Windows has a Recycle Bin to save deleted files.
Mac or Linux has a Trash to keep files that are not permanently deleted.
Some online storage services like OneDrive and Google Drive also have a recycle bin to save deleted files.

What Does the Recycle Bin Do?
When you delete a file or folder, it is not immediately erased from your system.
The Recycle Bin acts as a buffer, preventing users from losing important data due to inadvertent deletions.
![]()
However, Windows is not the only operating system that has a recycle bin.
The recycle bin in Mac is called Trash and it works like the Recycle Bin in Windows.
In Linux, it is also called Trash.
![]()
Files in that location are still recoverable.
How Long Do Deleted Items Remain in the Recycle Bin?
The duration for which deleted items linger in the Recycle Bin depends on the configs of your operating system.
![]()
How Long Do Deleted Items Remain in the Recycle Bin in Windows?
How Long Do Files Stay in the Trash in Mac and Linux?
By default, there is no specific time limit for how long files remain in the Trash.

They will continue to occupy space until the user decides to manually empty the Trash.
This allows users the flexibility to recover files if they were deleted accidentally.
How Long Do Items Stay in the Recycle Bin of OneDrive?
![]()
How Long Do Files Stay in the Recycle Bin of Google Drive?
The deleted items in the Googe Drive recycle bin can stay there for30 days.
How Long Do Deleted Files in the Recycle Bin of SharePoint?
How to Restore Deleted Files from the Recycle Bin?
It is very easy to restore deleted files from the recycle bin or trash.
you could just open it and test whether the needed files are there.
If yes, you could select them to restore.
The selected files will be restored to their original locations.
you’re able to restore deleted files from Recycle Bin if they are not permanently deleted.
But where do restored files go from Recycle Bin?
Find the answer here.
How to Recover Deleted Files after Emptying the Recycle Bin?
Then, how to get them back if you really need them?
Seehow to restore files using File History.
This data restore tool can recover files that are not overwritten by new data on your equipment.
The deleted items should have been saved on your storage unit before.
This freeware supports recovering up to 1GB of files.
How long do deleted items remain in the recycle bin or trash?
Now you should know the answer.
Deleted items remain in the Recycle Bin until it reaches a predefined size or until you manually empty it.