Recycle Bin

How to Fix the Recycle Bin Icon Not Refreshing When Emptied


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

If the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop does not refresh back to a empty icon when you empty it and stays the full icon, or the other way around, then this will show you how to fix this refreshing problem in Vista and Windows 7.
Note   Note

  • A temporary solution is to click on a empty space on the desktop and press F5 to refresh the Recycle Bin icon.
  • If you cannot Empty Recycle Bin or delete a file or folder inside the Recycle Bin, then see: How to Fix a Corrupted Recycle Bin in Vista
  • Removable drives do not use or have a Recycyle Bin. Files deleted from removable drives are permanently deleted instead.
Tip   Tip
This usually happens when the icon has been deleted by mistake and restored. For more on this, see : How to Restore the Recycle Bin back to the Desktop in Vista and Windows 7


EXAMPLE: Recycle Bin Stuck at Full or Empty
Full.jpgEmpty.jpg




OPTION ONE
Fix Default Recycle Bin Icon Using a REG File Download

1. Click on the download button below to download the file below.​
Fix_Recycle_Bin.reg
download

2. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.​
3. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click Merge.​
4. Click on Run, Continue (UAC-vista) or Yes (UAC-Windows 7), Yes, and then OK when prompted.​
5. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).​
NOTE: You may need to refresh (F5) the desktop to notice the change.​





OPTION TWO
Fix Default Recycle Bin Icon Manually in Registry Editor

NOTE: You will just be temporarily changing the Recycle Bin icons to something else, then change them back to the default icons.
1. Right click on a empty area of the desktop and click Personalize. (See screenshot below)​
Right_Click.jpg

2. Click on Change desktop icons in the upper left corner. (See screenshot below)​
Change.jpg

3. Click on the Recycle Bin (Empty) icon in the middle. (See screenshot below)​
4. Click on the Change Icon button.​
Desktop_Empty.jpg

5. In the change icon window, click on the Recycle Bin (Full) icon. (See screenshot below)​
NOTE: For 2nd time thru after step 11, choose empty icon.
6. Click on OK.​
Full_Icon.jpg

7. Click on the Recycle Bin (Full) icon in the middle. (See screenshot below)​
8. Click on the Change Icon button.​
Desktop_Full.jpg

9. In the change icon window, click on the Recycle Bin Empty icon. (See screenshot below)​
NOTE: For 2nd time thru after step 11, choose full icon.
10. Click on OK.​
Empty_Icon.jpg

11. Click on Apply. (Now your Recycle Bin icons are backwards)​
NOTE: For 2nd time thru, go to step 13.
12. Now go back and do steps 3 to 11 again, but time you will be picking the correct Recycle Bin icons for the empty (step 5) and full (step 9).​
13. Click on OK to go back to desktop.​
14. The Recycle Bin will now refresh again on it's own.​





OPTION THREE
Fix Custom Recycle Bin Icon Manually in Registry Editor

NOTE: This will show you how to fix the icon refreshing problem when you have used custom icons for the Recycle Bin in Vista and Windows 7.

That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • Fix_Recycle_Bin.reg
    3.6 KB · Views: 8,840
Last edited:
Hello Lloyd, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Usually this will solve this problem with the Recycle Bin icon not refreshing properly. If it happens again, then repappying this should sort it again.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
 

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    512 GB M.2 SSD
Update. Next day use, the Desktop Recycle Bin Icon shows Full, but there is only 1 file in the Recycle Bin. However, the principal problem I believe lies in the automatic deleting of the contents of the Recycle Bin.

I'd appreciate it if someone knows if there is another Thread that deals with how to control automatic deleting from the Bin? Here's a case where I have a disfunctional Bin, and I really would rather do it myself (when it needs doing).

Thanks
 

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    750 GB

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
You're most welcome Kate, and welcome to Vista Forums. :)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
You're most welcome TM1, and welcome to Vista Forums. :)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Brink
the quick guide you have set up save me many hours of hunting for the answer before comning here...
Many big thanks for this Forum
Randy:roflmao:
 

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You're most welcome Randy, and welcome to Vista Forums. :)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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