External HDD's weird $RECYCLE.BIN folder behavior


Spunk said:
Doing a Disk Cleanup, or in System/System/Storage/Storage Sense/Cleanup Recommendations and deleting all temp files should empty it.
Click to expand...
If you delete a file from your External HDD and then disconnect it before emptying the Recycle Bin, the files still remain in $RecycleBin. When you reconnect it and then Empty the Recycle Bin on the C: drive, it will not empty the $RecycleBin. You have to use Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense to empty that Recycle bin.
Or be sure to Empty the Recycle bin before disconnecting your external HDD.
 

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rodrigez said:
Windows maintains a separate Recycle Bin for each storage device connected to your computer. This means that when you delete a file from your external HDD, it gets moved to the $RECYCLE.BIN folder on that particular drive, not to the Recycle Bin on your internal drive.
Click to expand...

It doesn't to it with USB flash drives or microSD cards and why does the desktop's Recycle Bin fill up when deleting files from external HDDs? I thought the desktop's Recycline Bin was the PC's internal disc's, not the external HDD's or other drives' as well.

Spunk said:
If you delete a file from your External HDD and then disconnect it before emptying the Recycle Bin, the files still remain in $RecycleBin. When you reconnect it and then Empty the Recycle Bin on the C: drive, it will not empty the $RecycleBin. You have to use Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense to empty that Recycle bin.
Or be sure to Empty the Recycle bin before disconnecting your external HDD.
Click to expand...

But I thought the desktop's Recycle Bin was always the PC's internal disc's, not the external HDD's or other drives' as well. Also, how can Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense delete files from the external HDD when it's not connected?
 

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Windows 11 User said:
...I thought the desktop's Recycle Bin was the PC's internal disc's, not the external HDD's or other drives' as well.

....I thought the desktop's Recycle Bin was always the PC's internal disc's, not the external HDD's or other drives' as well. Also, how can Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense delete files from the external HDD when it's not connected?
Click to expand...
A deleted file stays on the drive it was deleted from, it is moved to that drive's $RECYCLE.BIN. The Recycle Bin is not a real folder, it is a meta folder that is a composite view of all the actual $RECYCLE.BIN folders on each of the attached drives.

If you eject an attached external HDD then its $RECYCLE.BIN contents will no longer appear in Recycle Bin.

1725558994912.png
 

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    UPDATE - 11 April 2026: due to lid hinges starting to break up this laptop has been retired from active duty. The OS with all software and files has been migrated to my System Seven in 'Other systems' to carry on as my general purpose 'main machine'.

    I've now clean installed 25H2 and used Garlin's scripts to update Secure Boot to CA 2023 and revoke the PCA 2011 certificates. It's new role is to test secure boot issues.

    Info for 2021-2026:
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2, and 25H2 on 30th September 2025 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 25H2.

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    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround.

    In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround.
    Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.
    In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media.
    Upgraded to 25H2 by Enablement Package.

    Also running Insider Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds and Windows 10 as native boot .vhdx.
  • My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR was a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (1st gen) type 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device. This has now been sold. It has been replaced by my System Eight.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 1TB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro, Hyper-V host machine. Updated to 25H2 on 30th September 2025.

    My SYSTEM SEVEN is a Lenovo Thinkpad T580, 1920x1080 touchscreen, Intel Core i7-8650U, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD + 2nd 512GB NVMe SSD, a supported device for Windows 11. This is my current general purpose 'main machine'. The installed Windows 11 Home from my System One has been migrated to this machine. As its new home has an existing digital licence for Pro I've been able to upgrade the migrated OS from Home to Pro.

    My SYSTEM EIGHT is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (5th gen) type 20LN, Celeron N4120, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, a supported device for Windows 11. Currently running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds as native boot vhdx.
Bree said:
A deleted file stays on the drive it was deleted from, it is moved to that drive's $RECYCLE.BIN. The Recycle Bin is not a real folder, it is a meta folder that is a composite view of all the actual $RECYCLE.BIN folders on each of the attached drives.

