How to Add Trash Icon to Desktop on MacOS Computer

Adding a Trash Icon to the Desktop on a MacOS Computer

For users who miss the nostalgic feel of having a Trash icon on their desktop, similar to older versions of Mac OS, there is a straightforward method to achieve this on modern MacOS systems.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding the Trash Icon

1. Launch Terminal:

   • Open the Terminal application, which can be found in the /Applications/Utilities folder or by using Spotlight search.

2. Enter the Command:

   • Type the following command into the Terminal and press Enter:

     ln -s ~/.Trash ~/Desktop/Trash
     

   • This command creates a symbolic link (symlink) from the actual Trash folder to a new folder named Trash on your desktop.

3. Verify the Icon:

• After pressing Enter, a new folder named Trash will appear on your desktop. This folder functions exactly like the Trash icon in the Dock, allowing you to drag and drop files into it to delete them.

Customizing the Trash Icon

• Default Folder Icon:

  • By default, the new Trash folder on your desktop will have a standard folder icon. To change this to a more recognizable Trash icon, you can download a Trash icon image and assign it to the folder.

• Changing the Icon:

  • To change the icon, follow these steps:
    1. Download a suitable Trash icon image.
    2. Right-click (or Control-click) on the Trash folder on your desktop and select Get Info.
    3. In the Get Info window, click on the folder icon at the top left.
    4. Drag and drop the downloaded Trash icon image onto this folder icon.
    5. Close the Get Info window to see the updated icon.

Removing the Trash Icon

• Deleting the Symbolic Link:
  • If you decide you no longer want the Trash icon on your desktop, you can remove it by dragging the Trash folder to the actual Trash icon in the Dock. This will delete the symbolic link and remove the icon from your desktop.

Additional Considerations

• Functionality Limitations:

  • The desktop Trash icon does not have full functionality compared to the Dock version. It will not change appearance when it contains items, and it cannot eject disks.

• Compatibility with Recent MacOS Versions:

  • This method works on most versions of MacOS, but there may be some limitations or changes in behavior with newer versions. For example, in MacOS Sonoma, changing the icon to the traditional Trash can is more complex due to system restrictions.

By following these steps, you can easily add a functional Trash icon to your desktop, bringing back a nostalgic feature from older Mac OS versions while maintaining the functionality of the modern Trash icon in the Dock.