How to open the Recycle Bin from the Windows command line?

Command line

On the command line, type

start shell:RecycleBinFolder

It is not case sensitive, so you can just type start shell:recyclebinfolder.

Run dialog

An alternative is to use the Run dialog (menu Start/Run or Win + R) - there is less to type. Type

shell:RecycleBinFolder

and press OK (or hit Enter).

It is portable!

This method works on all versions of Windows, at least back to Windows 2000.

(Depending on the OS and filesystem, the directory may be $Recycle.bin, Recycled, or Recycler.)

• To open the Recycle Bin window (showing deleted objects on all drives):

  C:\> start ::{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
  or
  C:\> start shell:RecycleBinFolder
  or
  C:\> start C:\$Recycle.bin
  
  

• To list deleted objects on a specific drive:

  C:\> dir /s/a <driveletter>:\$Recycle.Bin

  (NB, the original filenames will not be shown in this mode.)

You can open the Recycle Bin window by using its GUID:

explorer ::{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}