Quick Answers
There are a few common reasons why you may be unable to safely remove an external hard drive:
- A program is still accessing files on the drive. You need to close any open files/programs before removing the drive.
- Windows is writing data to the drive. Wait for any file transfers to complete.
- The drive is corrupted. You may need to reformat the drive before removing it.
- There is a physical problem with the drive or port. Check the cable connections and try different USB ports.
Determine What Programs are Accessing the Drive
The most common reason an external drive won’t safely remove is because a program is still accessing files on the drive. This could be any program that opens files, like a media player, word processor, email client, etc. Before unplugging the drive, you need to make sure all programs are closed and not trying to read or write files on the external drive.
To see what programs have open files on the drive:
- Open the File Explorer in Windows.
- Right click on the external drive and select “Manage open files” in the menu.
- A dialog will open showing what files are open. Make note of what program each file path leads to.
- Close any programs that have open files. Some files may close automatically.
Once all programs are closed, try to safely remove the drive again. If the “Safely Remove Hardware” option is now available, you have confirmed active programs were preventing removal.
Wait for Background Processes to Finish
Even with all programs closed, Windows may be trying to write data to the external drive in the background. This data syncing happens frequently with external drives.
Some examples of Windows processes that may use the drive:
- Windows is indexing files for the Start Menu search function
- Temporary files are being saved or cleaned up
- Backup/sync software is copying files in the background
- Antivirus software is scanning for threats
You will need to wait for these processes to finish before removing the drive safely. The easiest way is to look in the system tray for any icons indicating a process. For example, you may see the Windows Search Indexing icon or a cloud sync folder icon.
Hover over icons to check if a process is still occurring. You can also right click the drive and select “Properties”, then check the “Optimize” tab for active optimization processes.
Finally, look in Task Manager (press Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to view all processes running on your system. Sort the processes by disk usage to see if any are writing large amounts of data.
Essentially, wait 5-10 minutes before trying to remove the drive again, and keep checking if any background processes are finishing up. Once the drive safely removes successfully, you know anything writing files has completed.
Restart the Computer
If you cannot determine what process is locking the external drive, you can restart your computer. This will close all programs and stop any background processes.
Once restarted, immediately try to safely remove the external drive. If it now works, then a program was likely keeping the drive active before restarting.
Keep in mind that you may run into the same problem again if you start programs that access the external drive. You can leave the drive disconnected while restarting to be absolutely sure nothing starts using it.
Scan for Viruses
An active virus scanner locking the drive is another possibility. Antivirus software will scan files on the external drive, preventing removal until finished.
However, most antivirus tools are designed to pause scanning when safely removing drives. If you are still unable to remove the drive, try temporarily disabling your antivirus to see if that was the conflict.
You should also scan the external drive directly with your antivirus tool once removed. An active infection could be interfering with the safe removal process.
Check for Corruption and Reformat
After ruling out active programs and processes, corruption on the external drive could prevent safe removal. Corrupted drives may show read/write errors or problems accessing files.
Check the external drive for errors:
- Open File Explorer and right click on the external drive.
- Select “Properties” and click on the “Tools” tab.
- Under “Error checking” click “Check” to scan for file system errors.
If errors show up during the scan, the drive needs to be reformatted. This will fix the file system corruption preventing safe removal.
Note that reformatting will erase all data on the drive, so you should try to back up any important files first. If corruption is severe, you may not be able to backup data.
To reformat, right click the drive, select “Format”, choose your desired file system (typically NTFS or exFAT for external drives) and start the process. Once reformatting completes, you should be able to insert and safely remove the external drive normally again.
Use DiskPart to Clean The Drive
DiskPart is a Windows command line utility that can reset drives to a clean state. If drive corruption is preventing safe removal, running the DiskPart clean command may resolve this.
To use DiskPart:
- Type “DiskPart” in the Windows search bar and open the program.
- Type “list disk” and identify the disk number for your external drive.
- Type “select disk X” replacing X with your disk number.
- Type “clean” to erase all data and partitions.
- Exit DiskPart when finished.
After cleaning the drive with DiskPart, you can reopen Disk Management and reformat it with a new file system. Test if the external drive can now be safely removed and reconnected.
Try a Different USB Port
Another simple troubleshooting step is to try plugging the external drive into a different USB port on your computer.
If the original USB port is damaged, it could cause connectivity issues or prevent proper ejection of drives. Test all available USB ports if possible.
Pay attention if the drive is detected properly in the different port. Access any files to confirm read/write functionality as well. If you find a USB port that works properly with the drive, the original may need to be repaired or replaced.
Check USB Cable and Power Supply
Damaged cables are a common source of external drive connectivity problems. Check that the USB cable is not frayed or internally damaged. If available, swap out the cable for a different one that you know works properly.
For desktop external drives, make sure the power supply is plugged in securely. Try plugging it into a different power outlet in case the original outlet is faulty. Test if drive power status lights are turning on as expected.
If the drive is getting insufficient power, it can cause strange errors or failure to safely eject. For portable external drives powered over USB, try different cables and ports to provide steady power.
Update or Reinstall Drivers
Outdated, buggy, or improperly installed drivers can interfere with safely removing drives. The USB controller drivers especially should be kept updated on your system.