If you eject an attached external HDD then its $RECYCLE.BIN contents will no longer appear in Recycle Bin.

View attachment 107429
Click to expand...

Where did you read the latter? And I'm pretty sure I emptied the Recycle Bin before disconnecting the external HDD and I still had this issue, even without ejecting it because I don't need to since I have that setting enabled where I can disconbect USB drives without doing it and losing data.
 

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MSI Katana 15 B12VGK
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Intel Core i7-12650H
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Intel UHD Graphics + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU 8 GB GDDR6
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Windows 11 User said:
Where did you read the latter?
Click to expand...
I didn't read the latter, I went to the trouble of testing it and taking screenshots. My screenshot in post #24 has two File Explorer views of my Recycle Bin, the upper one was opened before ejecting the External F: drive. The lower one shows the Recycle Bin after ejecting it, only the deleted file from the C: drive can be seen. Plug the F: drive back in and refresh the view, the deleted file from F: returns.
 

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    Windows 11 HomeAMD Athlon Silver 3050U8GBRadeon Graphics
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    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23-R9VY
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    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
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    8GB
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    Radeon Graphics
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    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD (from April 2026: 250GB EVO 850)
    Internet Speed
    150 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    UPDATE - 11 April 2026: due to lid hinges starting to break up this laptop has been retired from active duty. The OS with all software and files has been migrated to my System Seven in 'Other systems' to carry on as my general purpose 'main machine'.

    I've now clean installed 25H2 and used Garlin's scripts to update Secure Boot to CA 2023 and revoke the PCA 2011 certificates. It's new role is to test secure boot issues.

    Info for 2021-2026:
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2, and 25H2 on 30th September 2025 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 25H2.

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProIntel® Core™ i5-520M8GB(integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
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    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
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    1366x768
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    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
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    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround.

    In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround.
    Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.
    In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media.
    Upgraded to 25H2 by Enablement Package.

    Also running Insider Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds and Windows 10 as native boot .vhdx.
  • My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR was a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (1st gen) type 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device. This has now been sold. It has been replaced by my System Eight.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 1TB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro, Hyper-V host machine. Updated to 25H2 on 30th September 2025.

    My SYSTEM SEVEN is a Lenovo Thinkpad T580, 1920x1080 touchscreen, Intel Core i7-8650U, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD + 2nd 512GB NVMe SSD, a supported device for Windows 11. This is my current general purpose 'main machine'. The installed Windows 11 Home from my System One has been migrated to this machine. As its new home has an existing digital licence for Pro I've been able to upgrade the migrated OS from Home to Pro.

    My SYSTEM EIGHT is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (5th gen) type 20LN, Celeron N4120, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, a supported device for Windows 11. Currently running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds as native boot vhdx.
Bree said:
I didn't read the latter, I went to the trouble of testing it and taking screenshots. My screenshot in post #24 has two File Explorer views of my Recycle Bin, the upper one was opened before ejecting the External F: drive. The lower one shows the Recycle Bin after ejecting it, only the deleted file from the C: drive can be seen. Plug the F: drive back in and refresh the view, the deleted file from F: returns.
Click to expand...

I just confirmed I still have this issue even after ejecting the drive, not to mention it shouldn't be needed to do it in the latest Windows versions since it's no longer dangerous to disconnect the drive if having said setting selected (which is enabled by default), unless the drive is being used when doing it.
 

