Windows Explorer desktop show recycle bin

[mattm3]

Hi,

Does anyone know if it's possible to get the recycle bin to show when clicking on the Desktop in quick access on Windows 11. It used to show in Windows 10 as seen in the screenshot below but seems to have been removed in Windows 11. I used it all the time when cleaning desktop and it's frustrating not having it there since upgrading to Windows 11.

If I type in shell:Desktop into the address bar in Windows Explorer it shows but I'm unable to pin this to quick access

Thanks

[pyrates999]

I'm not even sure how in windows 10 you were able to pin the recycle bin to quick access. As when I right click on it, there is no pin to quick access option.

So I googled and if you open file explorer and click on the recycle bin. Scroll up to where quick access is, and drag and drop Recycle Bin in the address bar to Quick access, you'll be able to pin it.

Does that work in windows 11? It did for me in windows 10.

[mattm3]

Thanks for the reply :)

I didn't actually pin the recycle bin to quick access, that was already there as I had show all folders checked on Windows 10. I can add the recycle bin to quick access but I was talking more about the one on the right where it shows when viewing the desktop.

If it's not possible at all then pinning the recycle bin to quick access would probably be the next best thing. It's just weird how it shows when typing shell:Desktop in the address bar.

[pyrates999]

They're both the same.

[mattm3]

They're very different. The desktop pinned in quick access by default in Windows 11 only shows files you have on your desktop whereas shell:Desktop shows a lot more. See screenshot of shell:Desktop on Windows 11 below.

[pyrates999]

Are you talking about pinning the desktop or pinning the recycle bin?

[mattm3]

Thanks, I did actually try that before but I'm unable to pin it to quick access which is annoying

[pyrates999]

Setup a toolbar on the windows 10 (explorerpatcher) taskbar. Then you can drag and drop the shortcut to there. There's lots of tutorials on how to setup a toolbar on windows 10 and earlier that you can use.

[mattm3]

I'm not keen on adding toolbars to the taskbar. I don't think my exact requirements are possible unfortunately.

[pyrates999]

Well I found the registry location of where you can set the default location that you start out on when opening file explorer: https://www.ninjaone.com/blog/change-folder-to-open-file-explorer-by-default/

Registry is: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Create a REG_DWORD named LaunchTo and it supports the current values:

• 1 – This PC
• 2 – Quick Access

Tried it with 3 for downloads seemed to work for me. But 0, and 4-10 did not work.

[mattm3]

That's cool, I tried it and it works with 1-3 like you say. I'm OK with it opening to This PC though.