A bug or glitch recently prevented many Windows 11 users from ejecting external hard drives or Pendrives. When you eject the Pendrive from Windows 11, the computer freezes or restarts automatically.

Many users have also claimed that when they eject their flash drives, they get an error message saying 'Problem ejecting USB mass storage device'.

So, if you have just encountered the error message or are unable to eject the Pendrive, then you have landed on the right page. Below we are sharing some simple steps that will enable you to fix the Pendrive ejecting issue on your computer. Windows 11. Let's get started.

Why Windows 11 failed to eject external hard drive/Pendrive?

Before we dive into the solution, it is recommended to understand why Windows 11 does not eject the hard disk external. Below we share some possible reasons for the problem.

• The drive you are trying to eject is still in use.
• Your device's USB drivers are outdated.
• Corrupted device drivers.
• Malware that prevents Windows 11 eject the Pendrive.
• Corrupted system files.

Now that you know the main reasons why Windows 11 If you are unable to eject an external hard drive or flash drive, you may want to look into solutions. Here are the best things you can try.

1. Make sure the USB device is not in use

Before you do anything, you should make sure that your USB flash drive is not in use. You may be transferring files to/with the drive, preventing the eject function.

Therefore, it would be better to double-check that your USB device is not in use with any program while ejecting it.

2. Restart your computer

While you can remove the external drive without using the eject option, data loss may occur. To be aware sure, you can restart your computer.

Once you computer Once the computer restarts, you will be able to eject your external hard drive or Pendrive. Alternatively, you can turn off your computer and eject the connected drive, as turning it off closes all the applications and third-party processes.

3. Update USB drivers

If you often see the Problem ejecting USB mass storage device error message in Windows 11, the best thing is update USB drivers.

It is possible that Windows 11 cannot eject USB devices due to outdated or corrupted USB drivers. In that case, you will need to update USB drivers.

1. Click on the search for Windows 11 and write Device Manager. Then open the application Device Manager from the list.

2. In Device Manager, expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers section.

3. Right click on each entry with a yellow exclamation mark and select Update driver.

Now, you will be asked to choose where you want it to be. Windows 11 Search for the driver or add your own. Select the first one and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation. process driver update.

4. Run the Windows Hardware and Devices troubleshooter

If you still can't eject the Pendrive in Windows 11, try running the USB Flash Drive troubleshooter. hardware and Windows devices. Follow some of the simple steps shared below.

1. First, click on the search for Windows and write CMD. Right click on CMD and select Run as administrator.

2. At the command prompt, paste the following command and press Get into.

msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic

3. This will start the troubleshooter. hardware and devices. Click the Next button and follow the instructions on screen.

5. Close unnecessary tasks

If you suspect that an application is preventing your Pendrive or external hard drive from being ejected, close it and all its processes from Task Manager. Here's what you need to do.

1. First, click on the search for Windows 11 and type Task Manager. Then open the Task Manager application from the list.

2. In Task Manager, you need to find the application that you suspect. Right click on the entire branch and select End task.

Repeat the steps to close all applications that you think are preventing the USB eject feature from working. Windows 11 works properly.

6. Access the Safely Remove Hardware utility via CMD

You can access the Remove utility hardware safely via CMD. This will open the Disk Management utility, where you can safely eject safe your external hard drive.

1. Click on the search for Windows 11 and type 'CMD. Right click on CMD and select Run as administrator.

2. In the Command Prompt utility, run the provided command and press Enter:

RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll

3. Now you will see the utility to remove hardware safely. Select the unit you want to eject and click Arrest.

7. Eject the USB drive using Settings

There are many ways to eject a usb drive in windows 11. You can use the Settings app if you are unable to eject the drive from the system tray option. Here's how to eject it safely. Secure a USB drive using the application Configuration.

1. First, click on the Windows 11 search and select Settings.

2. In Settings, switch to the Bluetooth and devices section.

3. On the right side, click on Devices.

4. Find your USB drive and click on three points next to it. Then select Remove device.

8. Update Windows 11

If you cannot eject a USB drive in Windows 11, try updating your version of Windows. Beta and Dev versions of Windows 11 have a bug that prevents USB drives from being ejected.

You can remove that error by updating your Windows 11 computer. For update windows 11, follow the steps shared below.

1. First, click the Start button Windows 11 and select Settings.

2. In Settings, switch to the Windows Update eyelash.

3. On the right side, click on the Check for updates button.

Now, Windows 11 will check for all available updates. If an update is available, it will automatically download and install on your device.

9. Few more things you can try

If you still get the error when ejecting a USB or external hard drive, you should shut down your PC and disconnect the external drive.

Once this is done, turn on your PC, reconnect that drive and do not access any files. Then, try ejecting the hard drive from the system tray.

If you get the error, it is possible that Windows is indexing your external hard drive or the Windows Security application is accessing the disk for scanning purposes.

You can try disabling indexing on the external hard drive, stopping all ongoing scans by security programs, and then ejecting the drive.

Windows 11 won’t eject external hard drive? – FAQ:

Why can't I eject my hard drive in Windows 11?

If you can't eject your hard drive in Windows 11, the drive may be actively in use. Otherwise, the drive may be experiencing issues due to outdated or corrupted drivers.

What do I do if my external hard drive won't eject?

If you are unable to eject your external hard drive in Windows, the easiest solution is to restart or shut down your computer.

How do I know which program is using my external hard drive?

Finding out which program is using your external hard drive is tricky. The quickest way to resolve the can't eject hard drive error is to log out, log back in, and safely remove the storage drive.

How do I force eject a USB device in Windows 11?

You can force eject a USB device in Windows 11 by following the steps shared in Methods 6 and 7. Otherwise, log out, log back in, and remove the connected drive from the system tray.

These simple methods can solve the problem of not being able to expel a USB drive in Windows 11. If you need any further help to safely eject a USB drive in Windows 11, let us know in the comments below. Also, if you found the article helpful, then share it with your friends.