Can’t Eject External Hard Drive on Windows 10? Fixed

Troubleshooting the inability to eject external hard drives on Windows 10 has become a pressing concern for many users. This article explores effective solutions to resolve this frustrating issue, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience with external storage devices.

Reasons for Unable to Safely Eject an External Hard Drive

If you’re unable to safely eject an external hard drive on Windows 10, there are a few possible reasons. First, make sure no programs or files are currently using the drive. You can check this by closing any open files or applications that may be accessing the drive.

If that doesn’t work, try using the “Safely Remove Hardware” feature. Simply right-click on the drive in File Explorer and select “Eject.” If you still can’t eject the drive, it may be due to disk write caching. To fix this, go to the Device Manager, find your external drive, right-click on it, and select “Properties.” Then, navigate to the “Policies” tab and enable the “Quick removal” option.

Steps to Connect and Scan an External Hard Drive

• Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
• Click on the Processes tab.
• Locate any processes that might be accessing the external hard drive.
• Select the process and click on End task.
  
• Attempt to eject the external hard drive again.

Method 2: Close File Explorer Windows

• Press Win+E to open File Explorer.
• Close any open windows that are currently accessing the external hard drive.
• Try ejecting the external hard drive once more.

Method 3: Use Disk Management to Disconnect the Drive

• Press Win+X and select Disk Management.
• In the Disk Management window, locate the external hard drive.
• Right-click on the drive and select Offline.
• Wait for a moment, then right-click on the drive again and select Online.
• Try ejecting the external hard drive to see if the issue is resolved.

Method 4: Use Command Prompt to Release the Drive

• Press Win+X and select Command Prompt (Admin).
• Type diskpart and press Enter.
  
• Enter the command list disk and press Enter.
• Identify the disk number of the external hard drive.
• Type select disk [disk number] (replace [disk number] with the actual disk number) and press Enter.
• Enter the command offline disk and press Enter.
  
• Finally, type exit and press Enter to close Command Prompt.

Recovering Data from an External Hard Drive

If you’re having trouble ejecting your external hard drive on Windows 10, there are a few steps you can take to fix the issue. First, make sure all programs and files on the external hard drive are closed. Then, open the “Safely Remove Hardware” menu by clicking on the icon in the taskbar. If the external hard drive is still listed, right-click on it and select “Eject. ” If that doesn’t work, you can try using data recovery software to recover any important files before safely removing the drive.

Solutions to Fix Inability to Eject an External Hard Drive on Windows 10

• Step 1: Save and close any open files or applications.
• Step 2: Right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager.
  
• Step 3: In the Processes or Details tab, locate any processes or applications that may be accessing the external hard drive.
• Step 4: Select the process or application and click on the End task or End process button.

Solution 2: Use the “Safely Remove Hardware” Feature

• Step 1: Locate the “Safely Remove Hardware” icon in the system tray, usually located near the clock.
• Step 2: Click on the “Safely Remove Hardware” icon.
  
• Step 3: A list of connected devices will appear. Select the external hard drive from the list.
• Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions to safely eject the external hard drive.

Solution 3: Use Command Prompt

• Step 1: Press Windows key + X to open the Power User Menu.
• Step 2: Select Command Prompt (Admin) to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
  
• Step 3: In the Command Prompt window, type diskpart and press Enter.
• Step 4: Type list disk and press Enter to display a list of connected disks.
• Step 5: Identify the external hard drive from the list based on its size and other relevant information.
• Step 6: Type select disk [number] (replace [number] with the disk number of the external hard drive) and press Enter.
• Step 7: Type offline disk and press Enter to offline the disk.
• Step 8: Type exit and press Enter to close Command Prompt.
  

Restarting or Turning Off the Computer

To restart your computer, click on the Start menu and select Restart. Alternatively, you can press the Windows key + X and choose Shut down or sign out, then select Restart.

To turn off your computer, click on the Start menu and select Shut down. Alternatively, you can press the Windows key + X and choose Shut down or sign out, then select Shut down.

If you are unable to eject your external hard drive on Windows 10, try the following steps:

1. Close any programs or files that are using the external hard drive.
2. Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.
3. Expand the Disk drives category.
4. Right-click on the external drive and select Properties.
5. Go to the Policies tab and check if Quick removal is selected. If not, select it and click OK.
6. Try ejecting the external hard drive again.

If the issue persists, you may need to use data recovery software to retrieve any important files before safely disconnecting the drive.

Running Windows Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type msdt.exe /id DeviceDiagnostic and press Enter.

The troubleshooter will now scan and detect any problems with your hardware and devices. It will then provide solutions to fix the issue. Follow the instructions given to resolve the problem and safely eject your external hard drive.

Updating USB Drivers

If you’re having trouble ejecting an external hard drive on Windows 10, it might be due to outdated USB drivers. Here’s how you can update them:

1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Device Manager.”
2. Expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” category.
3. Right-click on each “USB Root Hub” and select “Update driver.”
4. Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software.”
5. Windows will search for and install the latest drivers for your USB ports.

Once the drivers are updated, you should be able to safely eject your external hard drive without any issues.

Ending Tasks with Task Manager in Windows 10

If you’re having trouble ejecting your external hard drive on Windows 10, you can use Task Manager to end any processes that might be preventing it. Here’s how:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click on the Processes tab.
3. Look for any processes related to your external hard drive, such as file transfer programs or backup software.
4. Select the process and click End Task.
5. Try ejecting your external hard drive again.

Ejecting an External Hard Drive with Disk Management

To eject an external hard drive on Windows 10 using Disk Management, follow these steps:

1. Open Disk Management by pressing Windows key + X and selecting “Disk Management” from the menu.
2. Locate your external hard drive in the list of disks.
3. Right-click on the external hard drive and select “Eject”.
4. Wait for the system to safely eject the drive.
5. Once the drive is ejected, you can safely disconnect it from your laptop or computer.