Recycle Bin Capacity and Auto Emptying

Do you have "Don't move files to recycle bin......" selected? You can check that by right-clicking the recycling bin and selecting Properties.

it seems the author's Windows computer is automatically cleaning up the recycle bine without the author's consent?

The recycle bin does not automatically empty itself under normal conditions.  When the cumulative size of the contents of the bin exceeds the space allocated, enough of the oldest files in the bin are deleted to make space for what is now being deleted.

This gets a bit complicated as the bin size is usually determined by Windows at install time as a percentage of the drive, but each drive's recycle bin size can be set individually.

Example:  Drive C is 40 GB in size and 10% of the drive is allocated to the recycle bin.  Up to 4 GB of files can be put into the bin before it will flush old files.  Drive D is also 40 GB in size but only 1% of the drive is allcoated to the recycle bin.  400 MB of files can be put into the bin before it will start flushing older files.

How much space should be allocated to the recycle bin is a matter of personal preference.  Remember that the only reason the recycle bin exists is to allow you later on to say "oops, shouldn't have deleted that" and get it back out of the bin.  If you never make this mistake then 1% is more than enough.  If you often recycle large files accidentally and want them back six weeks later then 25% of a drive might not be enough.

Under Windows 10 there is more control over when the recycle bin empties itself.

https://www.technipages.com/auto-empty-recycle-bin

There are issues with some add-ons such as Norton automatically emptying the recycle bin.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/stop-auto-empty-of-recycle/cf204439-a3ef-49d6-92bd-f01a5f2cc967

bbao

You are correct. That is my problem. The recycle bin empties itself on it's own.

is your Storage Sense option switched on? if yes, turn it off, as shown below.

D.Khlan
What is the correct maximum allocation space to the recycle bin? I was reading in one place as 5%. You mentioned couple of maximums 10% and 25%. Also, I do see the files that I had deleted at a given session when I go to the recycle binand I empty it when I see that it has any amount. But at times I leave it in the recycle bin not on purpose but next when I go to recycle bin then it is gone. My recycle bin set space is 25864 MB . Drive C is 464 GB. Which comes out to 0.0557=5.6%. How can I verify the recycle bin emptying frequency?
Under storage Sense I have it checked to be emptied every 30 days!!

Thank you,
Basem Khawaja, R.Ph.

Let's face it. The recycling bin should not be used for temporary storage of data. Even tools like Disk Cleanup has a selection to empty this space. If unsure, create a temp folder like "To Be Deleted" and move files there until absolutely not needed and at that point delete. 

Can someone address my questions please?

What is the correct maximum allocation space to the recycle bin? I was reading in one place as 5%. You mentioned couple of maximums 10% and 25%. Also, I do see the files that I had deleted at a given session when I go to the recycle binand I empty it when I see that it has any amount. But at times I leave it in the recycle bin not on purpose but next when I go to recycle bin then it is gone. My recycle bin set space is 25864 MB . Drive C is 464 GB. Which comes out to 0.0557=5.6%. How can I verify the recycle bin emptying frequency?

Under storage Sense I have it checked to be emptied every 30 days!!

Thank you,
Basem Khawaja, R.Ph.

Increase the minimum size so that you will be able to keep enough files to be deleted in 30 days.  That depends on the sizes of the files you are deleteding.

There is no correct minimum allocation size.  It's all up to your preference.  As mentioned, if you don't want it deleted, create another folder to put the files in  Manually delete them instead of sending it to the recycle bin.  I frequently do shift delete to bypass the recycle bin. I'm used to the command line world where a delete means you don't go to a recycle bin.

I still would like to know why does the recycle bin empty it self prior to the 30 days which I have checked in the storage sense? It empties it's self evry day without my manually emptying anything?

i guess the "30d days" option is for OneDrive only, not your local drive. please double check.

for the local drive, did you check how frequently you want Storage Sense to run? you can choose from Every Day, Every Week, Every Month and During Low Free Disk Space.

FYI -

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/storage-at-microsoft/windows-10-and-storage-sense/ba-p/428270

bbao
How do I check for my local drive?

One Drive indicates NEVER.

Storage Sense is turned on to run during Low Free Disk Space.

@Basem

can i know if your current Storage Sense settings are like below or anything different?

Exactly just like your screen capture.

do you see any unusual task, like the highlighted one below, in the Task Scheduler?

bbao

I looked at the Task Scheduler and there sems to be nothing unusual there.

okay. if possible,  try keeping working in Windows Safe Mode for 2+ days and see if the automatic cleaning issue still persists or not.

bbao

I am sorry. I am not able to use safe mode for that long. If you can't think of any other solution, just don't worry about it. Let me see if I can monitor the recycle bin manually and see if I can come up with what  frequency it is being emptied on my own.

Thank you my friend.

Hi Basem,

It's actually possible that this is happening as a result of some software you have installed and either run manually, or that runs automatically periodically that clears out the recycle bin.

Can you list any "maintenance" type software that you run on an occasional or regular basis?

Things like Ccleaner (just as one example,) will, unless configured not to, automatically empty the recycle bin each time it is run manually, or automatically if set to do it that way.

Regards, Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Good to hear from you my friend. I have MWB, Webroots Secure Anywhere, Carbonite, Foxit PDF, and Microsoft Office 365 Suite. That's all I have running or using most of the time.

Thank you,
Basem Khawaja

Hi Andrew,

You might be right. Let me take a look into the Webroots console and see if there is such function. I will let you know.

Thank you,
Basem Khawaja

Andrew you were right based on your comment Webroots
I think I found the culprit in emptying the recycle bin automatically. It was Webroots Secure Anywhere. System Optimizer was checked to empty the recycle bin every day at 0900. I unchecked it and I will see what happens next.

Thank you,
Basem Khawaja, R.Ph.

Hi Andrew,

Thank you very much for all the valuable information that you included in your post. I am learning alot from you. One day I will be just as good as you hopefullu when it comes to computers.

I wanted to ask you one more question if you can advise mon System Optimizer. What do you recommend that I turn it off completely and only use it when I need to. This is the problem. How do I know when to turn it on ? in other words, what would be the trigger for me to do so. Secondly, I am attaching screen capture of all the functions of System Optimizer. If I would to keep it on, what functions can be checked on and what needs to be turned off?  I went ahead and turned off the Windows and Systems Temporary Folders as you suggested in your post [as seen below] which I trust your judgement with my eyes closed.

""On your snapshot settings there, I'd also recommend taking the tick off the Windows and System Temporary folders. It may be useful to run them occasionally, but I'd recommend you only turn them on and then run them 'on-demand' when there is a reason to, rather than have them clear out those temp files automatically daily. Windows 10 self maintains itself to a certain extent, so doing too much regular maintenance can often be the cause of problems"".

Thank you Andrew,
Basem Khawaja, R.Ph.

Andrew,

You are one of a kind my friend! Thank God for you and your knowledge that you impart on many people who come to you for answers. I wish you straight A's in your UNI courses and graduate with honours. That's the least you deserve. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement to me. I probably would be 100 years old by the time I get to know what you know right now. BTW you are not OLD my friend:)

Thank you,
Basem Khawaja, R.Ph.

Thank you for your very kind words Basem. They are, as always, very much appreciated! :)

Regards, Andrew