Clear-RecycleBin

Reference

Module:: Microsoft.PowerShell.Management

Clears the contents of a recycle bin.

Syntax

Clear-RecycleBin
     [[-DriveLetter] <String[]>]
     [-Force]
     [-WhatIf]
     [-Confirm]
     [<CommonParameters>]

Description

This cmdlet is only available on the Windows platform.

The Clear-RecycleBin cmdlet deletes the content of a computer's recycle bin. This action is like using Windows Empty Recycle Bin.

This cmdlet was readded in PowerShell 7.

Examples

1: Clear all recycle bins

In this example, all the local computer's recycle bins are cleared.

Clear-RecycleBin

Confirm
Are you sure you want to perform this action?
Performing the operation "Clear-RecycleBin" on target "All of the contents of the Recycle Bin".
[Y] Yes  [A] Yes to All  [N] No  [L] No to All  [S] Suspend  [?] Help (default is "Y"):

Clear-RecycleBin prompts the user for confirmation to clear all recycle bins on the local computer.

2: Clear a specified recycle bin

This example clears the recycle bin for a specified drive letter.

Clear-RecycleBin -DriveLetter C

Clear-RecycleBin uses the DriveLetter parameter to specify the recycle bin on the C volume. The user is prompted for confirmation to run the command.

3: Clear all recycle bins without confirmation

This example doesn't prompt for confirmation to clear the local computer's recycle bins.

Clear-RecycleBin -Force

Clear-RecycleBin uses the Force parameter and doesn't prompt the user for confirmation to clear all recycle bins on the local computer.

An alternative is to replace -Force with -Confirm:$false.

Parameters

-Confirm

Prompts for user confirmation before running the cmdlet. The user is prompted for confirmation even if the Confirm parameter isn't specified.

Type:	SwitchParameter
Aliases:	cf
Position:	Named
Default value:	False
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-DriveLetter

Specifies the recycle bin to clear for a single drive letter or an array of drive letters.

Type:	String[]
Position:	0
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	True
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-Force

Specifies that the user isn't prompted for confirmation to clear a recycle bin. The Force parameter also overrides the WhatIf and Confirm parameters.

Type:	SwitchParameter
Position:	Named
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if Clear-RecycleBin runs. The cmdlet isn't run.

Type:	SwitchParameter
Aliases:	wi
Position:	Named
Default value:	False
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

Outputs

None

Notes

This cmdlet is only available on Windows platforms.

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