7 Solutions to Fix Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device on Windows PC

Last Updated on December 1, 2022 by John Abac

When using a USB mass storage device, you can always rely on a Windows PC. This is because there’s a built-in feature that allows you to properly eject any storage device, which significantly reduces the risks of corruption, damage or even data loss.

Well, that’s quite a pretty cool feature but not until you run into a problem ejecting USB mass storage device. Sometimes, it’s due to “this device is currently in use” or there may be unknown errors in the PC.

Either way, it's important that you act right away, especially when such an issue has been recurring for quite some time now. If this ever happens to your computer, read this article. We’ve collected several solutions to help fix your problem ejecting USB mass storage devices.

Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device

1. Close All Programs to Fix “This device is currently in use”
2. Use Task Manager to Fix Problem Ejecting Mass Storage Device
3. Deactivate Windows Security to Fix Problem Ejecting Mass Storage Device
4. Scan for Viruses and Malware to Fix Problem Ejecting Mass Storage Device
5. Fix Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device on This PC
6. Restart/Turn Off PC to Fixe Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device
7. Repair Windows to Fix Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device

Caution:

If you receive the prompt saying that your USB mass storage device cannot be ejected, follow it. It’s always advised that you safely eject the device to prevent corrupted data or damage to the storage itself.

1. Close All Programs to Fix “This device is currently in use”

When you connect a USB mass storage device into your computer and start using it for Photoshop or other productivity tools, there’s a high likelihood that they are the cause why you can’t properly eject it. You need to terminate the programs using the USB first.

Once you receive the error message, immediately close all the running programs, windows, and tabs on your desktop.
Then, right-click on the empty area on your desktop and hit “Refresh”.
Next, go to the right side of your taskbar, and click on the upward arrow.
Right-click on the USB mass storage device you want to eject, and hit “Eject”.

That’s how simple it is to fix the “This device is currently in use” problem.

2. Use Task Manager to Fix Problem Ejecting Mass Storage Device

If exiting all the current windows, tabs, and programs on your desktop doesn’t work, it’s possible that the program using the USB mass storage device is running in the background. And you can only terminate it through the Task Manager.

Right-click on the Windows icon on the Taskbar.
A list of options will appear. Select “Task Manager”.

There, look for the program you use the USB storage on and right-click on it.
Click on “End task” to close the background process.
Lastly, eject your USB mass storage device.

3. Deactivate Windows Security to Fix Problem Ejecting Mass Storage Device

Another factor that could cause problems ejecting USB mass storage devices is when your antivirus software or the Windows Security is detecting malware in them. Oftentimes when that happens, the computer won’t let you eject any storage device you’ve attached to it.

So, if you really want to remove your USB mass storage device, disable the security features for a while, and then eject. You can reactivate them once the storage devices has been disconnected from the computer.

4. Scan for Viruses and Malware to Fix Problem Ejecting Mass Storage Device

More often than not, the culprit why you encounter problem ejecting USB mass storage devices is the malware or viruses, not the security software.

This method is pretty simple, you just need to conduct a full scan on your computer using the security programs you have, and then eliminate the problems they can find. When the process is done, you may try ejecting the USB mass storage device.

Note:

The scanning process may vary depending on the antivirus software you use.

5. Fix Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device on This PC

Instead of ejecting your USB mass storage device on the Taskbar, try doing it on This PC. Sometimes, the feature doesn’t work properly on the taskbar due to some error or whatnot. You can find This PC in the File Explorer

Open the File Explorer. It’s usually found pinned on the taskbar.
On the left side bar, along with the Network, OneDrive - Personal, and Quick Access, click on This PC.
There, you will see all the major folders and the storage devices connected to your PC.
Look for the USB mass storage device you want to eject and right-click on it.

Scroll through the options and hit “Eject”.

After that, the USB mass storage device should be ejected immediately. Otherwise, you may have to try the next solution.

6. Restart/Turn Off PC to Fixe Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device

If the previous 5 solutions don’t work, you can try restarting or turning the computer off.

Restarting your computer will allow it to get rid of errors and apply the changes you've made to the computer. This removes the small bugs that are causing the ejecting process to fail. When the restart is complete, just try ejecting the USB mass storage device and see if it works.

On the other hand, you may also safely disconnect your USB mass storage device when the computer is completely shut down. However, be careful whenever you eject the device this way. You have to make sure that the PC is completely turned off so there’s not a single program using the USB mass storage.

7. Repair Windows to Fix Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device

Now, considering that you’ve already tried all the solutions above and none of them helped you fix the problem, it’s safe to assume that your Windows PC has run into unknown errors. To fix these, you will need to perform Windows Repair. You may think that you need an expert to do it for you, but it’s actually a lot easier now as you can do it yourself. All you need to do is use PassFab Computer Management.

It’s an all-in-one computer program that can solve a myriad of Windows-related issues, known or unknown. How cool is that? You don’t need to figure out the problem yourself as this software can fix it for you. That’s perfect if you don’t know why the problem ejecting USB mass storage devices occurs.

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And with the problem ejecting USB mass storage device, you’d have to use the Windows Rescue process. It allows you to diagnose and repair the issue at the same time. And what’s great about it is that you can do it in just one click.

Besides Windows Repair, PassFab Computer Management can also do other tasks such as resetting Windows password, backing up and restoring data from hard drive, etc. It can even be used to manage partitions safely, and there’s a lot more.

Now, if you really want to fix the problem ejecting USB mass storage devices, this can be your last resort. Below are the steps on how to perform the Windows Repair:

Download and install PassFab Windows Management on the target computer. Just click the button below to proceed.

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Run the program afterwards. On the main interface, Select “Solution Center” under the Windows Rescue category.

Then, click on the “Automated repair” to proceed to see the drives where you need the Windows OS to be repaired.
Select the drive that you suspect to be causing the problem and click “Start Repair”.
When the repair is completed, click on the “Restart” button below to apply all the changes and repairs to your PC.

After the restart, the problem ejecting USB mass storage device should be fixed. Try to eject the device from your PC, and see if the problem has been solved. If not, you may need to visit your local computer store and ask for a professional opinion on the matter.

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Conclusion

Being able to eject your USB mass storage devices from your PC is a huge sigh of relief for many. It ensures that your PC won’t cause any damage and errors to them. So, if the problem suddenly occurs, don’t ignore it. Instead, try out the solutions we provided above and see if you can fix the problem ejecting USB mass storage devices.

FAQs

1What are examples of USB mass storage devices?

USB mass storage devices are those external devices that you can use to store files and data. However, the data transfer is through the use of USB ports. A few examples are, USB flash drives, external hard drives and solid-state drives, etc.

2Should you really eject your flash drive before disconnecting it from your PC?

Yes, not unless you want your flash drive to be corrupted. Ejecting USB mass storage devices before you disconnect them is the safest way to prevent any kind of damage to your data or the device itself.