Intended For Windows XP Windows 2003 Windows 2000 Windows Me Windows 98 Windows 95

To add the Rename option to the Recycle Bin's context menu (all Windows except XP):

• Download the Rename Recycle Bin Registry Patch (1k)
• Double-click on add rename to recycle bin.reg to make the change - it should take effect immediately.
• You'll then be able to rename the Recycle Bin the same way you rename any file (such as right-clicking on it and selecting Rename)
• You can also double-click on add delete to recycle bin.reg to add the delete item as well (see Get Rid of the Recycle Bin for more information).

To manually rename the Recycle Bin (all Windows except XP):

• Run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE).
• Open HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ CLSID\ {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} (you can also select Find from the Edit menu, and search for "Recycle Bin.")
• Double-click (Default), and type the new name.
• Press OK and then close the Registry Editor.
• Click on the desktop, and press F5 to refresh the desktop so that this change will take effect. (More information.)

• Note: Norton Utilities also includes a feature to make it easy to change the name or the icon for the Recycle Bin, but it's not as nice as the first solution here.

• Note: This setting can also be changed with TweakUI.

To manually rename the Recycle Bin (Windows XP only):

• Right-click the Recycle Bin icon and select Properties.

Written by: Annoyances.org
Last updated: Wednesday, February 7, 2007

Previous discussions about this article:
(open a message to see applicable responses, if any)

• [Windows 2000] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (Simon: Monday, September 3, 2001)
• [Windows XP] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (Steven J. Chaikin: Monday, November 12, 2001)
• [Windows XP] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (Morpheus: Thursday, December 6, 2001)
• [Windows ME] Comment about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (DAT: Wednesday, December 12, 2001)
• [Windows 2000] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (ram: Friday, May 17, 2002)
• [Windows XP] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (Eric: Wednesday, June 12, 2002)
• [Windows XP] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (Bob: Sunday, June 16, 2002)
• [Windows XP] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (Bob: Monday, June 17, 2002)
• [Windows XP] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (Steve: Thursday, August 15, 2002)
• [Windows XP] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (Ev Webber: Monday, September 9, 2002)
• [Windows XP] 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (Adrian Kentleton: Thursday, February 13, 2003)
• [Windows Me] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (Dingus: Monday, March 24, 2003)
• [Windows XP] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (steve: Thursday, June 19, 2003)
• [Windows XP] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (Eric aka the Arrogant Bastard: Thursday, June 26, 2003)
• [Windows XP] 'Rename the Recycle Bin' - how in XP? (ezfig: Thursday, August 28, 2003)
• [Windows XP] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (lane: Tuesday, August 31, 2004)
• [Windows 98] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (Chris: Wednesday, September 1, 2004)
• [Windows XP] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (Gayle: Saturday, September 18, 2004)
• [Windows Me] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (brian: Wednesday, December 15, 2004)
• [Windows XP] Easily Rename the Recycle Bin Like Any Other File (Tony: Sunday, April 24, 2005)
• [Windows XP] Retrieving files deleted from the Recycle Bin (Nikki: Friday, June 24, 2005)
• [Windows XP] Question about 'Rename the Recycle Bin' (|_ [] |? [) }{ /-\ |\| `|` ]-[ |? /-\ }{: Thursday, September 1, 2005)