Solved Unable to safely eject and power down external drives (This device is currently in use...)

faizosman8 · Dec 18, 2025

hi ,
try this steps its work for me:

go to run : type: diskpart then follow below steps

DISKPART> list volume

Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 D DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 1 C NTFS Partition 237 GB Healthy Boot
Volume 2 E New Volume NTFS Partition 238 GB Healthy
Volume 3 FAT32 Partition 100 MB Healthy System
Volume 4 NTFS Partition 805 MB Healthy Hidden
Volume 5 F USER BACKUP NTFS Partition 1862 GB Healthy

DISKPART> select volume 5 # select your volume number for me its volume:5

Volume 5 is the selected volume.

DISKPART> remove all dismount

then your can safely eject the externaldrive

********************************************************************************************
If the external hard drive is visible in DiskPart but no drive letter is assigned, follow these steps:

Steps:

Open Run → type diskpart → press Enter
List volumes:

DISKPART>list volume
Select your external drive (example: Volume 5):

select volume 5

assign letter=F (check letter before assigning)
Exit

JaxTD · Dec 18, 2025

faizosman8 said:
hi ,
try this steps its work for me:

go to run : type: diskpart then follow below steps

DISKPART> list volume

Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 D DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 1 C NTFS Partition 237 GB Healthy Boot
Volume 2 E New Volume NTFS Partition 238 GB Healthy
Volume 3 FAT32 Partition 100 MB Healthy System
Volume 4 NTFS Partition 805 MB Healthy Hidden
Volume 5 F USER BACKUP NTFS Partition 1862 GB Healthy

DISKPART> select volume 5 # select your volume number for me its volume:5

Volume 5 is the selected volume.

DISKPART> remove all dismount

then your can safely eject the externaldrive

********************************************************************************************
If the external hard drive is visible in DiskPart but no drive letter is assigned, follow these steps:

Steps:

Open Run → type diskpart → press Enter

List volumes:

DISKPART>list volume
Select your external drive (example: Volume 5):

select volume 5

assign letter=F (check letter before assigning)
Exit

I really appreciate the help. I haven't given this a try but I'm certain it could have an effect on the outcome of the ejections, but just like the apps recommended in the previous page, it's a step that shouldn't have to be taken to utilize such a basic Windows feature.
I hope Microsoft takes notes and starts patching up these sorts of things.

Brian48 · Dec 18, 2025

KaylanN said:
My Acer laptop running 25H2 same eject issue

Same with my HP Laptop

KaylanN · Dec 29, 2025

Has anyone else had this issue resolve this past week?
The only Windows Update I've installed other than security defintitions is "Insyde Software Driver Update (5.43.1.14)"
I'm now able to eject the drive without hang.
This is an Acer laptop.

joeandmarg0 · Dec 29, 2025

Clean up the System files and see if that fixes the problem.
In Terminal [admin ],type in ---dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth ---and run it.
When completed,type in----sfc /scannow ---and run it until a clean report is given.
Also check for any entries in Reliability History.To access it,start typing ---reliability ---in the Search box.

JaxTD · Feb 6, 2026

Another round of cumulative updates that don't address the issue...
I've installed the January cumulative update and now the preview of the February monthly cumulative update and nothing.
Someone please keep me posted when/if Windows ever fixes this, please.

garioch7 · Feb 8, 2026

@JaxTD ,

I am late to this topic. I didn't see it for some reason.

I have used USB Safely Remove since 2019 on both of my computers. They have a 30-day free trial. I found that Windows was terrible about ejecting USB drives, flash and HDDs. This utility shows you precisely what is blocking the USB drive from being ejected. In my case, when it occurs, it is mostly temporary, caused by Windows still indexing files copied to the USB drive, but that never lasts more than a minute or two.

I have a friend who was experiencing difficulties as well last autumn ejecting USB drives. I purchased USB Safely Remove for him. His culprit turned out to be Dropbox, which for some unknown reason was blocking access. I stopped the Dropbox service for him, and the drive was safely ejected. Interestingly, after I installed USB Safely Remove for him, his ejection issues ceased entirely. Dropbox went away, I guess, although he did not uninstall it because he must use it for his work.

USB Safely Remove now has a 30% discount on licenses to celebrate the latest release of of the program: 7.3. With a thirty-day free trial, what do you have to lose?

I have no affiliation to the Crystal Rich company, other than as a completely satisfied customer.

Good luck. Please let us know if you try it. Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

JaxTD · Feb 10, 2026

garioch7 said:
@JaxTD ,

I am late to this topic. I didn't see it for some reason.

I have used USB Safely Remove since 2019 on both of my computers. They have a 30-day free trial. I found that Windows was terrible about ejecting USB drives, flash and HDDs. This utility shows you precisely what is blocking the USB drive from being ejected. In my case, when it occurs, it is mostly temporary, caused by Windows still indexing files copied to the USB drive, but that never lasts more than a minute or two.

I have a friend who was experiencing difficulties as well last autumn ejecting USB drives. I purchased USB Safely Remove for him. His culprit turned out to be Dropbox, which for some unknown reason was blocking access. I stopped the Dropbox service for him, and the drive was safely ejected. Interestingly, after I installed USB Safely Remove for him, his ejection issues ceased entirely. Dropbox went away, I guess, although he did not uninstall it because he must use it for his work.

USB Safely Remove now has a 30% discount on licenses to celebrate the latest release of of the program: 7.3. With a thirty-day free trial, what do you have to lose?

I have no affiliation to the Crystal Rich company, other than as a completely satisfied customer.

Good luck. Please let us know if you try it. Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

Thank you for your suggestion, garioch7.
However, I feel like one shouldn't have to resort to 3rd party software to be able to use such basic Windows features.
I wish Windows would definitely address this issue (I've sinced installed the February cumulative update and still nothing). Can't be that hard, the eject button worked when 25H2 came out, it can't be that hard to fix it.

antspants · Feb 10, 2026

Change Removal Policy of External Storage Devices in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to change the removal policy of external storage devices such as USB flash drives or external drives in Windows 11. Windows defines two main policies, Quick removal (default) and Better performance, that control how the system interacts with removable drives...

www.elevenforum.com

antspants · Feb 10, 2026

I have never once in over 35 years, worried about pulling an external, USB or otherwise, from the PC by ejecting it.
I suppose now having said that, I’ll break an external.

garioch7 · Feb 11, 2026

@JaxTD ,

However, I feel like one shouldn't have to resort to 3rd party software to be able to use such basic Windows features.

I agree with you. For me, I can't stand it when basic Windows functions don't work, or don't work as well as I want them to. At my age (73), I try to avoid frustration.

Windows has always has bugs, and some go uncorrected for years. I am not going to wait for MS. Life is TOO short for that.

Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

billmcct · Feb 11, 2026

antspants said:
I have never once in over 35 years, worried about pulling an external, USB or otherwise, from the PC by ejecting it.
I suppose now having said that, I’ll break an external.

The only way to lose data on an external drive is to turn on "Delayed Write".
By default Windows doesn't use Delayed write on external drives.
If the external has a light that flashes to show data being written, when that light stops flashing pull the drive.
Even without the light give it a minute and pull it. In this respect @antspants is 100% correct.

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