To update drivers:
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand the Disk drives and USB controllers sections.
- Right click devices and select Update driver.
- Restart your computer after updating.
If updating does not fix the problem, try uninstalling the USB controllers completely, then restarting to fresh reinstall the latest drivers.
Also update chipset, motherboard, and external drive model specific drivers from your manufacturer’s website. Keeping all key drivers updated helps prevent conflicts.
Disable USB Selective Suspend
USB selective suspend is a Windows power saving feature that can sometimes interfere with external drives. When enabled, USB ports get powered down when not in active use.
If the external drive loses power while backgrounds process are still running, this can prevent proper safe removal. Disabling selective suspend is recommended.
To do this:
- In Windows search, type “Power Options”
- Click “Change plan settings” for your active power plan
- Click “Change advanced power settings”
- Expand the USB settings and disable “USB selective suspend setting”
Now your USB ports will remain powered whenever your computer is running, instead of turning off. Test if this fixes the ability to safely remove your external drive.
Disable USB Legacy Support
Legacy USB support is meant for older devices and can cause conflicts with external drives. Disabling legacy support in your BIOS forces external drives to use updated USB protocols.
To do this:
- Restart your computer and enter the system BIOS.
- Navigate to USB Configuration.
- Find and disable any option labeled Legacy USB Support.
- Save changes and exit BIOS.
Boot back into Windows and see if properly removing the external drive now works. Just be aware that very old USB devices may no longer function well with legacy support disabled.
Run Antivirus and Anti-Malware Scans
Although less likely, a virus or malware infection disrupting normal system behavior could interfere with external drive removal. Run full system scans using your antivirus software and a separate anti-malware tool like Malwarebytes.
Reboot into Windows safe mode with networking before scanning to maximize detection rates. Also scan the external drive itself while in safe mode.
If malware is found, quarantine and remove all infections. Reboot back into normal Windows mode when finished and test the drive. Malware could have prevented proper drive communication and ejection.
Perform SFC and DISM System File Checks
Corrupted Windows system files could potentially prevent properly removing external drives. SFC and DISM scans can diagnose and repair system file errors.
To run SFC:
- Open Command Prompt as admin.
- Type “sfc /scannow” and press enter to scan system files.
- Restart your computer once finished.
To run DISM:
- Open Command Prompt as admin.
- Type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” and press enter.
- Restart your computer once finished.
SFC and DISM checks may resolve any underlying system files errors that could affect external drive removal.
Check System and Drive for Overheating
Overheating can cause unusual system behaviors, including potential external drive errors. Check that your computer case fans are running properly and cool air is flowing through case intakes.
Also inspect the external drive for overheating. Some models have vents that should not be covered. Look for any warning lights indicating high temperature as well.
Use an air duster to clear dust buildup on computer and external drive parts. Or open up the drive enclosure and blast out internal dust if possible. Ensure no cables or debris are blocking case or drive fans and airflow paths.
Monitoring CPU and hard drive temperatures using a system utility can confirm all components are adequately cooled as well. Maintaining proper cooling helps avoid potential overheating issues.
Try a Different Computer
After trying the above troubleshooting, connect the external drive to a different computer if available. This helps determine if the problem is isolated to just the original system.
Ideally, test with another computer running the same operating system, like Windows 10 or macOS. Check if the same removal issue occurs on other machines as well.
If the drive ejects normally on a second system, an incompatibility or fault likely exists on the original computer. Testing on different devices narrows down the cause.
Back Up Data and Reformat Drive
If you cannot fix the removal issue after troubleshooting, a last resort is to backup any important files on the external drive and reformat it. As discussed previously, a full reformat clears all corruption problems.
After reformatting, you can copy data back and see if the external drive now ejects normally again. Just remember this deletes all existing information originally on the drive.
Be sure to test reformatting using different file systems like exFAT instead of NTFS. There is a small chance a certain file system is not interacting right with your computer.
Contact Technical Support
If the external drive still will not safely remove after trying all troubleshooting, contact the drive manufacturer’s technical support for further assistance. Provide the technical details of steps taken and error symptoms to help diagnose the problem.
Some drive makers have specific diagnostic tools available for download to test connections and interface hardware. Support agents may be able to pinpoint issues using proprietary tools.
You can also consider replacing the external drive enclosure itself while keeping the actual storage drive if problems persist. The enclosure hardware may be malfunctioning while the drive itself stays intact.
Hopefully the above troubleshooting helps resolve why your external hard drive cannot safely remove from a computer. Let us know any other particular error messages or behaviors you observe as well. With some testing and patience, you can isolate difficult removal issues.
Conclusion
In summary, common reasons an external hard drive may not eject safely include:
- Active programs/processes still accessing the drive
- Corrupted drive formatting or file errors
- Outdated, missing, or problematic drivers
- Damaged USB cable or power supply
- Incompatible or faulty USB port
- Overheating due to dust or poor cooling
- Failing drive hardware components
Carefully going through troubleshooting steps can help narrow down and identify the specific problem. Test different USB connections, ports, and cables first. Then check for software issues related to applications, drivers, viruses, or system files.
Hardware failures may require replacing the USB enclosure or internal drive itself. Contact technical support if problems persist after troubleshooting. With patience, you can resolve most external drive safe removal issues.
