Recycle Bin is gone - fixes listed in other posts don't work

[Rizzano]

So out of nowhere my recycle bin is missing from my desktop. Also from my C: folder. I have checked view hidden files and folders and it is not there. There is no $Recycle.Bin folder.

I also have checked Recycle Bin in desktop icons and clicked apply. It stays checked, but still does not show up.

 

[Trouble]

To see the $Recycle.Bin in the root of C:\
you have to uncheck "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)".
As far as it missing from the desktop you might try rebuilding the thumbnail and icon cache.
There is an article here as well as a tool that supposedly does it automatically.
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/rebuild-icon-clear-thumbnail-cache-windows-10
AND
Make sure that it is not unchecked here

 

[Rizzano]

Thanks! I forgot about unchecking the protected system files option. This worked!