Windows does MFT maintenance when I eject backup medium

Using FreeFileSync. Backup medium is on a hot-pluggable SATA port. Backup complete. I wait until I can no longer hear drive activity. I eject the drive. Windows immediately starts MFT maintenance on the backup medium. (Resource Monitor.)

I wait until no drive activity visible. Try to eject the medium, Windows starts MFT maintenance. I use Disk Management to take the drive offline, Windows still carries on with drive maintenance.

Only method is to shut down so I can unplug the drive.

There are times when this does not happen, and Windows lets me unplug safely.

It is annoying beyond belief.

Try running the Tuneup batch file. It may take a while to run so be patient.

You need to allow the process to run to completion. If Windows is doing MFT repair, it's because they've detected an issue with the MFT. If you continually have the problem, there is something wrong with either the drive or your system.

Have you run a DISM repair of the system image and then an SFC to repair any issues with the running system?