How do I move a file to the Recycle Bin using PowerShell?

Question

When using the rm command to delete files in Powershell, they are permanently deleted.

Instead of this, I would like to have the deleted item go to the recycle bin, like what happens when files are deleted through the UI.

How can you do this in PowerShell?

Once you've picked a solution below, you can update the `rm` alias to use it via `Set-Alias rm Remove-ItemSafely -Option AllScope` — bdukes, Jul 31 '15 at 15:46

mikemaccana · Answer 1 · 2018-03-05T10:47:33.170

40

2017 answer: use the Recycle module

Install-Module -Name Recycle

Then run:

Remove-ItemSafely file

I like to make an alias called trash for this.

edited Mar 05 '18 at 10:47

answered Feb 01 '17 at 17:28

mikemaccana

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What if there are multiple files? – Kahn Kah Mar 21 '17 at 12:20
1

@KahnKah Use `.\*` instead of `file` but this will delete all subdirectories too – Monday Fatigue May 02 '17 at 15:42
@Neonit yes that's the same with all third party software. – mikemaccana Feb 10 '22 at 08:56
@mikemaccana Yes, but this command looks very much like there is no third party involved and comes from Microsoft instead as there is no URL or anything given that would suggest it's from a public repo. – Neonit Feb 10 '22 at 12:46
How is this better than the VB solution? That doesn't require installing 3rd party modules. – gargoylebident Dec 14 '22 at 04:11
@gargoylebident it doesn't require learning/using a separate language. – mikemaccana Dec 14 '22 at 11:28
@mikemaccana neither does the VB solution. Just copy-paste it. – gargoylebident Dec 14 '22 at 22:27
@gargoylebident Most people using Powershell don't want to see code in a separate language in the middle of their Powershell scripts. – mikemaccana Dec 15 '22 at 14:05

score 34 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 14 '14 at 16:25

34

If you don't want to always see the confirmation prompt, use the following:

Add-Type -AssemblyName Microsoft.VisualBasic
[Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.FileSystem]::DeleteFile('d:\foo.txt','OnlyErrorDialogs','SendToRecycleBin')

(solution courtesy of Shay Levy)

answered Jan 14 '14 at 16:25

John Pankowicz

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+1 for avoiding the prompt! Btw, keep mind that there is also `DeleteDirectory` – marsze Oct 27 '14 at 07:10

score 21 · Answer 3 · edited Feb 02 '09 at 16:56

21

It works in PowerShell pretty much the same way as Chris Ballance's solution in JScript:

 $shell = new-object -comobject "Shell.Application"
 $folder = $shell.Namespace("<path to file>")
 $item = $folder.ParseName("<name of file>")
 $item.InvokeVerb("delete")

edited Feb 02 '09 at 16:56

Scott Saad

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answered Feb 02 '09 at 02:22

Alex Shirshov

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There is a small bug in your answer (but it did work!). You need a quote before "path to file" $folder = $shell.Namespace(") becomes $folder = $shell.Namespace("") – Omar Shahine Feb 02 '09 at 16:06
1

quotes only needed if you have blank space in paths – RayofCommand Dec 05 '13 at 09:49

score 19 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 02 '09 at 16:14

19

Here is a shorter version that reduces a bit of work

$path = "<path to file>"
$shell = new-object -comobject "Shell.Application"
$item = $shell.Namespace(0).ParseName("$path")
$item.InvokeVerb("delete")

answered Feb 02 '09 at 16:14

Omar Shahine

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This asks with confirmation window. – Кое Кто Dec 19 '18 at 16:19

score 10 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 29 '15 at 10:15

Here's an improved function that supports directories as well as files as input:

