How to Resize Recycle Bin on Windows 11

Why resize the Recycle Bin?

If the bin fills up quickly, say because you delete large video files or work with big downloads, a larger limit protects you from losing something you deleted by mistake. A bigger Recycle Bin keeps deleted items recoverable for a longer time. Keep in mind that a file larger than the limit cannot fit in the bin at all, so Windows deletes it permanently right away.

In the same Properties window there is an option to remove files immediately when you delete them, which frees up space straight away. This is a trade-off, since you lose the safety net for that drive.

What happens when done?

Adjusting the Recycle Bin size controls how much space deleted files occupy and how long they stay around. You can set a maximum size, for example 5000 MB (about 5 GB), so old deleted items never fill your storage. Once the bin reaches that limit, Windows permanently removes the oldest files to make room for new ones, so nothing stays there forever.

The size is set per drive. If you have a C: drive and a D: drive, each has its own Recycle Bin limit, and you can set them differently.

How to change your Recycle Bin size

The short version: right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and choose Properties. In the window that opens, select the drive you want to change and type a new maximum size in megabytes under the custom size box. Click Apply to save it, and deleted files will take up less or more room. The detailed steps follow below.

1. Find the Recycle Bin 🗑️ icon on your desktop. If you don’t see it, open Settings › Personalization › Themes › Desktop icon settings, tick Recycle Bin 🗑️, and click OK. The icon should now appear on the desktop.
2. Right-click the icon and choose Properties. On Windows 11 the right-click menu 🖱️ may show only a short list. If you don’t see Properties, click Show more options (or press Shift+F10) and look there. The Recycle Bin 🗑️ Properties window should now open.

You can also reach the same window from inside the bin. Open the Recycle Bin folder, click the three dots (…) in the top menu, and select Properties. The result is identical to the right-click method, so use whichever is quicker for you, especially if the desktop icon is hidden.

1. In the Properties window, you will see a list of your hard drive volumes. Each one is listed with its own current maximum size.
2. Select the drive you want to change. The settings ⚙️ at the bottom of the window update to show that drive’s current options.
3. Under the “Settings for selected location” section, click the Custom size bubble. The Maximum size (MB) box should now be active. If you would rather skip the bin for this drive, choose Don’t move files to the Recycle Bin 🗑️. Remove files immediately when deleted. instead and go straight to the last step.
4. Type in your preferred size in Megabytes (MB). Remember that 1 GB is about 1000 MB, so 10 GB is roughly 10000. Enter a value that suits the drive; a very small number means large files will bypass the bin.
5. Click OK to save your changes. You can also click Apply first and then OK. No restart is needed, and the new limit takes effect immediately. To undo it later, return to the same window and enter the old size, or choose Custom size again with a different value.

Pro Tip: Bypassing the Recycle Bin

Select the file in File Explorer, hold Shift, and press Del. Windows normally asks you to confirm. This method works well for sensitive files that need immediate removal, and it doesn’t depend on the bin size at all. Files deleted this way cannot be recovered from the Recycle Bin, so double-check what you have selected before you confirm.

Managing Storage Space

When your PC runs low on disk space, a bloated Recycle Bin is often the culprit. It’s easy to forget that deleting a file doesn’t free its space until the bin is emptied or the file is pushed out. If a drive is nearly full, open the Recycle Bin and check how much is in there. You can right-click the icon and choose Empty Recycle Bin for an immediate fix, then lower the maximum size so it doesn’t happen again.

Important Security Note

Important Note: Most users can adjust these settings, but if you work on a restricted network or a shared computer, you may need administrator permissions to modify system-wide storage configurations. If you encounter an access denied error, check your user account permissions in the Control Panel. If the computer is managed by an employer or school, the setting may be locked by policy, and you will need to ask your IT administrator to change it.

Summary

Resizing your Recycle Bin helps you control how long deleted files are kept, giving you more command over your computer's storage. Set a size that matches how you work: larger if you want a bigger safety net, smaller if space is tight. You can change it again at any time from the same Properties window.