How to Restore the Recycle Bin Icon to the Desktop (Windows Vista, 7, 10, 11)

Problem: the Recycle Bin icon disappeared from the desktop (or was accidentally deleted). How do you get it back?

In short: the Recycle Bin hasn’t gone anywhere — only its icon is hidden. You can bring it back in Desktop Icon Settings: tick “Recycle Bin” and click OK.

Windows Vista and Windows 7

1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop → Personalize.
2. On the left, choose Change desktop icons.
3. Tick Recycle Bin and click OK.

Windows 10 and Windows 11

1. Right-click the desktop → Personalize → Themes.
2. Click Desktop icon settings.
3. Tick Recycle Bin → OK.

A quick shortcut for any version: Win+R → desk.cpl ,,5 opens the desktop icon settings directly.

If there are no icons on the desktop at all

All icons may be hidden: right-click the desktop → View → turn on “Show desktop icons”.

If Personalize isn’t available

Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic don’t have Personalize. In that case: Start → type “desktop icons” in search → “Show or hide common icons on the desktop”.

Don’t worry: you can’t delete the Recycle Bin icon “for good” — you can always bring it back, and the files in the Recycle Bin stay where they were