If the Trash option is grayed out in the Desktop Icon Settings window in Windows 10, you can refer to this step-by-step guide to resolve the issue. It will help you get the Recycle Bin option in the Desktop Icon Settings panel so that you can show or hide the Recycle Bin on the desktop. You can fix the problem quickly when it is disabled by mistake or by any malware, adware, etc.
There are two ways to fix the problem on your Windows 10 computer. You can use the local Group Policy Editor or the Registry Editor. If you have Windows 10 Home Edition, you should try the Registry Editor method because the Local Group Policy Editor is not available on your computer.
Trash is grayed out in the desktop icon settings
Using the Group Policy Editor
To fix Trash is grayed out in the desktop icon settings Window problem using Group Policy Editor, do the following:
- Open local group policy editor
- Go to the Office section under Administrative Templates
- Double click on Remove the trash icon from the desktop setting
- Select Not configured and save your change
To know the steps in detail, you need to keep reading.
Open the local Group Policy Editor on your Windows computer. You can press Win + R, type gpedit.msc and press the Enter button. You can also search for it in the search box on the taskbar. Then you have to navigate to this path-
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop
After clicking on the Office menu on your left, you should find some settings on your right. Double click on Remove the trash icon from the desktop and make sure the Not configured is selected.
Otherwise, choose this option and save your change.
The second method is based on the Registry Editor. It is recommended that you back up the registry or create a system restore point first.
Using the Registry Editor
If the trash is grayed out in the desktop icon settings, do the following:
- Open Registry Editor on a Windows computer
- Access the NonEnum folder
- Create a DWORD value (32 bits)
- Name it like {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
- Set the value data to 0.
Open the Registry Editor on your Windows computer. You can press Win + R, type regedit and press the Enter button. You can also search for it in the search area of the taskbar and open the corresponding result.
After that go to this path-
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesNonEnum
In the NoneNum folder, you should find a DWORD value named {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}. If it does not exist on your computer, you must create it. To do this, right click on the space, select New> DWORD value (32 bit). Then name it like:
{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
Now check whether the value data is set to 0 or not. To do this, double-click on this DWORD value and check if it is set to 0. Otherwise, you must make the necessary changes and save your setting.
That's it! You should now find the Trash option in the Settings window of the desktop icon.