6 Fixes For Can’t Eject External Hard Drive on Windows

Several customers have claimed that they can’t eject external hard drives. Also, USBs and similar devices. Other processes that utilize the device’s contents, or Windows USB drivers, are to blame.

It stops the external drive from being removed. It has been claimed that users are unable to eject their hard drives. On the bottom-left side of the taskbar, select the ‘Safely Remove Hardware. Then “Eject Media” option.

Fix: Can't Eject External Hard Drive on Windows 10

Ensure that your external hardware is safe and secure. It is ordinarily safe to remove your hard disk only when no other programs are using it. If you eject your drive carelessly, it will very indeed get corrupted or damaged.

Consequences Of Not “Safely Remove External Hard Drive”?

Keep your data on the external hard drive safe and avoid damaging the external hard drive. Before ejecting the external hard drive, you should close all programs and processes. Then, to eject the external hard drive, right-click it. Select “Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media.”

On Windows 10, have you ever been compelled to eject an external hard drive? It may lose some vital data, or the hard drive may become corrupted and inaccessible. You can use great software Recuva by Piriform to recover lost data.

How To Use Recuva Recovery Tool?

You can recover files with Recuva, a simple software. Photographs, music, documents, videos, and other types of things are stored on your hard drive.

Even if you can’t see anything in Windows Explorer, when you or Windows delete a file, a lot of it is left behind. Recuva combs through your media and assembles the pieces so you may get the files you require.

  • The procedure for using Recuva on Windows is the same across all major Windows versions. To recover your lost data using the Recuva program for Windows. Simply follow these simple instructions.
  • The wizard screen for Recuva portable Windows 10 will appear. To begin the Recuva Windows recovery process, simply click the “Next” button.
recuva setup Wizard
  • You must choose the type of data you want to scan. It will reduce Recuva’s overall scanning time on Windows. You can choose from categories such as photo, video, document, and so on, or go with the “All files” option.
recuva Wizard type of file
  • You must also indicate a location in addition to selecting the type of data you want to scan. It could be in the Recycle Bin, on a memory card attached to the computer, or in My Documents. You can also use this to go to a specific spot.
Select location of file
  • You’ll get a confirmation box similar to this one, with the option to run a deep scan. You can switch this on or off and click the “Start” button to start the scan.
Enable deep scan for more reach
  • On the native interface of Recuva Windows, you can now simply preview the recovered data.
  • Choose the data you need to recover and save them somewhere safe.
  • You may also run an advanced scan to retrieve data from a hard drive.

What Prevents Users from Ejecting their External Drive Safely (Windows 10)?

There are numerous parties to blame for this problem. You must examine each of them in great detail. There is a reason and a remedy for every situation. To find a solution to your problem, you must thoroughly investigate the cause.

It is always a good idea to remove or eject the hard disk safely. It’s possible that files on your external hard drive are being utilized, which could cause problems.

1. Computer Using the Contents Of The Drive.

The drive’s content is being utilized, which is causing the issue. Background processes or apps use the files on the external hard drive.

2. USB Drivers For Windows

Windows USB drivers could cause our computer’s problem. The problem could be caused by old or broken USB drives on your PC.

Methods to Fix Can’t Eject External Hard Drive (Mac And Windows)

  1. Restart Computer System
  2. Use Safely Remove Hardware Utility
  3. Use Disk Management To Eject The Drive
  4. Check Hard Drive Policy
  5. Run The Windows Hardware Troubleshooter
  6. Update USB Drivers

1. Restart Computer System

Rebooting your computer will almost certainly fix the ejecting external hard disk problem in Windows 10. All running apps, as well as third-party processes, are closed when you shut down your computer.

No program will use the content saved on your external hard disk when you restart the machine. Typically, the task manager is utilized to carry out these tasks.

However, this is time-consuming. You might try to eject the external hard disk once your computer restarts or shuts down.

