The 'cd-recycle-bin.ps1' Script

May 17, 2026 · View on GitHub

This PowerShell script changes the current working directory to the user's recycle bin folder.

Parameters

PS> ./cd-recycle-bin.ps1 [<CommonParameters>]

[<CommonParameters>]
    This script supports the common parameters: Verbose, Debug, ErrorAction, ErrorVariable, WarningAction, 
    WarningVariable, OutBuffer, PipelineVariable, and OutVariable.

Example

PS> ./cd-recycle-bin.ps1
📂C:\$Recycle.Bin\S-1-5-21-123404-23309-294260-1001 entered, has 2 files and 0 folders.

Notes

Author: Markus Fleschutz | License: CC0

https://github.com/fleschutz/PowerShell

Script Content

<#
.SYNOPSIS
	Sets the working dir to the recycle bin folder
.DESCRIPTION
	This PowerShell script changes the current working directory to the user's recycle bin folder.
.EXAMPLE
	PS> ./cd-recycle-bin.ps1
	📂C:\$Recycle.Bin\S-1-5-21-123404-23309-294260-1001 entered, has 2 files and 0 folders.
.LINK
	https://github.com/fleschutz/PowerShell
.NOTES
	Author: Markus Fleschutz | License: CC0
#>

#requires -version 5.1

function GetCurrentUserSID { [CmdletBinding()] param()
	Add-Type -AssemblyName System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement
	return ([System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement.UserPrincipal]::Current).SID.Value
}


try {
	if ($IsLinux) {
		$path = "~/.local/share/Trash/"
	} else {
		$path = "C:\`$Recycle.Bin\$(GetCurrentUserSID)"
	}
	if (-not(Test-Path "$path" -pathType container)) {
		throw "No recycle bin folder at $path"
	}
	Set-Location "$path"
	$files = Get-ChildItem $path -attributes !Directory
	$folders = Get-ChildItem $path -attributes Directory
	"📂$path entered, has $($files.Count) files and $($folders.Count) folders."
	exit 0 # success
} catch {
	"⚠️ ERROR: $($Error[0])"
	exit 1
}

(page generated by convert-ps2md.ps1 as of 05/17/2026 11:51:02)