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Windows 11Intel Core i7-12650H16 GB (2x8 GB) DDR5-4800MHz SO-DIMMIntel UHD Graphics + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ...
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
MSI Katana 15 B12VGK
CPU
Intel Core i7-12650H
Memory
16 GB (2x8 GB) DDR5-4800MHz SO-DIMM
Graphics Card(s)
Intel UHD Graphics + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU 8 GB GDDR6
Monitor(s) Displays
15.6" Full HD (1920x1080) 144Hz Refresh Rate 16:9 IPS Display
Screen Resolution
1920x1080p
Hard Drives
SSD 1 TB NVMe PCIe Gen 4x4
PSU
240 W Power Supply
Case
Core Black
Cooling
Cooler Boost 5
Keyboard
Backlit keyboard with numeric keypad and PT-PT layout
Internet Speed
500 Mbps
Browser
Google Chrome
Windows 11 User said:
I just confirmed I still have this issue even after ejecting the drive....
Click to expand...
If you already had Recycle Bin open, then after removing the external drive you'll still see it's deleted files in the Recycle Bin. That's because File Explorer doesn't automatically refresh its view. They should disappear if you click the Refresh icon.

1725580076066.png
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeAMD Athlon Silver 3050U8GBRadeon Graphics
    OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23-R9VY
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD (from April 2026: 250GB EVO 850)
    Internet Speed
    150 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    UPDATE - 11 April 2026: due to lid hinges starting to break up this laptop has been retired from active duty. The OS with all software and files has been migrated to my System Seven in 'Other systems' to carry on as my general purpose 'main machine'.

    I've now clean installed 25H2 and used Garlin's scripts to update Secure Boot to CA 2023 and revoke the PCA 2011 certificates. It's new role is to test secure boot issues.

    Info for 2021-2026:
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2, and 25H2 on 30th September 2025 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 25H2.

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProIntel® Core™ i5-520M8GB(integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround.

    In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround.
    Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.
    In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media.
    Upgraded to 25H2 by Enablement Package.

    Also running Insider Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds and Windows 10 as native boot .vhdx.
  • My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR was a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (1st gen) type 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device. This has now been sold. It has been replaced by my System Eight.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 1TB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro, Hyper-V host machine. Updated to 25H2 on 30th September 2025.

    My SYSTEM SEVEN is a Lenovo Thinkpad T580, 1920x1080 touchscreen, Intel Core i7-8650U, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD + 2nd 512GB NVMe SSD, a supported device for Windows 11. This is my current general purpose 'main machine'. The installed Windows 11 Home from my System One has been migrated to this machine. As its new home has an existing digital licence for Pro I've been able to upgrade the migrated OS from Home to Pro.

    My SYSTEM EIGHT is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (5th gen) type 20LN, Celeron N4120, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, a supported device for Windows 11. Currently running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds as native boot vhdx.
Bree said:
If you already had Recycle Bin open, then after removing the external drive you'll still see it's deleted files in the Recycle Bin. That's because File Explorer doesn't automatically refresh its view. They should disappear if you click the Refresh icon.

View attachment 107464
Click to expand...

I don't have it opened when deleting files from the external HDD or the internal disc and even after clicking the refresh icon, the Recycle Bin is still filled. Why doesn't File Explorer automatically refresh its view, by the way? Every time I delete a file or folder from the Documents folder (e.g.), I have to click the F5 key (for instance) for them to disappear.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11Intel Core i7-12650H16 GB (2x8 GB) DDR5-4800MHz SO-DIMMIntel UHD Graphics + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ...
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
MSI Katana 15 B12VGK
CPU
Intel Core i7-12650H
Memory
16 GB (2x8 GB) DDR5-4800MHz SO-DIMM
Graphics Card(s)
Intel UHD Graphics + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU 8 GB GDDR6
Monitor(s) Displays
15.6" Full HD (1920x1080) 144Hz Refresh Rate 16:9 IPS Display
Screen Resolution
1920x1080p
Hard Drives
SSD 1 TB NVMe PCIe Gen 4x4
PSU
240 W Power Supply
Case
Core Black
Cooling
Cooler Boost 5
Keyboard
Backlit keyboard with numeric keypad and PT-PT layout
Internet Speed
500 Mbps
Browser
Google Chrome
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