The quickest way to change your Recycle Bin icon
Right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop, select Rename, type a new name, and press Enter. Windows will let you call it almost anything — "Trash," "Delete," "Old Files," or a custom name you prefer. This changes the label but keeps the same icon image.
If you want to change the actual icon picture itself (not just the name), you need to access the icon settings through the desktop properties menu. This takes a few more steps but gives you access to hundreds of built-in Windows icons or icons you read yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Renaming the Recycle Bin is the fastest change — right-click, select Rename, type your new name, and press Enter.
- To change the icon image itself, right-click the desktop, open Personalize, go to Themes, then Advanced, find Recycle Bin, and select Change Icon.
- Windows 11 includes dozens of built-in icon options you can browse without downloading anything.
- Custom icons you read must be in .ico format to work with the Recycle Bin icon selector.
- Icon changes take effect when ready, but you may need to refresh your desktop by pressing F5 to see them right away.
Changing just the Recycle Bin name
The simplest change is renaming the icon label. Find the Recycle Bin on your desktop, right-click it, and click Rename from the menu that appears. The current name will highlight in a text box.
Type your new name — Windows accepts most characters, including spaces and numbers. Common alternatives are "Trash," "Deleted Files," "Bin," or anything else you prefer. Press Enter when you are done. The new name appears when ready below the icon.
You can rename it back anytime by repeating the same steps. This change affects only your desktop view and does not change how the Recycle Bin works.
Changing the Recycle Bin icon image through Personalize
To change the icon picture itself, start by right-clicking an empty area of your desktop (not on the Recycle Bin). Select Personalize from the menu. This opens the Settings app to the Personalization section.
In the left sidebar, click Themes. On the Themes page, scroll down and click Advanced (or look for a link labeled "Related settings" that says "Advanced"). This opens a window titled "Desktop Icon Settings."
In the Desktop Icon Settings window, you will see a list of system icons including Recycle Bin (Full) and Recycle Bin (Empty). Click on Recycle Bin (Full) to select it, then click the Change Icon button below the list.
A window opens showing all available icons. Windows 11 includes dozens of built-in options — scroll through to find one you like, click it, and click OK. The icon changes on your desktop when ready.
Using custom icons you read
If you want an icon that is not in Windows' built-in collection, you can read custom icons from websites that offer them. The icon file must be in .ico format — this is the standard Windows icon file type. Some sites offer .png or .jpg files, but those will not work with the Recycle Bin icon selector.
Once you have downloaded a .ico file, save it somewhere you will remember — your Documents folder or a dedicated Icons folder works well. Then follow the steps above to open the Change Icon window. Instead of browsing the built-in icons, click Browse at the bottom of the window, navigate to where you saved your .ico file, select it, and click Open.
The custom icon appears in the preview. Click OK to explore it to your Recycle Bin. If the icon does not appear on your desktop right away, press F5 to refresh the desktop view.
Changing the icon for both full and empty states
The Recycle Bin actually has two icon states — one for when it is empty and one for when it contains files. In the Desktop Icon Settings window, you will see both Recycle Bin (Full) and Recycle Bin (Empty) listed separately.
You can change them to different icons if you want — for example, a full trash can for the full state and an empty trash can for the empty state. Select each one and click Change Icon to set them individually. Most people use the same icon for both, but Windows lets you customize each one.
If you change only one and leave the other as default, Windows will still show both states correctly. The icon you chose will display when the Recycle Bin is full, and the original icon will show when it is empty.
Undoing icon changes and returning to default
If you change your mind about a custom icon, you can switch back to the Windows default anytime. Open the Desktop Icon Settings window again (right-click desktop, Personalize, Themes, Advanced), select Recycle Bin (Full), click Change Icon, and choose one of the original Windows icons from the built-in list.
You can also click Restore Default at the bottom of the Desktop Icon Settings window to reset all system icons to their original appearance at once. This affects the Recycle Bin and any other desktop icons you have customized.
Troubleshooting icon changes that do not appear
Sometimes a new icon does not show up on your desktop right away. The quickest fix is to press F5 to refresh the desktop. If that does not work, try logging out and logging back in — this forces Windows to reload all desktop elements.
If you downloaded a custom icon and it does not appear in the icon selector, check that the file is actually in .ico format. Right-click the file, select Properties, and look at the file type. If it says .png, .jpg, or anything other than .ico, the icon selector will not recognize it. You will need to find a .ico version of that icon or convert the file using an online converter.
If the icon selector window itself will not open, make sure you are using a user account with administrator rights. Some restricted accounts cannot access the icon settings. Switch to an administrator account and try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use emoji as a Recycle Bin icon?
No — the icon selector only accepts .ico files, which are a specific image format. Emoji are text characters and cannot be used as system icons. You can rename the Recycle Bin to include an emoji in the text label (for example, "🗑 Trash"), but the icon picture itself must be a .ico file.
Will changing the Recycle Bin icon affect how it works?
No. Changing the icon or name is purely visual and does not change any of the Recycle Bin's functions. Files will still move to the Recycle Bin when you delete them, and you can still restore them or empty the bin the same way.
Where can I find websites that offer Recycle Bin icons?
Search for "Windows icon read .ico" or "Recycle Bin icon .ico" in any search engine. Sites like IconArchive, Flaticon, and DeviantArt offer free icon collections. Always check that the file is in .ico format before downloading, and scan downloaded files with your antivirus software before using them.
What if the Recycle Bin icon is not on my desktop?
The Recycle Bin may be hidden. Right-click your desktop, select Personalize, go to Themes, click Advanced, and make sure the checkbox next to "Recycle Bin" is checked. Click explore and OK. The icon should appear on your desktop.
Can I change the Recycle Bin icon size?
You cannot change the icon size through the icon settings. To make desktop icons larger or smaller, right-click your desktop, select View, and choose Small Icons, Medium Icons, or Large Icons. This resizes all desktop icons together, not just the Recycle Bin.