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How to Safely Remove a Flash Drive or External SSD
26
September

Computers often finish saving files in the background. Pull a drive too early, and you risk damaged files or a drive needing repair. Eject first.

Windows

  1. Close any files open from the drive.
  2. Open File Explorer and find the drive under This PC.
  3. Right-click the drive and select Eject.
  4. Wait for the Safe to Remove Hardware message, then unplug.
Or select the USB icon near the clock on the taskbar and choose the drive to eject.

Mac

  1. Close files open from the drive.
  2. In Finder, select the eject button next to the drive name in the sidebar.
  3. Wait for the drive icon to disappear, then unplug.

Seeing “drive in use”?

A program still has a file open. Close open apps and try again. Restart the computer as a last resort, then unplug before signing back in.

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