The pop-up 'safe to remove' no longer shows, when 'safely remove' has been selected.

Question

This has been raised before, at least 2 thread I've been following:

• (see AntonyJose reply in Sept 2015)
• (see Robin_Mann, Safe to remove hardware message no longer shows in Windows 10) but there is no definitive answer that works so can someone give me a clue as to why my PC running Windows 10 recently stopped displaying the “safe to remove" notification and but the accompanying audio tone still play when I remove a USB stick.

I checked that when you go through the icon " Safely remove hardware and eject media", the program does make it safe to remove as if you check back through the icon again the USB drive has gone. 

What i have done so far:

• create new account in PC and login with that, try simulate the same situation, “safe to remove" notification can be generated normally
• in current problematic account: Settings > System > Notifications & actions,

'Get notifications from apps and other senders', is turned on (I have tried turned in OFF then ON); but cannot find sender "windows explorer"

• Settings > Privacy > App Permissions > Background Apps. Toggle ‘Let apps run in the background’ switch to OFF then ON
• gpedit.msc : all state "not configured"
• restart "windows explorer" process

doing all of these actions, not successfully bring out safe to remove" notification. All other notifications show up in the action list.

Answer 1

Hi Jusufz. I'm Greg, an installation specialist, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, and Volunteer Moderator, here to help you.

Safely remove was removed as the default in Version 1903. See more here:

https://www.techspot.com/news/79551-windows-10-...

To restore it go here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/449526...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you'll wait to rate whether my post resolved your problem, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

______________________________________________

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Answer 2

Hi, thank you for your hints. It gave me additional information.

In current problematic account (admin account), i have 2 external drive connected and at disk-management windows, both have different setting:

-usb thumb drive (D:) ->quick removal

-micro-sd card (H:) -> better performance

safely remove (eject device) both of them in problematic account will not successfully bring out "safe to remove" notification, but only audio tone at different time:

-usb thumb drive (D:) ->audio tone after physically detached

-micro-sd card (H:) -> audio tone immediately after successfully ejected, before physically detached

In new account I've just created, either when inserted or ejected for both, will successfully bring out notifiation "what to do with drive" or "safe to remove" and audio tone. From notification settings, i found out it from sender "auto play" (last time it was from "windows explorer")

Answer 3

If I'm understanding you correctly, then you've confirmed account corruption. Easiest is to move everything over to the new account, when ready delete the old one, then convert the new one to your MS Account if desired:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5375-switch...

You might also be able to See if you can System Restore to a point before the problem began following this guide: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-system-r...

If the problem repeats then check which Windows Updates were installed at Settings > Update & Security > Windows Updates > Update History, uninstall them there or System Restore again, then immediately check for and block the Updates with the Hide Updates tool explained here: https://www.howtogeek.com/223864/how-to-uninsta...

The only known repair for account corruption is to do a Repair Install from the new account while the old one is still present. To do a Repair Install, Install the Media Creation Tool from this link http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m... choosing Download Tool Now, install the tool, open it and choose Upgrade this PC Now. This will save your files and apps while bringing you up to the latest version by the most stable method. It will also bring all of your Updates current and solve most problems since it reinstalls Windows.

Let me know if you have any questions, and what the results are.

Answer 4

Hi Greg, Thank you for your prompt reply.

For the latest suggestion, it might require some time before deciding to:

• move to new account and delete the old one (because some huge difference and data loss might occurs), or
• restore (some differences or data loss), or
• deleting updates (because not sure which one need to be delete), or
• reinstall windows

Initially i just expecting a simple fix such as:

• re-enable notification for sender "auto play" or "windows explorer"
• adjusting a parameter inside setting

Answer 5

I'm sorry there is not a simple solution. So many come here for simple fixes but these do not always exist. It's a computer, which is meant to be complicated. Windows makes it a lot simpler but has it's own problems for which there are not always easy solutions.

Account corruption here is rampant and the easiest solution is to move to the new account which works properly. This avoids having to reinstall all of your apps if you reinstall Windows, but does require starting over with new app data which is likely where they corruption of the old account happened. But there should be no file loss if you have them organized into their User folders and move them all over to the new account.