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Safe Delete

(Recycle Bin for the Terminal)

Last updated 2026-08-20 · 5 notes · 4 tags

Tags: trash safety linux wsl

Unlike Windows Explorer, Linux rm permanently deletes files. There is no built-in Recycle Bin for that command. This is the solution...

rm myfile.py

If the file was never committed to Git and not backed up, recovery is usually impossible.

Note: This guide works the same on WSL and native Linux.

Install trash-cli

sudo apt update
sudo apt install trash-cli

Basic usage

Instead of permanent delete:

trash-put path/to/file

List trash:

trash-list

Restore (interactive list):

trash-restore

Empty trash:

trash-empty

Only remove items older than 30 days:

trash-empty 30

Note: trash-put moves files to a Trash folder; it does not wipe the disk immediately.

Make rm safer with an alias

Edit your shell config:

nano ~/.bashrc

Add at the end:

alias rm='trash-put'

Save, exit, then reload:

source ~/.bashrc

Check:

alias rm

Expected: alias rm='trash-put'

Note: After this, typing rm file.py sends the file to Trash instead of deleting it permanently.

Permanent delete when you really mean it

Bypass the alias:

\rm file.py

or:

command rm file.py

Note: Use permanent delete sparingly. Prefer Git history for important work you might need again.

  • Day-to-day experiments: delete with rm (aliased to trash) and restore if needed.
  • Anything that took real effort: commit to Git before you clean up. Trash protects accidents between commits; Git protects longer-term history.

Note: Trash is not a backup system. It lives on the same machine.

Summary

Task Command
Install sudo apt install trash-cli
Delete to Trash trash-put file.py or aliased rm file.py
List trash-list
Restore trash-restore
Empty trash-empty
Permanent delete \rm file.py
Check alias alias rm

This project chronicles ideas, decisions and lessons I have gleaned from building with AI. The goal is to help non-technical users get familiar with these tools and techniques, so that they may be able to use them effectively. At times, I have also made the use of AI tools to augment or refine the content.

Readers are responsible for using any commands or instructions published here with due caution. The creator of this site accepts no responsibility for any system damage, data loss or other consequences, resulting from the application of this content.