Keeping your Recycle Bin clean helps free up valuable disk space and keeps your system running smoothly. Windows 11 offers a convenient way to automatically clear the Recycle Bin using a built-in feature called Storage Sense. Here’s a simple guide to help you set it up.
- First, you’ll need to access the Windows Settings.
- Click on the Start button or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
- Select the gear icon to open the Settings app. Alternatively, you can press Windows + I to open Settings directly.
- Next, navigate to the storage management options.
- In the Settings window, click on System.
- From the left-hand menu, select Storage.
- Storage Sense is a feature that can automatically free up space on your computer by deleting unnecessary files, including those in the Recycle Bin.
- In the Storage settings, find the Storage Sense section.
- Toggle the switch to turn Storage Sense on.
- To customize how Storage Sense works, click on Storage Sense to access additional settings.
- Under Configure Storage Sense or run it now, click on the link.
- You will see various options for how Storage Sense operates.
- You can now configure how often you want Storage Sense to clear the Recycle Bin.
- Under Run Storage Sense, choose when you want it to run. You can select options like Every day, Every week, Every month, or During low free disk space.
- In the Delete files in my recycle bin if they have been there for over section, select the time period after which files in the Recycle Bin will be deleted automatically. Options include Never, 1 day, 14 days, 30 days, or 60 days.
Once you’ve set your preferences, Storage Sense will automatically clear the Recycle Bin according to the schedule you’ve specified.
Optional: Run Storage Sense Manually
If you want to clear the Recycle Bin immediately without waiting for the scheduled run, you can do so manually. To do this, in the Storage Sense settings, click on the Run Storage Sense now button.
Using Storage Sense to automatically clear the Recycle Bin in Windows 11 is a simple and effective way to maintain your system’s performance and free up disk space. By following the steps above, you can set up Storage Sense to run on a schedule that suits your needs, ensuring that your Recycle Bin is regularly emptied without any manual effort. This small adjustment can contribute to keeping your computer running smoothly and efficiently.