This tutorial will show you how to add Permanently delete to the context menu of files and folders for all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
The Recycle Bin provides a safety net when deleting files or folders. When you delete any of these items from a drive, Windows places it in the Recycle Bin and the Recycle Bin icon changes from empty to full.
If you delete a file or folder that's larger than the set maximum storage size of the drive's recycle bin, a This file is too big to recycle. Do you want to permanently delete it? confirmation dialog will always display.
You can manually permanently delete a file without sending it to the Recycle Bin by selecting the file and pressing the Shift + Delete keys.
You can set to always don't move files to the Recycle Bin of a drive when deleted, and permanently delete the files immediately instead.
If wanted, you can add Permanently delete to the context menu of files and folders to make it easier to permanently delete selected items on demand without having to do the above.
While you must be signed in as an administrator to add and remove the Permanently delete context menu, all users can use the context menu.
EXAMPLE: "Permanently delete" context menu and confirmation
You will need to click/tap on Show more options first by default, then click/tap on Permanently delete.
When you click/tap on Permanently delete, you will be prompted to confirm before the selected item(s) are permanently deleted.
Here's How:
1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.
2 Add Permanently Delete Context Menu
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Add_Permanently_delete_to_context_menu.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shell\Windows.PermanentDelete]
"CommandStateSync"=""
"ExplorerCommandHandler"="{E9571AB2-AD92-4ec6-8924-4E5AD33790F5}"
"Icon"="shell32.dll,-240"
"Position"="Bottom"3 Remove Permanently Delete Context Menu
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Remove_Permanently_delete_from_context_menu.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shell\Windows.PermanentDelete]4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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