Unlocking the Recycle Bin- A Step-by-Step Guide to Viewing Deleted Files in Your File Explorer

by liuqiyue

How to View Recycle Bin in File Explorer

In the digital age, managing files and data is an essential skill for both professionals and casual users. One of the most common tasks is to view the Recycle Bin, which is a temporary storage for deleted files. This article will guide you on how to view the Recycle Bin in File Explorer on both Windows and macOS operating systems.

Windows OS

On Windows, the Recycle Bin is a default feature that can be easily accessed through File Explorer. Here are the steps to view the Recycle Bin in File Explorer:

1. Open File Explorer by clicking on the folder icon on the taskbar or pressing the Windows key + E.
2. Once File Explorer is open, you will see several drives and folders on the left-hand side. Look for the Recycle Bin icon, which typically resembles a trash can.
3. Click on the Recycle Bin icon to open it. You will now see a list of deleted files and folders.
4. To restore a file, right-click on it and select “Restore.” Alternatively, you can select multiple files and restore them all at once by clicking on “Restore” from the context menu.

MacOS

On macOS, the Recycle Bin is known as the Trash. Here’s how to view the Trash in Finder:

1. Open Finder by clicking on the Finder icon in the Dock or pressing Command + Space and typing “Finder.”
2. In the Finder window, you will see a sidebar on the left-hand side. Scroll down and click on the Trash icon.
3. Once you have opened the Trash, you will see a list of deleted files and folders.
4. To restore a file, right-click on it and select “Put Back.” You can also select multiple files and restore them all at once by clicking on “Put Back” from the context menu.

Additional Tips

– If you cannot find the Recycle Bin or Trash icon in the sidebar, you can enable it by going to “View” > “Show Sidebar” on Windows or “View” > “Show Path Bar” on macOS.
– To permanently delete files from the Recycle Bin or Trash, you can right-click on the file and select “Delete Immediately” on Windows or “Empty Trash” on macOS.
– It is essential to regularly empty the Recycle Bin or Trash to free up disk space and prevent deleted files from being restored.

By following these simple steps, you can easily view the Recycle Bin or Trash in File Explorer or Finder and manage your deleted files efficiently.

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