Struggling to find the Recycle Bin in File Explorer on your Windows PC? By default, it’s not shown in the sidebar — but there’s a quick fix to make it appear without diving into complicated settings.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to easily enable the Recycle Bin in File Explorer’s navigation pane using a built-in option in both Windows 10 and 11.
🎥 Watch the step-by-step tutorial here:
👉 https://youtu.be/NuDkcLNMOlE
đź’ˇ Why Add the Recycle Bin to File Explorer?
Adding the Recycle Bin to your File Explorer gives you:
- Faster access to deleted files
- A more convenient and organized file management experience
- Easy one-click navigation — no need to minimize windows to find the desktop icon
🛠️ How to Show the Recycle Bin in File Explorer
Follow these simple steps:
- Open File Explorer
Use the shortcutWindows Key + E
or click the folder icon on your taskbar. - Right-click in the left-hand navigation pane
Make sure you right-click on an empty area where no folders are listed. - Select “Show all folders” from the menu that appears.
- You’ll now see Recycle Bin and other system folders (like Control Panel) appear in the sidebar.
✅ That’s it! No need to open Folder Options or hit Apply — it’s quick, easy, and built right in.
📺 Watch the Video Tutorial
See the steps in action by watching the full video:
👉 https://youtu.be/NuDkcLNMOlE
If this helped you out, be sure to subscribe to my channel Northern Viking Everyday for more quick and easy tech tutorials!