How to Change the Default Recycle Bin Icon in Windows 10


The Recycle Bin provides a safety net when deleting files or folders. When you delete any of these items from your hard diskWindows places it in the Recycle Bin and the Recycle Bin icon changes from empty to full.

This tutorial will show you how to change the default full and empty icon of the Recycle Bin for your account in Windows 10.

You may also want to allow or prevent themes to change desktop icons for your Recycle Bin icons.

Contents

• Option One: To Change Default Recycle Bin Full and Empty Icons in Desktop Icon Settings
• Option Two: To Restore Default Recycle Bin Full and Empty Icons in Desktop Icon Settings
• Option Three: To Change Default Recycle Bin Full and Empty Icons in Registry Editor

EXAMPLE: Recycle Bin on Desktop and in File Explorer

OPTION ONE

To Change Default Recycle Bin Full and Empty Icons in Desktop Icon Settings

1 Open Settingsand click/tap on the Personalization icon.

If you likeyou can open Run (Win+R)enter the rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0 command into Runand click/tap on OK to directly open Desktop Icon Settings at step 4 below instead.

2 Click/tap on Themes on the left sideand click/tap on the Desktop icon settings link on the right side under Related Settings. (see screenshot below)

3 You can now close Settings if you like.

4 Select the Recycle Bin (full) iconand click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)

5 Click/tap on the Browse buttonnavigate to and select the .ico file or file that contains the icon you wantclick/tap on Openselect the icon you wantand click/tap on OK. (see screenshots below)

6 Select the Recycle Bin (empty) iconand click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)

7 Click/tap on the Browse buttonnavigate to and select the .ico file or file that contains the icon you wantclick/tap on Openselect the icon you wantand click/tap on OK. (see screenshots below)

8 Click/tap on the OK to apply. (see screenshots below)

OPTION TWO

To Restore Default Recycle Bin Full and Empty Icons in Desktop Icon Settings

1 Open Settingsand click/tap on the Personalization icon.

If you likeyou can open Run (Win+R)enter the rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0 command into Runand click/tap on OK to directly open Desktop Icon Settings at step 4 below instead.

2 Click/tap on Themes on the left sideand click/tap on the Desktop icon settings link on the right side under Related Settings. (see screenshot below)

3 You can now close Settings if you like.

4 Select the Recycle Bin (full) iconand click/tap on the Restore Default button. (see screenshot below)

5 Select the Recycle Bin (empty) iconand click/tap on the Restore Default button. (see screenshot below)

6 Click/tap on the OK to apply. (see screenshots below)

OPTION THREE

To Change Default Recycle Bin Full and Empty Icons in Registry Editor

1 Press the Win + R keys to open Runtype regedit into Runand click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\DefaultIcon

3 In the right pane of the DefaultIcon keydouble click/tap on the empty expandable string value (REG_EXPAND_SZ) to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)

4 Type the full path of the .ico file you want to useand click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

You will need to add ,0 t the end of the .ico full path like below.

For example: C:\Users\Brink\Pictures\My Icons\Recycle_Bin-empty.ico,0

You can use the C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll,-55 path to restore the default Recycle Bin (empty) icon.

5 In the right pane of the DefaultIcon keydouble click/tap on the full expandable string value (REG_EXPAND_SZ) to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)

6 Type the full path of the .ico file you want to useand click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

You will need to add ,0 t the end of the .ico full path like below.

For example: C:\Users\Brink\Pictures\My Icons\Recycle_Bin-full.ico,0

You can use the C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll,-54 path to restore the default Recycle Bin (full) icon.

7 When finishedclose Registry Editor.

8 Sign out and sign in to fully apply.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Add or Remove Recycle Bin in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Empty Recycle Bin in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Common Desktop Icons in Windows 10
• How to Allow or Prevent Themes to Change Desktop Icons in Windows 10
• How to Change Default Icon for This PC in Windows 10
• How to Change Default Icon for Network in Windows 10
• How to Change Default Icon for User's Files in Windows 10
• How to Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows
• Add or Remove Empty Recycle Bin Context Menu for Recycle Bin in Windows

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