add that DWORD value to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel

    -------------

    This works perfectly. Thumbs up

  • # Anonymous on 4/13/2009 07:32:00 PM  

    ya the dword value works perfectly.. thx man

  • # Unknown on 4/29/2009 02:14:00 PM  

    yaar agar aap ko mobile number hide karne aaye to pls sent my Email. saddamhusain.husain@gmail.com

  • # Tony on 8/08/2009 06:23:00 PM  

    No need to do any of this. I hide my recycle bin by first right click on desktop and choose ( Arrange icons by ) + un-tick ( Align to grid ) then just move the recycle bin to the top right of the screen and keep moving it off until you can only see the bottom the text box that highlights when you click on the bin. The highlight around the text box will disappear when you click on your desktop, and that’s it !

    No more recycle bin on show, but it is still there on your desktop if you want to use it. Just go click in the top right corner of your screen.

    Tony

  • # Javad on 9/11/2009 01:54:00 PM  

    I have xp sp3 and the second one worked without any additional setup, just remove breaks between hkey addresses

  • # Anonymous on 9/18/2009 01:38:00 PM  

    Click here for full details

  • # Anonymous on 10/11/2009 03:18:00 PM  

    What a piece of shit

  • # Anonymous on 10/13/2009 08:07:00 AM  

    This article has incorrect information. The group policy editor path is User Configuration>Administrative Templates>Desktop

  • # Anonymous on 11/01/2009 12:56:00 PM  

    worked like a charm
    ty a lots
    btw have sp2

  • # Anonymous on 11/08/2009 07:43:00 PM  

    TY.. no sweat.. less than a minute.. and its done..

  • # Anonymous on 11/29/2009 06:33:00 PM  

    Thanks, it works.

  • # Anonymous on 1/09/2010 07:22:00 PM  

    THANKS A LOT ;) !

  • # Anonymous on 2/09/2010 12:47:00 AM  

    it worked, but then i place it as not configured, recycle bin doesnt appear on the screen, whats wrong?

  • # Anonymous on 2/22/2010 12:58:00 AM  

    GET the FREE Microsoft tool called Tweak UI for Windows XP. It's made my Microsoft and you can just uncheck a box in the desktop section to SAFELY and QUICKLY change this and many other settings. This program is so awesome@@@@@!@!@!@ Just search for it and you'll find a download from microsoft.

  • # ayam on 2/25/2010 10:11:00 AM  

    works!! thx..

  • # Anonymous on 2/26/2010 12:54:00 AM  

    Tony! nice trick. Thanks.

  • # Anonymous on 2/26/2010 05:48:00 AM  

    Guys all you have to do is just

    right click on the desktop,

    click arrange icons by,

    and untick the show desktop icons


    and the bin is gone. just click it again and the bin will come back

  • # Anonymous on 3/03/2010 01:48:00 AM  

    nice.... thank you!

  • # Anonymous on 3/30/2010 10:35:00 AM  

    TKS

  • # Anonymous on 4/12/2010 12:57:00 PM  

    there are two administrative template, for those who cant see the desktop. maybe you are in a wrong folder of administrative template.. thnk you for this tutorial it works !!

  • # Anonymous on 4/24/2010 04:52:00 PM  

    hide recycle bin, no harm -

    Copy the following code into notepad save the file as Recycle.reg and then double-click it. After importing Recycle.reg into the registry, a new option is listed in the Folder Options dialog box that lets you configure the Recycle Bin icon.

    Code:
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\RecycleBinOnDesktop]
    "RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\HideDesktopIcons\\NewStartPanel"
    "Text"="Show Recycle Bin icon on the desktop"
    "Type"="checkbox"
    "ValueName"="{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}"
    "CheckedValue"=dword:00000000
    "UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001
    "DefaultValue"=dword:00000000
    "HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001


    To hide or show the Recycle Bin icon using Folder Options, follow these steps:
    1.In Windows Explorer, on the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
    2.On the View tab, under Advanced Settings, do one of the following:
    - Select the Show Recycle Bin icon on the desktop check box to show the icon on your desktop.
    - Clear the Show Recycle Bin icon on the desktop check box to remove the icon from your desktop.

  • # Anonymous on 5/20/2010 06:14:00 AM  

    it's working perfect

  • # Anonymous on 6/09/2010 01:10:00 PM  

    Thnx for this tutorial.
    Simple and useful.