2. Use Safely Remove Hardware Utility

You can use a keyboard shortcut to go to Windows’ old “Safely Remove Hardware” feature. It will launch the entire application and allow you to eject the external hard disk effortlessly. To use this tool, go through the following steps: –

  • To open the Run program, press and hold the “Windows + R” keys together.
  • Now type “RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll” into the shortcut box and hit Enter.
RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll
  • It should automatically launch the Safely Remove Hardware application.
  • Simply click “Stop” after selecting the drive you want to expel.
  • Check to check whether the problem still exists.

3. Use Disk Management To Eject The Drive

Disk Management is a built-in feature of Windows. It allows you to manage all of the disks and devices attached to your computer. You can’t eject the drive using the ‘Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media’ option. You can perform with the Disk Management tool to eject it safely.

  • Type Disk Management into the Start Menu and press Enter.
  • Find the external hard disk you wish to remove and eject it.
  • Eject your external hard drive by right-clicking it.

4. Check Hard Drive Policy

Your Windows does not have an “Eject” option. Because the Hard Drive can be in the middle of an operation, Windows prevents it from being ejected. If Windows detects a risk of data loss, it will not allow you to remove the Hard Drive. Follow these procedures to alter the policy Windows has established for your hard drive:-

  • Press X while pressing the Windows Key. Select Device Manager from the menu.
Device Manager
  • Expand the “Disk Drives” section and locate the drive you want to remove.
  • Click “Properties” after right-clicking on the drive you want to eject.
  • Make sure to pick “Better Performance” under the “Policies” tab.
Better Performance" under the "Policies
  • Simply restart your computer and see whether the option to eject the drive is available.

Alternatively, Another Solutions In The Device Manager Is As follows.

  • In the Device Manager – Disk Drives option, check the configuration of each device.
  • You have the option of choosing between “rapid removal” and “performance” under one of the options.
  • Select “performance” from the drop-down menu. For the choices to take effect, you must shut down and restart your computer. The external hard disk can now be safely “ejected.”

5. Run The Windows Hardware Troubleshooter

When troubleshooting, built-in troubleshooters should be used. Your external hardware is causing you problems. The Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter may be able to help you resolve your issue. To use the troubleshooter, follow these steps:

  • To open Settings, press Windows Key + I.
  • Go to Security and Updates.
  • Go to the Troubleshoot section.
  • Locate ‘Hardware and gadgets’ by scrolling down.
  • Click on ‘Run the troubleshooter” after selecting it.

6. Update USB Drivers

In this step, use Device Manager to check your USB drivers. To resolve your problem, check to see if the drivers are working correctly.

  • Open Device Manager. Type device manager in the Start Menu.
  • Add to the list of Universal Serial Bus controllers.
  • Look for an entry marked with a yellow exclamation mark. If there is, pick ‘Update Driver Software from the context menu.
update usb drivers
  • If there isn’t an exclamation point, delete the driver and restart your computer so it can be installed automatically again.

Is it Necessary to Remove Storage Devices Safely?

Before unplugging a USB device, you’ve heard that you should always click Safely Remove Hardware. The data on your smartphone may be lost. Is it essential for you to do this?

Microsoft has declared that you no longer need to be concerned about it in Windows 10. Quick removal is a feature in Windows 10. It allows you to unplug a drive at any moment (as long as you’re not actively writing anything to it).

Windows 10 version 1809 is now the default configuration for each new disk you connect in. It implies you can unplug an external hard drive or a USB flash drive the next time you wish to. You don’t have to go into the method of ejecting a storage device safely.

Conclusion

Here are some of the easy methods to fix the Seagate hard disk issue. This article also provides a data recovery software Recuva for Windows 10, which is simple to use. To resolve the “external hard drive won’t eject” issue, try all suggested options.

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Abdul Rahim has been working in Information Technology for over two decades. Learn how Abdul got his start as a Tech Blogger , and why he decided to start this Software blog. If you want to send Abdul a quick message, then visit his contact page here.