Add-Type -AssemblyName Microsoft.VisualBasic

function Remove-Item-ToRecycleBin($Path) {
    $item = Get-Item -Path $Path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    if ($item -eq $null)
    {
        Write-Error("'{0}' not found" -f $Path)
    }
    else
    {
        $fullpath=$item.FullName
        Write-Verbose ("Moving '{0}' to the Recycle Bin" -f $fullpath)
        if (Test-Path -Path $fullpath -PathType Container)
        {
            [Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.FileSystem]::DeleteDirectory($fullpath,'OnlyErrorDialogs','SendToRecycleBin')
        }
        else
        {
            [Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.FileSystem]::DeleteFile($fullpath,'OnlyErrorDialogs','SendToRecycleBin')
        }
    }
}

score 3 · Answer 6 · edited Apr 12 '18 at 10:18

3

Remove file to RecycleBin:

Add-Type -AssemblyName Microsoft.VisualBasic
[Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.FileSystem]::DeleteFile('e:\test\test.txt','OnlyErrorDialogs','SendToRecycleBin')

Remove folder to RecycleBin:

Add-Type -AssemblyName Microsoft.VisualBasic
[Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.FileSystem]::Deletedirectory('e:\test\testfolder','OnlyErrorDialogs','SendToRecycleBin')

edited Apr 12 '18 at 10:18

Mario Cianciolo

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answered Jan 17 '17 at 13:57

shahar amzlaeg

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Ste · Answer 7 · 2021-06-25T21:41:53.057

Here's slight mod to sba923s' great answer.

I've changed a few things like the parameter passing and added a -WhatIf to test the deletion for the file or directory.

function Remove-ItemToRecycleBin {

  Param
  (
    [Parameter(Mandatory = $true, HelpMessage = 'Directory path of file path for deletion.')]
    [String]$LiteralPath,
    [Parameter(Mandatory = $false, HelpMessage = 'Switch for allowing the user to test the deletion first.')]
    [Switch]$WhatIf
    )

  Add-Type -AssemblyName Microsoft.VisualBasic
  $item = Get-Item -LiteralPath $LiteralPath -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

  if ($item -eq $null) {
    Write-Error("'{0}' not found" -f $LiteralPath)
  }
  else {
    $fullpath = $item.FullName

    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $fullpath -PathType Container) {
      if (!$WhatIf) {
        Write-Verbose ("Moving '{0}' folder to the Recycle Bin" -f $fullpath)
        [Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.FileSystem]::DeleteDirectory($fullpath,'OnlyErrorDialogs','SendToRecycleBin')
      }
      else {
        Write-Host "Testing deletion of folder: $fullpath"
      }
    }
    else {
      if (!$WhatIf) {
        Write-Verbose ("Moving '{0}' file to the Recycle Bin" -f $fullpath)
        [Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.FileSystem]::DeleteFile($fullpath,'OnlyErrorDialogs','SendToRecycleBin')
      }
      else {
        Write-Host "Testing deletion of file: $fullpath"
      }
    }
  }

}

$tempFile = [Environment]::GetFolderPath("Desktop") + "\deletion test.txt"
"stuff" | Out-File -FilePath $tempFile

$fileToDelete = $tempFile

Start-Sleep -Seconds 2 # Just here for you to see the file getting created before deletion.

# Tests the deletion of the folder or directory.
Remove-ItemToRecycleBin -WhatIf -LiteralPath $fileToDelete
# PS> Testing deletion of file: C:\Users\username\Desktop\deletion test.txt

# Actually deletes the file or directory.
# Remove-ItemToRecycleBin -LiteralPath $fileToDelete

score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Oct 15 '15 at 06:06

Here is a complete solution that can be added to your user profile to make 'rm' send files to the Recycle Bin. In my limited testing, it handles relative paths better than the previous solutions.

Add-Type -AssemblyName Microsoft.VisualBasic

function Remove-Item-toRecycle($item) {
    Get-Item -Path $item | %{ $fullpath = $_.FullName}
    [Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.FileSystem]::DeleteFile($fullpath,'OnlyErrorDialogs','SendToRecycleBin')
}

Set-Alias rm Remove-Item-toRecycle -Option AllScope

How do I move a file to the Recycle Bin using PowerShell?

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