Tech News Today
  • Hardware
    • Motherboards
    • CPUs
    • Graphic Cards
    • RAM
    • SSDs
    • Computer Cases
    • Monitors
    • Peripherals
    • Power Supply Unit
    • PC Builds
    • Computer Tips
  • Software
  • Operating System
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
  • Gaming
  • Mobile
  • Console
  • More
    • Internet
    • Networking
    • Security
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Gadgets
    • Laptops
    • Reviews
    • How To
    • News
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Tech News Today
  • Hardware
    • Motherboards
    • CPUs
    • Graphic Cards
    • RAM
    • SSDs
    • Computer Cases
    • Monitors
    • Peripherals
    • Power Supply Unit
    • PC Builds
    • Computer Tips
  • Software
  • Operating System
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
  • Gaming
  • Mobile
  • Console
  • More
    • Internet
    • Networking
    • Security
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Gadgets
    • Laptops
    • Reviews
    • How To
    • News
Tech News Today
Home»Windows»How to Fix Recycle Bin Corrupted in Windows

How to Fix Recycle Bin Corrupted in Windows

Deep ShresthaBy Deep ShresthaDecember 11, 2022
recycle bin corrupted

Recycle bin uses the $Recycle.Bin folder from C drive to display deleted files across the drives on your system. If this $Recycle.Bin folder on any drive gets corrupted, you get the Recycle bin on X:\ is corrupted error.

As for why the $Recycle.Bin gets corrupted, there are many reasons. The recycle bin may get corrupted due to a corrupted DLL (Dynamic Link Library) file, or it may even occur due to malicious program on the system itself. 

Aside from that, abruptly shutting down a storage device or corrupted files in the $Recycle.bin folder are also possible causes of a corrupted recycle bin.

Table of Contents

  • How to fix a Corrupted Recycle Bin?
    • Reset Recycle Bin
    • Scan Disk Drives
    • Scan Your PC
    • Perform System Restore

How to fix a Corrupted Recycle Bin?

Talking about solutions, resetting the recycle bin folder should fix the issue with your recycle bin. In case it does not, you may need to perform some other fixes. So, without further delay, let us get right into it.

Reset Recycle Bin

Resetting will remove all data inside $Recycle.bin, and it even removes the file that is causing the corrupted error message. Deleting the $Recycle.bin folder will reset your recycle bin. However, accessing this folder is not quite simple.

You will either need to remove it using the command prompt or make the recycle bin visible and then remove it from the file explorer options.

Reset Using Command Prompt

  1. Press the Windows + R key to open Run.
  2. Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt as Admin.
    open run recycle bin corrupted
  3. Type rd /s /q X:\$Recycle.bin and press Enter.
    Replace X with the drive letter that is on the error message. 
  4. If the command does not work, type rd /s /q C:\$Recycle.bin and press Enter. 
    delete corrupted recycle bin

rd Is the command to remove the directory.
/s Removes anything inside the selected directory.
/q Disables any confirmation messages and removes the data.

Reset From File Explorer

By default, File explorer will not display protected Operating System files. Therefore, you will need to disable some settings to make these files visible.

  1. Press the Windows + R key to open Run.
  2. Type control folders and press Enter to open File Explorer Options.
    control folders recylce bin corrupted
  3. Go to the View tab.
  4. Under Hidden files and folders, check Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
  5. Scroll down and uncheck Hide protected operating system files(Recommended).
    show protected os files recycle bin corrupted
  6. Click on Apply and then OK to show all hidden OS files.
  7. Now, press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
  8. Open This PC and open the drive that is shown in the error message. Here, you should see the $Recycle.bin folder.
    recycle bin folder corrupted recycle bin
  9. Select this folder and press Shift + Delete to reset the Recycle bin.
  10. If that does not work, simply Shift + Delete the $Recycle.bin folder from the C drive.

Scan Disk Drives

If resetting the recycle bin does not work, a corrupted sector on your storage device might be the reason behind a corrupted recycle bin. Your OS might be using a certain sector on your storage device as a storage unit for the recycle bin.

If this sector gets corrupted, your recycle bin may likely get damaged as well. To fix this, you can try scanning your disk drives.

