How to fix Recycle Bin not self-cleaning on Windows 10

In  computers , the Recycle Bin is a temporary storage for files that have been deleted, but have not been permanently deleted from the file system. And you want to empty the Recycle Bin to permanently delete files from your computer, but the  Recycle Bin  does not delete those files. Please follow the article to know how to fix it!

Causes of the Recycle Bin not self-cleaning files :

1. Some apps that you are using may cause the Recycle Bin to crash.
2. Windows File Explorer  can interfere with the Recycle Bin and make it difficult to permanently delete files.
3. It is possible that the Recycle Bin itself   is faulty, causing the file not to self-clean.

Here are 6 ways to fix the Recycle Bin not self-cleaning on Windows 10. Invite you to join us and follow the steps one by one.

1. Close any software running

Step 1 : Click  Ctrl + Shift + Esc  to open  Task Manager .

Step 2 : In the Processes tab  , right-click on running applications> Select  End task .

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2. Update or remove third-party apps

Try updating third-party software programs or completely removing them. You can delete apps through the Control Panel.

Step 1 : Go to  Control Panel  > Select  Uninstall a program  under  Programs and Features .

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Step 2 : In the Programs and Features window  , right-click on the third application name to delete and then select  Uninsta ll and follow the instructions.

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Then, restart the computer and check if the problem is resolved. This will perform a clean uninstall which will help ensure that you don't leave any leftover junk folders.

3. Empty the Recycle Bin through Settings

Instead of manually deleting files from the Recycle Bin, you can try doing this through Settings.

Step 1 : Right-click the Start icon   > Select  Settings  or use the Windows + I  key combination  to open  Settings .

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Step 2 : Select  Storage  >  Temporary files .

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Step 3 : On the Temporary files window, select  Recycle Bin  > Select  Remove files .

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When the process is complete, check the Recycle Bin to see if there are any files in it.

4. Restart Windows File Explorer

Step 1 : Click  Ctrl + Shift + Esc  to open  Task Manager .

Step 2 : In the Processes tab  , right-click  Windows Explorer  > Select  Restart .

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5. Perform Clean Boot on the PC

Note : If the computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may prevent you from following these steps. Only use the System Configuration utility   to change advanced boot options on a computer with guidance from a Microsoft support engineer. Using the System Configuration utility may render the computer unusable.

Step 1 : In the search box on the taskbar, type  msconfig.exe  > Press  Enter  to open System Configuration.

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Step 2 : On the Services tab  , select  Hide all Microsoft services  > Select  Disable all .

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Step 3 : Select the Startup tab   of  System Configuration , select  Open Task Manager .

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Step 4 : Select the Startup tab   of  Task Manager , right-click the items that are in Enable mode   > Select  Disable .

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Step 5 : Close  Task Manager .

Step 6 : On the Startup tab   of  System Configuration , select  OK .

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When you restart the computer, it will be in the Clean Boot environment  .

Note : Computers may temporarily lose some functionality while in a Clean Boot environment. Reset the computer to start normally after troubleshooting with Clean Boot and continue using that function.

6. Reset Recycle Bin

Step 1 : Press the Windows + R key combination   > type  cmd  >  Select  OK .

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Step 2 : Enter the command below into the  Command Prompt  and press  Enter.

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This command will reset the Recycle Bin and help resolve the problem. Restart your PC and check if you can empty the Recycle Bin.

So the article has shown you ways to fix the Recycle Bin not self-cleaning error on Windows 10 already. Wish you all success!

Samuel Daniel

Update 08 April 2021