MiniBin for Windows

Used MiniBin for Windows?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffOctober 3, 2025

MiniBin is a free recycling bin for your Windows system tray, also known as the notification area. It lets you open or empty the Recycle Bin from the system tray, or drag and drop items into it. It can serve as a Recycle Bin replacement if you're using a desktop environment that hides or disables the default bin. But it also makes a great little trash bin, sort of an ashtray for the system tray. It even includes some themes for changing the tray icon's look.

After we installed MiniBin, we clicked the system tray and selected Customize to open the Notification Area Icons tool in the Control Panel. We changed MiniBin's settings to show its icon all the time. This makes MiniBin much more useful by keeping it always visible in the system tray. A colored graph effect indicated items in the Recycle Bin. We right-clicked the program's icon and clicked Open, which opened the main Recycle Bin. Selecting Clean emptied the bin. Clicking Configuration let us confirm deletes, enable slow updates for slow systems, and similar options. Clicking themes let us change the shape of the MiniBin tray icon; we could also open the themes directory from the menu. Hovering the cursor over the tray icon popped up the program's name and Web site. Clicking Quit exited MiniBin with no ill effects on our default Recycle Bin.

That's all there is to MiniBin, but it's all you need. We think MiniBin is a great idea and a neat little tool. Since it's freeware, you have nothing to lose by trying it, except of course the stuff you want to delete!

MiniBin for Windows

Used MiniBin for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: February 12, 2015

Latest update: October 3, 2025

Version: 6.6.0.004

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows XP
Windows 2003
Windows 8

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 10,982

Downloads Last Week: 3

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Last Updated

User Reviews

3.7/5

6 User Votes

Handy and usefull
sobrmikeFebruary 24, 2013
Pros
hides in task bar, so you don't have to go back to desktop to empty the trash.
Cons
forget it there, too uaed to desktop version. may uninstall because it serves me no value.
Summary
A nice convenience for the system tray
blancheirvingNovember 15, 2011
Pros
This version and the previous have worked fine for me in Vista 32-bit.
Cons
Nothing important... though the assortment is OK, I'd prefer a bolder-looking "theme" (i.e., set of icon appearances in the tray). The ones included are all a little on the subtle side. Looking for something that stands out better, with more vivid color(s).
Summary
Really cute and fun!
Sweet_PeachesNovember 12, 2011
Pros
I love it! I have the older version where you can change the color of the tray icon of this application since on a laptop the icon almost pretty much resembles the battery icon.
Cons
None! It's useful! :)
Summary
Very easy to use!
Could not get this to work on Win 7 Pro 64 bit.
wrlangstonJuly 29, 2011
Pros
Do not know, appeared to be a useful application.
Cons
Did not work.
Summary
It was good til it disappeared after a few days....
vivthegeniusJune 22, 2011
Pros
Looks cute, empties well
Cons
I still had to drag files to my regular bin to delete them, the mini bin wouldn't accept them....
Summary
I'll let you know if it ever reappears! All in all, a little disappointing, though I really LIKE the concept. Maybe I did something wrong? Perhaps it just doesn't like me?
It's really pretty neat!!!
hbsurferJune 14, 2011
Pros
Just like the description says..... very convenient! easier! kinda fun! Neat!!!
Cons
hmm? are you serious!? LOL
Summary
It makes life a little bit easier! Already I've noticed when I'm busy with a full screen of other things that I don't want to minimize...it's made my life a little easier! It's quicker to use! I Really do like it alot! Get it now and see for yourself!!! And no- i'm not getting paid for this....but.... wish i was!!! LOL

Developer’s Description

By Mike Edward Moras

Empty your Recycle Bin straight from your taskbar.

MiniBin is a free recycle bin for your Microsoft Windows system tray area. The area is next to the clock in your taskbar. Minibin may come handy when you're hiding the recycle bin from your desktop or if you're using a replacement shell that provides a system tray but no useable recycle bin. MiniBin supports modifications like using your own icons, your own language and some recycle-bin related settings.