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How To Enable Delete Confirmation Dialog In Windows 10

Last Updated on by 63 Comments

If you have installed and using Windows 8 or the latest Windows 10 operating system, you probably have noticed that your Windows 10 or Windows 8 doesn’t show a delete confirmation dialog with default settings. That is, when you select a file/folder and hit the delete key, Windows doesn’t prompt a confirmation box.

Enable delete confirmation box in Windows 10

Tip: If you are on Windows 11, refer to our how to enable the delete confirmation dialog in Windows 11 guide.

Why turn on the delete confirmation box in Windows?

Although some users might like this new feature as one can easily delete a file or folder quickly and easily, at times, the new feature doesn’t stop users from accidentally deleting a file.

Even though Microsoft has disabled delete confirmation box when deleting a file to the Recycle Bin, you still get the same confirmation box when you try to delete a file permanently using Shift + Delete hotkey.

When the delete confirmation prompt is enabled and working, you will see a confirmation dialog asking “Are you sure you want to move these files to Recycle Bin?” even if you try to move the file to the Recycle Bin. Many users like to see a confirmation box before deleting a file or folder in Windows 10 or Windows 8.

To enable the delete confirmation box in Windows 10 or Windows 8, follow the steps given below.

Enable the delete confirmation box in Windows 10 or Windows 8.1

Step 1: On your Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 desktop, make sure that desktop icons are visible. If not, right-click on the desktop, click View, and then click Show desktop icons to view all desktop icons.

Step 2: Right-click on the Recycle Bin and then select Properties to open Recycle Bin Properties dialog box.

Enable delete confirmation dialog in Windows 10

Step 3: Under the General tab, check the option named Display delete confirmation dialog. Click Apply button before closing Recycle Bin Properties dialog box.

Enable Delete confirmation dialog in Windows 10

From now on, Windows 10 will display a confirmation dialog when you try to delete an item to Recycle Bin. And if you don’t love the default icon used for Recycle Bin in Windows 10, you can easily set a nice looking icon for it by following the easy instructions in our how to change the default icon of Recycle Bin in Windows 10 guide.

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Comments

  1. phil says

    Thank you, most appreciated ! Why did they put this option in the Recycle Bin settings dialog, out of reach ??? I believe that no more checkbox would fit into Explorer settings anymore, because of their overloaded, messy, uggly ribbon ??? Possibly… Thx for the tip anyway !

  12. Sunil says

    I have Windows 10. I checked the box “‘Display delete confirmation dialog” and I still can’t get a dialog box asking for confirmation. Than you for help in advance.

  18. Lisa says

    Was in horror when I just updated (second time recently this has happened) and I deleted a file and it vanished so quick. WHY would they take away the ‘are you sure you want to move this file to the recycle bin?’ great I found the solution here but really it’s a big mistake taking it off – going to inform colleagues now so they don’t lose files accidentally.

  19. Subbu says

    Thanks. This helped a lot and saves from accidental deletes. Microsoft should not have defaulted this behaviour.

  20. Monisha Biswas says

    Thanks a lot !!! It was of immense help. I wonder why Microsoft plays with users’ convenience ??? Each of their update poses some new inconvenience for its users…

  21. Anika says

    Thank you!!!!!!!!!!! This information saved sooo many of my very precious files and folders!!!!!!!!!

  43. Mommacita says

    Finally, a useful guide on the first link I opened.
    This was so easy it was almost embarrassing that I didn’t figure it out on my own.

  46. Foolish says

    Y it is switched off as a default is daft. But thankx 2u4 the instructions 2 switch it on.

  56. Tina Watkins says

    That didn’t help mine. It only shows confirmation when I choose to delete by pressing the delete button. If I drag things over to the recycle bin or right click and choose delete (my two main ways of deleting) it won’t give me a confirmation!

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