  1. Press the Windows + R key to open Run.
  2. Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt as admin.
    open run recycle bin corrupted
  3. Now, type chkdsk <volume>: /r. Replace <volume> with the USB drive letter.
    run chkdsk recyclebin corrupted

Once the process ends, Command Prompt will give you a detailed status report about the scan. Alternatively, you can also scan disk drives from file explorer itself.

  1. Press the Windows + E key to open File Explorer.
  2. Go to This PC.
  3. Right-click on the drive, which is giving the recycle bin error, and select properties.
    drive properties recycle bin corrupted
  4. Go to the Tools tab and click on Check.
    error checking recycle bin corrupted
  5. Click on Scan drive to scan the selected drive.

Scan Your PC

Malicious files on your PC could also be the cause of the error message. In such a case, you need to remove these files right away. In Windows, you can perform a full system scan using Virus and Threat Protection to detect and remove any malicious files or applications from the computer.

In our case, you can either scan the drive that is causing the recycle bin error. If that does not work, try running Virus and Threat protection in C drive. If that does not work you can also perform a full scan.

  1. Press the Windows + R key to open Run.
  2. Type windowsdefender: and press Enter to open Windows Security.
    windows defender recycle bin corrupted
  3. Click on Virus or Threat Protection.
  4. Select Scan options.
    virus and threat protection recycle bin corrupted
  5. Check Custom scan and then press Scan now.
    custom scan recycle bin corrupted
  6. Now, browse the drive which you want to scan and press Select Folder.

Once the scan completes, it will display any threat and possible action that needs to be taken to fix the issue.

Perform System Restore

If none of the solutions works, you can try restoring your system to the previous version. However, this solution will only work if you have previously set a restore point.

The restore point acts as a snapshot of the computer at a certain point. Now when you restore the system, the PC reverts all the settings and configuration to the point of the snapshot. Therefore, if you had a restore point before you encountered this issue, you can revert your system to this state.

  1. Press the Windows + R key to open Run.
  2. Type rstrui and press Enter to open System Restore.
    rstrui recycle bin corrupted
  3. Click on Next.
  4. Select a Restore point and click Next.
  5. Confirm the restore point and click Finish.
    select restore point recycle bin corrupted
  6. Click on Yes if it asks for any confirmation.

Wait for the process to complete. Once the restore process finishes, check if the issue with the recycle bin is fixed.

fix
Deep Shrestha
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Deep Shrestha works as a computer hardware writer at TechNewsToday with several hardware and programming certifications. Although he has been writing technical content for more than a year, his interest in hardware components started at a very young age ever since he heard about PC building. Pursuing his passion, he has assembled several desktop computers. Besides building desktop PCs, Deep also has hands-on experience fixing software and hardware issues on laptops and desktop computers. Using all this knowledge and skills about computer hardware, he's on a quest to make content that's easy to read and understand for everyone. You can contact him at deep@technewstoday.com

Related Posts

how to delete win backup files

How to Delete Backup Files on Windows

January 29, 2023
how to reset password on hp laptop

How to Reset Password on HP Laptop

January 29, 2023
Reset BIOS password

4 Ways to Reset BIOS Password

January 28, 2023
how to make windows 11 look like windows 10

How to Make Windows 11 Look Like Windows 10

January 25, 2023
how to find hidden folder in laptop

How to Find Hidden Folder in Laptop

January 24, 2023
mouse not showing in chrome

Mouse Not Showing in Chrome? Here’s How to Fix It

January 25, 2023
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Latest Posts
how long does a cmos battery last

How Long Does a CMOS Battery Last

January 25, 2023
thunderbolt vs usb c

Thunderbolt Vs USB C: What’s the Difference

January 25, 2023
how to find hidden folder in laptop

How to Find Hidden Folder in Laptop

January 24, 2023
You may also like
how-to-connect-headphones-to-tv

5 Ways to Connect Headphones to TV

January 29, 2023
connect-airpods-to-samsung-tv

How to Connect AirPods to Samsung TV? (Step-by-Step Guide)

January 29, 2023
AIO Pump Not Working

AIO Pump Not Working? Here’s How to Fix It

January 29, 2023
Recommended
Cookie Clicker Garden Guide

Cookie Clicker Garden Guide to Unlocking Every Seed

September 26, 2021
monitor no signal

Computer Turns On But Monitor Says No Signal (9 Ways To Fix)

November 10, 2022
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
© 2023 TechNewsToday.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.