How to Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows 11/10/8/7?

Summary: If you are facing issues with the Recycle Bin on your Windows PC, it might have gone corrupt. There are multiple ways to fix a corrupted Recycle Bin on Windows 11/10/8/7. You’ll find all the effective methods in this blog, along with the method to recover any data lost on your PC.

Recycle Bin is one of the most ignored utilities on Windows, and not because it?s rarely used. Rather, it’s one of the most used utilities. However, the whole operation of sending deleted files to the Recycle Bin it?s so simple that we seldom notice how frequently we use it. The Recycle Bin is designed to store any data deleted on a Windows 11/10/8/7 PC, whether deliberately or accidentally.

It?s like the first line of defense against data loss. But what if the Recycle Bin gets corrupt? It undoubtedly is troublesome for most of us. If you see a message saying ‘The Recycle Bin on C is corrupted,’ you must act immediately. However, you can fix a corrupt Recycle Bin in multiple ways. Let us know how.

What?s the reason for corrupt Recycle Bin on Windows?

There are multiple reasons that can result in a corrupted Recycle Bin on your Windows PC. However, the major reasons behind a corrupt recycle bin are:

• A corrupt Dynamic Link Library file (DLL file) may hinder multitasking on Windows and render the Recycle Bin corrupted.
• Error in the system folder $Recycle.bin can cause corruption of Recycle Bin.
• An abrupt system shutdown or power outage can also cause Recycle Bin corruption.
• Error in storage drive causing a corrupted Recycle Bin.
• Manual errors and virus/malware attacks can also corrupt your Recycle Bin.

How to fix a corrupted Recycle Bin?

Whatever the reason for a corrupted Recycle Bin, you can fix it using one of the following methods. However, it is better to take a backup of your data as some of these processes might permanently remove the data stored in the Recycle Bin.

Fix 1: Use the CHKDSK utility to repair the Windows storage device

CHKDSK is a powerful utility of Windows 11/10/8/7 OS. It scans and fixes the system errors. You can run chkdsk from Command Prompt or Powershell to fix the logical system errors through a single command. Let?s see how it works.

Step 1: Click Windows + X or right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).

Note: If you want to use Command Prompt, type cmd in the search box and click the Run as Admin option under the first search result.

Step 2: Type the command chkdsk X: /R in the command line and press Enter.

Note: Replace the letter X in the above command with the letter of the corrupted drive.

Step 3: Let the process complete. CHKDSK will scan your drive for errors and fix them if found.

Step 4: Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

Fix 2: Run SFC to repair system files

While chkdsk is useful if you are sure about the corrupted drive, SFC allows you to scan and repair all the system files irrespective of the drive. Follow the steps below to run SFC on your PC.

Step 1: Open the Command Prompt utility on your Windows PC.

Step 2: Type the command sfc /scannow in the command line.

Step 3: Press Enter. SFC will automatically scan and fix the corrupt system files.

Fix 3: Use File Explorer to reset Recycle Bin

You can also get rid of the corrupted Recycle Bin error by resetting the Recycle Bin. To do so, you must use another built-in utility, File explorer, on your Windows PC. Here is how to do it.

Caution: This will delete all the Recycle Bin data. Although you can get back your data using the bonus tip at the end of this blog.

Step 1: Type ctrl in the search bar and open the Control panel.

Step 2: Locate the File Explorer Options and open it.

Step 3: Click the View tab in the new window. Uncheck the box against the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) option and click Apply.

Step 4: Open File Explorer by searching it in the search box. Type the path C:\$Recycle.Bin in the navigation bar and hit Enter.

Step 5: Delete the content of the folder and Restart your PC.

Fix 4: Reset Recycle Bin using Command Prompt

Command Prompt is a very useful utility that provides multiple ways to fix almost any problem on your Windows PC. But be careful while using the Command line, as any wrong command may render your system unusable. Follow the steps very closely to reset the corrupted Recycle Bin.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt with Admin privileges.

Step 2: Enter the command rd /s /q X:\$Recycle.bin and press Enter.

Note: Replace the letter X in the above command with the letter of the drive whose Recycle Bin is corrupted.

Step 3: Let the process complete and Restart your PC.

Fix 5: Scan your PC for viruses or malware

If none of the methods discussed above have worked for you, there are chances that an external intrusion is corrupting the Recycle Bin. You can scan your system for viruses and malware using the Windows Security app. Follow the steps below.

Step 1: Search for Windows Security in the search box and open the app.

Step 2: Click Virus & threat protection > Scan Options.

Step 3: Click Windows Defender Offline Scan > Scan Now.

Windows Defender will scan your PC for any threats and restart your PC. You can check the scan results from Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Protection history.

Bonus Tip: Recover data lost from a corrupted Recycle Bin

You might have noticed that resetting the Recycle Bin will cause the loss of data stored in the bin. However, it?s not difficult to get back the data lost while fixing the corrupt Recycle Bin. You can use the Stellar Data Recovery for Windows to get all the lost or deleted data on your Windows 11/10/8/7 PC.

This powerful software can recover data from formatted, corrupted, encrypted, and 4K drives. The easy-to-use UI makes it an efficient DIY tool that works in three simple steps. Therefore, you don?t need to worry about how to recover data using Stellar Data Recovery. Instead, you can install the software and follow the user-friendly steps to get back your data.

Conclusion

It is of utmost importance that the Recycle Bin on your Windows PC remains intact. You deal with plenty of data in the form of documents, photos, videos, and much more daily.

Once you are done with the data, you press the Delete button, and it’s gone. But thanks to Recycle Bin, which secures the deleted data for some more time, you can retrieve it if you change your mind.

We hope you have resolved the issue of corrupted Recycle Bin using the methods discussed above. Do comment your thoughts and let us know which method worked for you.

FAQ

1. How do I know if my Recycle Bin is corrupted?

If your Recycle Bin is corrupted, you?ll face various issues related to it. For example, you won?t be able to empty the recycle bin; deleted files won?t show up in the recycle bin, etc. In addition, if you face any issue related to the recycle bin?s normal functions, you may deduce that it is corrupted.

2. How do I restore Recycle Bin on Windows 11?

If you are using Windows 11 or 10, you can easily reinstall the Recycle Bin. Click Settings > Personalization > Themes. Now click the Desktop icons settings. Check the Recycle Bin checkbox and click Apply. The Recycle Bin icon will appear on the desktop.

3. Can we recover permanently deleted files in Windows 11?

Using reliable data recovery software, you can easily recover any permanently deleted files on Windows 11. The software can fully retrieve any file type lost in any situation in 3 simple DIY steps.

Related Post