How to Rename the Recycle Bin Using Regedit

Customizing the name of the Windows Recycle Bin is a simple way to personalize your desktop interface. While Windows does not always allow direct renaming via the right-click context menu depending on system settings, you can permanently change the icon’s display text by editing specific registry string values in the Windows Registry Editor (Regedit).

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

  1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type regedit into the field and press Enter or click OK.
  3. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control (UAC).

Step 2: Navigate to the Recycle Bin Key

In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following registry path using the left sidebar, or copy and paste it directly into the address bar at the top:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-1016-9F08-00AA002F954E}

Step 3: Modify the String Values

  1. Locate the (Default) string value in the right pane.
  2. Double-click (Default) to open the Edit String window.
  3. In the Value data field, type the new name you want for the Recycle Bin (for example, Trash or Wastebasket), then click OK.
  4. Next, look for the string value named LocalizedString in the same pane.
  5. Double-click LocalizedString, delete the existing value data, enter the exact same new name you chose in the previous step, and click OK.

Step 4: Apply the Changes

  1. Close the Registry Editor.
  2. Go to your desktop and press F5 (or right-click an empty area and select Refresh).
  3. If the name does not change immediately, open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), select Windows Explorer from the Processes list, and click Restart.