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How to Remove the Recycle Bin from SharePoint Navigation

Camila Milosovich Oct 9, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to remove or hide the Recycle Bin link from the navigation menu of a SharePoint site.

How to Remove the Recycle Bin from SharePoint Navigation

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Customizing the navigation layout (Quick Launch) of a SharePoint site to remove default or unwanted links.
Observed behavior: The Recycle Bin link appears in the SharePoint navigation pane by default, and standard removal methods may not work depending on the site configuration.

Before you start

Verify whether your SharePoint site is a classic site, a modern communication site, or a Teams-connected team site, as the navigation customization options and permissions vary significantly between these types.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove via the Modern UI Edit Option

Directly edit the navigation pane in modern SharePoint sites to remove unwanted links.

This method is the standard approach for modern SharePoint team sites and communication sites that are not strictly linked to a Microsoft Teams channel.

Click Edit

Navigate to your SharePoint site homepage and click the 'Edit' button located at the bottom of the left-hand navigation pane (Quick Launch).

Remove the Link

Hover over the 'Recycle Bin' link, click the ellipsis (three dots) that appears next to it, and select 'Remove' from the dropdown menu.

Save Changes

Click the 'Save' button at the bottom of the navigation pane to apply and publish the changes to your site.

Teams-connected Sites: If your site is connected to Microsoft Teams, the Recycle Bin link may be hardcoded. In such cases, the 'Edit' button might not allow you to delete this specific link.

Solution 2

Hide the Recycle Bin via Site Settings (Classic Sites)

Use the standard SharePoint structural navigation settings to hide the Recycle Bin link.

Solution 3

Submit Feedback for Unsupported Sites

Provide feedback to Microsoft for sites where the Recycle Bin cannot be removed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I remove the Recycle Bin from my Teams-connected SharePoint site?

Microsoft Teams-connected SharePoint sites use a specific modern template where the Recycle Bin link is hardcoded into the Quick Launch menu. Currently, Microsoft does not provide a supported native setting to hide or remove it from these specific sites.

Does removing the Recycle Bin link delete the actual Recycle Bin data?

No, removing or hiding the link only removes its visibility from the navigation pane. The underlying Recycle Bin and all its contents remain intact and functional.

How do I access the Recycle Bin if I hide it from the navigation?

You can always access the Recycle Bin by clicking the gear icon (Site Settings) and selecting 'Site contents'. The Recycle Bin button will be prominently located in the top right corner of the Site contents page.

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