I am having trouble ejecting external drives when I use the eject disk I get a message disk is being used

Question

I am using windows 11 Pro and I have just started getting a problem with ejecting external drives safely. I get a message that the disk is being used and i have waited over 5 minutes and still nothing happens.

Have you any idea on how to fix this. I am using a Dell PC1250 desktop

Answer 1

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

There can be a few reasons why the system reports that your drive is still in use even after you try to eject it.

Possible causes include the Search and Indexing service scanning all of the files on your drive, third-party antivirus software accessing the drive, or Microsoft Defender running a full scan for any potential threats. Any of these can cause the disk to remain in use.

In this situation, you can try the methods I’ve listed below to see if you can safely remove your disk.

1 Open the Task Manager.

• Locate the Windows Explorer process, right-click, and select Restart.
• Once done, eject the external hard disk from the explorer or from the taskbar.

2 Run the Windows Hardware diagnostic troubleshooter.

• Click Windows + R key, type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic, and click ok.
• Once the troubleshooter is finished running, try ejecting your hard disk safely.
• You can also try ejecting them from the disk management window and see if it helps.

If these methods do not help, you can safely unplug the drive. This should not delete any of the contents on the hard drive.

If it consistently takes a long time to eject your hard disk, unplugging it directly after attempting to eject it is generally a safe option. You can also try plugging it into another USB port to see if it works properly.

Answer 2

If you're receiving a message that the disk is being used when trying to eject an external drive on Windows 11, it typically indicates that some files or applications are still accessing the drive. Here are some steps to help you resolve this issue:

1. Close All Applications: Make sure to close any applications that might be using files from the external drive. This includes programs like media players, document editors, or any software that may have files open from the drive.
2. Check File Explorer: Ensure that there are no File Explorer windows open that are displaying the contents of the external drive. Close any such windows if they are open.
3. Use Task Manager: Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Look for any processes that might be using the external drive and end those tasks if necessary.
4. Try Safely Removing Hardware Again: After confirming that no applications are using the drive, attempt to use the "Safely Remove Hardware" option again from the system tray.
5. Restart Your Computer: If you still encounter the issue, a simple restart of your computer can help release any processes that might be holding onto the drive.
6. Check Device Manager: If problems persist, check Device Manager for any issues related to the external drive. Right-click the Start button, select Device Manager, and look for any devices with an exclamation mark that might indicate a problem.

By following these steps, you should be able to safely eject your external drive without receiving the "disk is being used" message.