When a drive will not eject because it is "still in use," a program or background process still has a file on it open. Close any apps that opened files from the drive, including file browsers, media players, and photo tools, then try again. If it still fails, find the process holding it (Task Manager or Resource Monitor on Windows, Activity Monitor on Mac) and close it, or simply shut down the computer, which always releases the drive safely.
Why this happens
An operating system will not let you disconnect a drive while data might still be moving to or from it, because pulling it mid write can corrupt files. The "still in use" message means something has a lock on the drive.
- An open document, video, or photo stored on the drive.
- A file browser window (File Explorer or Finder) currently showing the drive.
- Background tasks such as antivirus scans, search indexing, thumbnail generation, or a backup running.
- A terminal or command window whose current folder is on the drive.
- Cloud sync or media apps scanning the drive's contents.
Is this normal?
Yes. It is a normal safety feature, not a fault. It is protecting your files from being cut off mid write.
Does it cause any problems?
The message itself is harmless. The real risk comes from ignoring it and unplugging anyway, which can corrupt files or the drive's file system. It is worth taking the extra moment to eject cleanly.
How to fix or check it
- Close obvious apps: close any documents, players, or photo tools that opened files from the drive, and close file browser windows pointed at it.
- Wait a moment: if you just finished a large copy, wait a few seconds for the write cache to flush, then try ejecting again.
- Find the process on Windows: open Resource Monitor, go to the CPU tab, and use the Associated Handles search box to type the drive letter and see which program is holding a file. Close that program.
- Force it on Windows if needed: if you cannot find the process, close all open windows, or use Task Manager to end suspect apps, then retry Safely Remove Hardware.
- Find the process on Mac: if Finder reports the disk is in use, quit apps that used it. You can also open Terminal and run
lsof /Volumes/DriveNameto see which process has files open, then quit it. - Use the correct eject method: on Windows click the Safely Remove Hardware icon or right click the drive and choose Eject. On Mac drag the drive to the Trash, click the eject arrow in Finder, or press Eject.
- Shut down as a fallback: if nothing works, shut the computer down fully, then unplug the drive once it is off. This is always safe.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to just unplug the drive anyway?
It is risky. If a write is still in progress, pulling the drive can corrupt files or the file system. Only unplug without ejecting if the computer is fully powered off.
Why does it say in use when I closed everything?
A background task such as antivirus, search indexing, or thumbnail creation may still be reading the drive. Wait a minute for it to finish, or use Resource Monitor or lsof to find the exact process.
Do I still need to eject USB drives on modern systems?
It is still the safest habit. Even when a system is set for quick removal, ejecting confirms that all pending writes have finished, which protects your data.