How to Completely Disable the ‘Trash’ Bin and Delete Files Instantly in Ubuntu

By default, when you select a file in Ubuntu and press the Delete key, the file is not actually erased from your hard drive. Instead, it is moved to a hidden “Trash” folder. This acts as a safety net, allowing you to recover the file if you made a mistake. However, this also means the file continues to take up valuable disk space until you manually empty the trash bin.

If you are managing large video files, working on a server with limited storage, or simply prefer a workflow where deleting a file means it is gone forever instantly, the two-step trash process can be highly inefficient. Fortunately, Ubuntu allows you to bypass the trash bin entirely.

Using the Permanent Delete Keyboard Shortcut

You do not need to change any system settings if you only want to instantly delete files occasionally. You can use a built-in keyboard modifier.

1. Select the file or folder you wish to delete in the file manager.
2. Instead of pressing just the Delete key, hold down the Shift key and press Delete (Shift + Delete).
3. A warning pop-up will appear, asking: “Are you sure you want to permanently delete [filename]?”
4. Click the red Delete button to confirm.

The file is immediately erased from your storage drive, completely skipping the Trash folder.

Adding a Permanent Delete Option to the Right-Click Menu

If you prefer using your mouse, the default right-click menu only offers a “Move to Trash” option. You can enable a dedicated “Delete Permanently” button in this menu through the file manager settings.

1. Open the default Ubuntu Files application (Nautilus).
2. Look at the top-right corner of the window and click the Hamburger menu (the three horizontal lines).
3. Select Preferences from the dropdown menu.
4. In the Preferences window, click on the Behavior tab.
5. Look under the “Trash” section.
6. Check the box labelled Show action to permanently delete files and folders.
7. Close the Preferences window.

Now, whenever you right-click on any file or folder, you will see a new option directly below “Move to Trash” labelled Delete Permanently. Clicking this will instantly erase the file from your drive after a brief confirmation prompt.