How to Change the Default Recycle Bin Icon in Windows 10
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.
This tutorial will show you how to change the default full and empty icon of the Recycle Bin for your account in Windows 10.
You may also want to allow or prevent themes to change desktop icons for your Recycle Bin icons.
Contents
- Option One: To Change Default Recycle Bin Full and Empty Icons in Desktop Icon Settings
- Option Two: To Restore Default Recycle Bin Full and Empty Icons in Desktop Icon Settings
- Option Three: To Change Default Recycle Bin Full and Empty Icons in Registry Editor
EXAMPLE: Recycle Bin on Desktop and in File Explorer
1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Personalization icon.
If you like, you can open Run (Win+R), enter the
rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0
command into Run, and click/tap on OK to directly open Desktop Icon Settings at step 4 below instead.
2 Click/tap on Themes on the left side, and click/tap on the Desktop icon settings link on the right side under Related Settings. (see screenshot below)
3 You can now close Settings if you like.
4 Select the Recycle Bin (full) icon, and click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)
5 Click/tap on the Browse button, navigate to and select the .ico file or file that contains the icon you want, click/tap on Open, select the icon you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshots below)
6 Select the Recycle Bin (empty) icon, and click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)
7 Click/tap on the Browse button, navigate to and select the .ico file or file that contains the icon you want, click/tap on Open, select the icon you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshots below)
8 Click/tap on the OK to apply. (see screenshots below)
1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Personalization icon.
If you like, you can open Run (Win+R), enter the
rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0
command into Run, and click/tap on OK to directly open Desktop Icon Settings at step 4 below instead.
2 Click/tap on Themes on the left side, and click/tap on the Desktop icon settings link on the right side under Related Settings. (see screenshot below)
3 You can now close Settings if you like.
4 Select the Recycle Bin (full) icon, and click/tap on the Restore Default button. (see screenshot below)
5 Select the Recycle Bin (empty) icon, and click/tap on the Restore Default button. (see screenshot below)
6 Click/tap on the OK to apply. (see screenshots below)
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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\DefaultIcon
3 In the right pane of the DefaultIcon key, double click/tap on the empty expandable string value (REG_EXPAND_SZ) to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)
4 Type the full path of the .ico file you want to use, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
You will need to add
,0
t the end of the .ico full path like below.
For example:C:\Users\Brink\Pictures\My Icons\Recycle_Bin-empty.ico,0
You can use the C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll,-55 path to restore the default Recycle Bin (empty) icon.
5 In the right pane of the DefaultIcon key, double click/tap on the full expandable string value (REG_EXPAND_SZ) to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)
6 Type the full path of the .ico file you want to use, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
You will need to add
,0
t the end of the .ico full path like below.
For example:C:\Users\Brink\Pictures\My Icons\Recycle_Bin-full.ico,0
You can use the C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll,-54 path to restore the default Recycle Bin (full) icon.
7 When finished, close Registry Editor.
8 Sign out and sign in to fully apply.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Add or Remove Recycle Bin in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
- How to Empty Recycle Bin in Windows 10
- How to Add or Remove Common Desktop Icons in Windows 10
- How to Allow or Prevent Themes to Change Desktop Icons in Windows 10
- How to Change Default Icon for This PC in Windows 10
- How to Change Default Icon for Network in Windows 10
- How to Change Default Icon for User's Files in Windows 10
- How to Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows
- Add or Remove Empty Recycle Bin Context Menu for Recycle Bin in Windows