  • # Md Shaiful islam Talukder on 7/31/2010 05:30:00 PM  

    right click mouse --->arrange icon---->show desktop icon click problem solve .

  • # Anonymous on 8/06/2010 05:54:00 PM  

    MOST USEFUL FAST AND APPOPRIATE TIP. WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. YOURE PRO, FELLAS, THANKS>

  • # Anonymous on 9/07/2010 04:15:00 AM  

    thank its help me for free my desktop.

  • # Anonymous on 11/15/2010 10:43:00 AM  

    thank u # Anonymous on 4/24/2010 04:52:00 PM it works like charm

  • # Anonymous on 11/17/2010 07:01:00 PM  

    thank you so much for this..i was looking for it since long...i tried the first one and it worked :D

  • # Anonymous on 11/29/2010 01:27:00 AM  

    That is stupid. The registry things for normal people will piss them off. And if they have to restore the whole system, makes for a lot of fuss.
    I fixed it in 5 SECONDS.

    Just go on right click on desktop, and it says "show desktop icons", or "hide desktop icons" click the hide desktop icons. I have ObjectDock, just installed it today. It hid the RECYCLE BIN and if I click SHOW DESKTOP ICONS, it will reappear. NO NEED FOR "REGISTRY" STUFF. Fixed it in 5 seconds. Easy to show recycle bin again in 5 seconds. I'm a genius.

  • # Unknown on 1/11/2011 07:09:00 PM  

    i did procedure 2.
    but theres no 'show recycle bin on desktop'
    thing in the folder options.

  • # Unknown on 1/11/2011 07:10:00 PM  

    i cant run gpedit.msc
    im using windows xp home edition :D

  • # Unknown on 1/11/2011 07:22:00 PM  

    found a solution :D
    i used tweakUI :D

  • # Anonymous on 2/20/2011 09:52:00 PM  

    It worked!!! thanks.

  • # Anonymous on 3/27/2011 12:05:00 AM  

    thanks man very simple and usefull

  • # hadi on 5/04/2011 08:12:00 AM  

    ...
    out of my mind,
    ...
    thabk's.

  • # Arjun on 5/07/2011 11:05:00 PM  

    Thanks man.. it was very useful now i can snap my desktop to my friends and cheat'em all that I've deleted the Recycle bin :P

  • # Deepak on 5/20/2011 07:57:00 PM  

    No one of following works for xp sp3....7
    try power toy from microsoft official website ,.... To custmosize more easily and also other cömponents...

  • # Anonymous on 6/17/2011 04:48:00 AM  

    heyy... that works absolutely fine.... thanks!

  • # Anonymous on 7/07/2011 04:45:00 PM  

    Deepak, it DOES work on "xp sp3". At least the first method worked fine for me. Refresh your desktop.

  • # Anonymous on 8/22/2011 08:20:00 PM  

    Thanks bro, it was useful ;)

  • # Janz on 3/29/2012 08:05:00 AM  

    Thanks a lot mate. You save my time.

    Tips for E-commerce

  • # Muslim Aswaja on 7/09/2012 03:18:00 PM  

    Thanks! It's worked.

  • # Anonymous on 8/16/2012 09:31:00 AM  

    thank you! 1st one worked!

  • # downloaf soft on 10/05/2012 08:58:00 AM  

    great article , thanks for the informations , visit my blog its about download software : http://software--free.blogspot.com

  • # Anonymous on 11/22/2012 06:32:00 PM  

    HMMM, IT WORKS PROPERLY IN MY OS ( WINDOWS XP SP2). THANK YOU

  • # Unknown on 4/30/2013 11:11:00 PM  

    very useful trick I appreciate your writng skills.........
    there are also some cool trick for the visitors
    How To Find Serial, Keygen, Patches, Cracks Of Any Software

  • # Anonymous on 6/26/2013 05:20:00 AM  

    initially didn't work for me
    turns out i had to also add the "{braced}"=dword as an entry in the path it names
    mine was missing

    following code only for reference. use with extreme caution

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
    "{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}"=dword:00000000

  • # Anonymous on 1/29/2014 04:53:00 PM  

    You right click on desktop and then choose hide desktop icons in my version

  • # Anonymous on 6/15/2014 02:22:00 AM  

    Works perfect, simply and effective, thank you!

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