Cmd Empty Recycle Bin //top\\ Jun 2026

: To target only one drive, use: Clear-RecycleBin -DriveLetter C Comparison Table Command Prompt (CMD) PowerShell Command rd /s /q C:\$Recycle.bin Clear-RecycleBin -Force Safety Deletes the folder structure Built-in system function Complexity Manual per-drive execution One command for all drives User Prompt Suppressed with /q Suppressed with -Force Summary Table of Related Actions Bypass Recycle Bin Highlight a file and press Shift + Delete . Open Recycle Bin via CMD Type start shell:RecycleBinFolder . Check Bin Contents Use dir /s /a C:\$Recycle.bin .

If you are running a modern version of Windows, Microsoft has made this incredibly easy with a dedicated command. cmd empty recycle bin

Emptying the Recycle Bin using the command line is a quick way to clear system clutter, especially if the graphical interface is unresponsive or you are automating maintenance tasks. : To target only one drive, use: Clear-RecycleBin