File names change to "dollar sign then jargon" in recycle bin.

KindAdaptableKayak 65 Reputation points
2026-06-12T01:15:05.1566667+00:00

This is weird, and should never have happened.

Normally, when a file goes to the recycle bin, their file name remains the same. However, most recently, though this is still the case when looking in the recycle bin folder, when clicking empty recycle bin, when the "are you sure" message pops up, usually, this would also be the case for the filename shows if there's one file in the bin; the same original filename before being deleted and when looking in the recycle bin should show, but instead, the title has just changed completely in this notification.

Can you fix this in an update? bandicam 2026-06-11 21-13-00-880

Windows for home | Other | Files, folders, and storage
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Answer recommended by moderator
Ramesh 181.8K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-06-12T10:44:13.01+00:00

Hi, The minor bug is caused by the June 2026 Cumulative Update on Windows 10 and 11 systems.

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Microsoft has not yet acknowledged the issue on the Known Issues page.

You may report this issue in the Feedback Hub (Win + F) so it gets noticed by Microsoft.

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  1. AI answer

    2026-06-12T01:15:20.4066667+00:00

    The behavior described is expected when Windows is showing items that are (or were) in the Recycle Bin at a low level.

    On NTFS volumes, files that are in the Recycle Bin or have been permanently deleted can appear with internal names such as $files.xxx and be stored in a folder called $RECYCLE.BIN. These names are not the original user-friendly filenames; they are internal identifiers used by the file system and recovery tools.

    When using tools like Windows File Recovery in NTFS or segment modes, recovered items from the Recycle Bin may show up with these $files.xxx names in $RECYCLE.BIN. This is why a dialog or tool may display a name that looks like “dollar sign then jargon” instead of the original filename, even though File Explorer normally shows the friendly name in the Recycle Bin view.

    The underlying file content is still associated with the original file; the odd-looking name is just the internal representation used by the system for deleted items.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Thomas4-N 22,025 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-06-12T07:07:08+00:00

    Hello KindAdaptableKayak,

    This looks like a corrupted bin state on that drive. You can try clearing it to see if it clears up.

    Note: The command below permanently deletes everything currently in the Recycle Bin on that drive. This is not a "rebuild" — any files sitting in the bin will be gone with no recovery afterward. Empty or restore anything you want to keep first.

    • Close any File Explorer windows
    • Open Command Prompt or Terminal as administrator
    • Run: rd`` ``/s`` ``/q`` ``C:\$Recycle.Bin
    • Repeat for other drives if needed, e.g. rd`` ``/s`` ``/q`` ``D:\$Recycle.Bin
    • Restart the PC — Windows recreates a fresh, empty Recycle Bin automatically

    After that, delete a test file and check the confirmation dialog again.

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