How to Specify when Storage Sense Delete Files in Recycle Bin in Windows 10
Starting with Windows 10 build 15014, Microsoft has added a new Automatically free up space with Storage Sense option in Storage Settings to automatically get rid of the files you don’t need to save you an extra step when low on disk space. Currently this is only supported for unused temporary files, files in your recycle bin over 30 days, and files in your Downloads folder that haven't changed for over 30 days.
Starting with Windows 10 build 17720, Storage Sense can now run when your device is low on storage space by default. Once activated, Storage Sense will intelligently run whenever your device runs low on storage space and clear temporary files that your device and applications no longer need.Storage Sense looks for and will remove the following types of files:
- Temporary setup files
- Old indexed content
- System cache files
- Internet cache files
- Device Driver packages
- System downloaded program files
- Dated system log files
- System error memory dump files
- System error minidump files
- Temporary system files
- Dated Windows update temporary files
- …and more.
When Storage Sense is turned on or enabled, it can delete files in the user’s Recycle Bin if they have been there for over a certain amount of days.
Starting with at least Windows 10 build 18282, you can now configure a group policy to specify when Storage Sense (if turned on or enabled) will delete files in the recycle bin for all users.
This tutorial will show you how to specify when Storage Sense will automatically delete files in the recycle bin for your account or all users in Windows 10.
Contents
- Option One: Specify when Storage Sense Delete Files in Recycle Bin for Current User in Settings
- Option Two: Specify when Storage Sense Delete Files in Recycle Bin for Current User using a REG file
- Option Three: Specify when Storage Sense Delete Files in Recycle Bin for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Four: Specify when Storage Sense Delete Files in Recycle Bin for All Users in Registry Editor
1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the System icon.
2 Click/tap on Storage on the left side, turn on Storage sense on the right side, and click/tap on the Configure Storage Sense or run it now link. (see screenshot below)
3 Under Temporary Files, select Never, 1 day, 14 days, 30 days (default), or 60 days for what you want in the Delete files in my recycle bin if they have been there for over drop down list. (see screenshot below)
4 You can now close Settings if you like.
The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD values in the registry key below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\StorageSense\Parameters\StoragePolicy
08 DWORD
0 = Never
1 = 1, 14, 30, or 60 days
256 DWORD
0 = Never
1 = 1 day
e (hex) = 14 days
1e (hex) = 30 days
3c (hex) = 60 days
1 Do step 2 (Never), step 3 (1 day), step 4 (14 days), step 5 (30 days), or step 6 (60 days) below for what you want to do.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.
Storage_Sense_delete_files_in_Recycle_Bin_Never_for_current_user.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.
Storage_Sense_delete_files_in_Recycle_Bin_over_1_day_for_current_user.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.
Storage_Sense_delete_files_in_Recycle_Bin_over_14_days_for_current_user.reg
Download
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.
Storage_Sense_delete_files_in_Recycle_Bin_over_30_days_for_current_user.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.
Storage_Sense_delete_files_in_Recycle_Bin_over_60_days_for_current_user.reg
Download
7 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
8 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
9 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
10 If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
This option is only available starting with at least Windows 10 build 18282.
You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option
If specified, this option will override Option One and Option Two for all users on the computer.
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Four.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Storage Sense
3 In the right pane of Storage Sense in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Configure Storage Recycle Bin cleanup threshold policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (specify) or step 6 (default) below for what you would like to do.
A) Select (dot) Enabled, enter a number between 0 to 365 for how may days you want, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
Entering 0 will be for never.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
Not Configured is the default setting.
7 When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
This option is only available starting with at least Windows 10 build 18282.
You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option
If specified, this option will override Option One and Option Two for all users on the computer.
1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.
2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\StorageSense
If you do not have the StorageSense key, right click on the Windows key, click/tap on New, click/tap on Key, type StorageSense for the name, and press Enter.
3 Do step 4 (specify) or step 5 (default) below for what you want to do.
A) In the right pane of the StorageSense key, double click/tap on the ConfigStorageSenseRecycleBinCleanupThreshold DWORD to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)
If you do not have a ConfigStorageSenseRecycleBinCleanupThreshold DWORD, right click on an empty area in the right pane of the StorageSense key, click/tap on New, click/tap on DWORD (32-bit) Value, type ConfigStorageSenseRecycleBinCleanupThreshold for the name, and press Enter.
B) Select (dot) Decimal, enter a number between 0 to 365 for how may days you want, click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
Entering 0 will be for never.
A) In the right pane of the StorageSense key, right click on the ConfigStorageSenseRecycleBinCleanupThreshold DWORD, and click/tap on Delete. (see screenshot below step 2)
B) Click/tap on Yes to confirm, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
6 You can now close Registry Editor if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
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