To safely eject an external hard drive in Windows 10, select the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon on the taskbar and choose Eject for your drive. When you see Safe To Remove Hardware, unplug it. You can also right-click the drive in File Explorer and select Eject.
Applies to: Windows 10. Keep in mind that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Security updates now come only through the Extended Security Updates program, which stops on October 12, 2027.
Ejecting first makes sure Windows has finished writing to the drive, so you don’t lose data.
Eject from the taskbar
- Save and close any files you have open from the drive.
- Select the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon on the right side of the taskbar. If you don’t see it, select Show hidden icons (the up arrow) first.
- Select Eject and your drive’s name.
- When Safe To Remove Hardware appears, unplug the drive.
Eject from File Explorer
- Open File Explorer and select This PC.
- Right-click the drive and select Eject.
If the icon is missing
- Right-click the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
- Under Notification area, select Select which icons appear on the taskbar.
- Turn on Windows Explorer: Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media.
The icon only shows when a removable drive is connected and Windows recognizes it.
If Windows reports the device is in use
- Close any files, folders, or apps that use the drive, including File Explorer windows open on it.
- Wait for copying or backups to finish, then try again.
- If it still won’t eject, save your work and shut down the PC. Then unplug the drive.
- Find what’s using the drive. Press Windows logo key + R, type resmon, and press Enter. On the CPU tab, type the drive letter, such as E:, in the Associated Handles search box, and close the programs it lists.
- Turn off the preview pane in File Explorer if a file from the drive is selected. Antivirus scans, OneDrive, and backup apps can also keep the drive busy for a while.
Quick removal or better performance
Windows 10 lets you choose how each external drive is handled:
- Quick removal is the default since Windows 10, version 1809. Windows writes changes right away, so an unexpected unplug is less likely to damage files. Ejecting first is still safest.
- Better performance holds some changes in memory to copy faster. With this setting, you must always eject before unplugging.
To check it, right-click Start, select Device Manager, expand Disk drives, open your drive’s Properties, and select the Policies tab.
Frequently asked questions
Is it OK to just unplug a USB drive?
It’s safest to eject first. If Windows is still writing to the drive, unplugging it can damage files.
How do I see which USB devices are connected?
The ways to check are in seeing connected USB devices in Windows 10.
The drive shows up but I can’t open it. What now?
It may need to be formatted. Formatting erases it, so try it on another PC first. If that doesn’t help, format the drive.
Why does my drive keep disconnecting on its own?
Try another USB port directly on the PC instead of a hub, and a different cable. Large external hard drives may need their own power adapter to stay connected.
Can ejecting damage my drive?
No. Ejecting just tells Windows to finish writing and stop using the drive. It’s the safe way to remove it.
Do I need to eject an SD card or phone?
Eject SD cards and card readers the same way. Phones don’t appear in the eject list, so finish copying, close File Explorer, and then unplug the phone.
Why is the drive’s light still on after ejecting?
Many drives keep their light on while they’re plugged in, even after ejecting. Wait for the Safe To Remove Hardware message instead of watching the light.
Is it the same in Windows 11?
Very similar. The icon and the File Explorer Eject option work the same way in Windows 11.
When you plug the drive back in, opening a flash drive or external drive is covered separately. For memory cards, read opening an SD card on Windows 10.
Microsoft covers the same steps in Safely remove hardware in Windows.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.