Top 6 Ways to Fix Recycle Bin Corrupted Error in Windows 11

The Recycle Bin is where all our unwanted files go when we hit the delete key. From there, you can either delete the files permanently or restore them. However, encountering the “Recycle Bin is corrupted” error on your Windows 11 system can prevent you from accessing your deleted files. Don’t worry, though, as this guide will show you how to resolve the issue.

If you’re encountering the “Recycle Bin is corrupted” error on your Windows 11 system, you can try emptying the Recycle Bin to free up space and potentially resolve the issue. And If that doesn’t work, a simple restart might help. If you’ve already tried these steps and the error persists, follow the fixes below for a more reliable resolution.

1. Repair Recycle Bin Using CHKDSK Utility

To repair the “Recycle Bin is corrupted” issue on your Windows 11 system using the CHKDSK utility, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Start button and search for “Windows PowerShell”.
2. Open Windows PowerShell from the search results.

3. Type the following command and press Enter:

chkdsk X: /R

Note: Replace the letter X with the drive letter where you’re encountering the corrupted Recycle Bin issue.

4. Wait for CHKDSK to complete the scanning and fixing process. If any errors are detected, CHKDSK will automatically repair them.
5. Once CHKDSK has finished, restart your Windows PC.

After restarting, try accessing the Recycle Bin again to see if the issue has been resolved. This method should help fix the corrupted Recycle Bin problem on your Windows 11 system.

2. Repairing Corrupted Recycle Bin Using System File Checker (SFC)

Like the CHKDSK utility, you can use the System File Checker (SFC) to scan and repair system files. SFC scans the entire system, which can help resolve issues like a corrupted Recycle Bin. Here’s how you can run SFC:

1. Open Command Prompt:
   • Click on the Start button.
   • Type cmd or Command Prompt in the search bar.
   • Right-click on Command Prompt from the search results and select Run as administrator.
2. Run the SFC Command:
   • In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
   • sfc /scannow
     
     
   • This command will initiate a system scan. The SFC tool will check for corrupted system files and attempt to repair them.
3. Wait for the Process to Complete:
   • The scan might take some time. Ensure that you do not interrupt the process.
   • Once the scan is complete, you will see a message indicating whether any issues were found and fixed.
4. Restart Your Computer:
   • After the scan and any necessary repairs are complete, restart your computer.

By following these steps, the System File Checker will scan your entire system for corrupted files and repair them, potentially resolving any issues with your Recycle Bin.

3. Delete and Reinstall the Recycle Bin

To resolve the “Recycle Bin is corrupted” issue on Windows 11 by deleting and reinstalling the Recycle Bin, follow these steps:

1. Show Hidden Files and Folders:
   • Open File Explorer (formerly known as File Manager).
   • Click on the three dots (ellipsis) at the top-right corner.
   • Select “Options” (gear icon).

2. Adjust Folder Options:
   • In the Folder Options window, click on the “View” tab.
   • Under “Advanced settings”, locate “Hidden files and folders”.
   • Select “Show hidden files, folders, and drives”.
   • Click “Apply” and then “OK”.

3. Navigate to the Recycle Bin Folder:
   • Now, navigate to the Recycle Bin folder. Type the following path into the address bar of File Explorer:
     C:\$Recycle.Bin
   • Press Enter to go to this folder.

3. Delete Contents of Recycle Bin:
   • Inside the $Recycle.Bin folder, delete all the contents. You can select them all and press Shift + Delete to bypass the Recycle Bin.
4. Restart Your PC:
   • After deleting the contents, restart your computer to apply the changes.
5. Re-enable the Recycle Bin:
   • Once your PC has restarted, right-click on your desktop and select “Personalize”.
     
     
   • Click on “Themes” in the left sidebar.
     
     
   • Under “Related settings”, click on “Desktop icon settings”.
     
     
   • In the Desktop Icon Settings window, ensure that “Recycle Bin” is enabled. If it’s already enabled, disable it and then re-enable it.
   • Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
     
     

This process should help clear any corruption in the Recycle Bin on your Windows 11 system, allowing you to use it normally again.

4. Reset Recycle Bin Using Command Prompt

Resetting the Recycle Bin using Command Prompt can help fix the corrupted Recycle Bin issue on your Windows system. Here’s how:

1. Open Command Prompt:
   • Click on the Start button.
   • Type cmd or Command Prompt in the search bar.
   • Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
2. Enter the Command:
   • In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
   • rd /s /q X:\$Recycle.bin
   • Note: Replace X with the letter of the drive where you are facing the issue (e.g., C for drive C).
     
     
3. Restart Your Computer:
   • After the command executes successfully, restart your computer.

This process will reset the Recycle Bin on the specified drive and resolve the corruption issue.

5. Scan Your PC for Viruses or Malware

If your Recycle Bin is facing issues due to malware, scanning and removing the malware can resolve the problem. Follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Security:
   • Click on the Start button.
   • Type Windows Security in the search bar and open it.
2. Access Virus & Threat Protection:
   • Click on Virus & threat protection.
     
     
3. Choose a Scan Option:
   • Select Quick scan or Full scan under the Current threats section.
4. Run the Scan:
   • Click on Scan now.
     
     
   • Wait for Windows Defender to scan your PC. If it finds any threats, it will prompt you to remove them.

Once the malware is neutralized, check if you can access the Recycle Bin.

6. Restore From a System Restore Point

Using a system restore point can help fix issues with the Recycle Bin. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Run Application:
   • Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog.
2. Open System Restore:
   • Type rstrui and hit Enter.

3. Choose a Restore Point:
   • In the System Restore window, select the oldest restore point available and click Next.

4. Restore Your System:
   • Click Finish to start the restoration process.

This will restore your system to a previous state and may resolve the Recycle Bin issue.

Delete Files with no worries!

It seems like you’re wrapping up your guide on fixing the Recycle Bin issue on Windows 11. If you need further assistance or have any questions, feel free to ask!