If the storage is full and you want to free some space in the computer the first thing most users do is to remove the unwanted files or folders from the PC. Emptying the recycle bin is one of the steps performed in this process. But a few users face difficulties in deleting the items from recycle bin. This issue may be because the user may not have proper permissions or admin rights, or the recycle bin might be corrupted due to which every time you try to delete the recycle bin it might crash, etc. In this article let us see the different methods to solve the issue and delete all the items present in the recycle bin.
Method 1: Restart Windows Explorer
Step 1: Right-click on the taskbar and from the appeared list click on the Task Manager
Step 2: Under the processes tab find Windows Explorer and right click on it and click on the Restart option
Now check if the issue is solved
Method 2: Empty The Recycle Bin Using Settings
Step 1: Open windows settings using Windows + I keys together
Step 2: Click on System
Step 3: On the left side click on Storage
Step 4: From the right, click on Temporary files
Step 5: Wait for a few seconds to load the page, then click remove files button
Step 6: Once the process is completed. go to the recycle bin and check if there are any files present in it.
Method 3: Reset The Recycle Bin
Step 1: Open the command prompt as an administrator. To do that type cmd in the windows search bar and hold Ctrl + Shift keys together and hit enter
Step 2: A user account control window will open, click on yes
Step 3: Copy the below command and paste it in the command prompt then hit enter
rd /s /q C:$Recycle.bin
Step 4: This command will reset the recycle bin. Once the command is executed successfully restart the system and then check if the issue is solved.
Method 4: Close All The Running Apps
Step 1: Right-click on the taskbar and from the appeared list click on the Task Manager
Step 2: Under the processes tab, right-click on each of the apps and click on the end task
Step 3: Close the task manager and now check if you can delete the items from recycle bin.
Method 5: Perform A Clean Boot
Step 1: Open the command prompt using Windows + R keys together.
Step 2: Type msconfig in the run prompt and hit enter. This will open system configuration window
Step 3: Under the General tab, click on the radio button beside Selective startup and uncheck the Load startup items.
Step 4: Go to the services tab, at the bottom click on the check box beside Hide all Microsoft services
Step 5: Then click on Disable all button
Step 6: Now go to the Startup tab and click on the link Open Task Manager. This will open the task manager
Step 7: Right click on each of the app and click on the Disable option
Step 8: Once you have disabled all the apps, in the system configuration windows click on apply and ok to save the changes. Then close the task manager.
Step 9: Restart the system and check if the issue is solved. If the issue is not solved then the reason for the problem is not start up applications. So go back and enable them
To enable the and start up normally
Step 10: Open the command prompt using Windows + R keys together.
Step 11: Type msconfig in the run prompt and hit enter. This will open system configuration window
Step 12: Under the General tab, click on the radio button beside Normal startup
Step 13: Go to the services tab, uncheck the box beside Hide all Microsoft services
Step 14: Click on Enable all button
Step 15: To save the changes click on Apply and OK
Method 6: Uninstall Third Party Software
Step 1: Open the run prompt using Windows + R keys together
Step 2: Type appwiz.cpl in the run prompt and hit enter. This will open the Programs and features window
Step 3: Right click on the third party software which you feel is causing the issue and click on uninstall
Step 4: Restart the system and check if the issue is solved.
Method 7: Kill The One drive task
Step 1: Right-click on the taskbar and from the appeared list click on the Task Manager
Step 2: Under the processes tab, right-click on One Drive app and click on the end task
Step 3: Close the task manager and check if the issue is solved.
That’s it! I hope this article is helpful and let us know which method helped you to solve the issue. Thank you!!