If You Facing the Problem of Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device

Here you will find out:

• about "This device is currently in use” issue

• how to fix it

• when DiskInternals can help you

Are you ready? Let's read!

About the “This device is currently in use” issue

You are one of those individuals who appropriately removes their portable devices while also taking care of the state of the computer, flash drive, and the data on them if you see a message like this on the monitor. However, the "trouble ejecting USB mass storage device since this device is now in use" problem prevents you from putting all of these concepts into practice.

And in order to figure this out and fix it, read this article, where everything is laid out and is easily explained.

Learn more about partitions recovery!

Reasons behind the “This device is currently in use” issue

Most often, this error, based on its name, appears when one of its files is open and in use.

Therefore, you first need to close all the tabs on the computer, make sure that the flash drive is not being used at the moment, and then try to remove it again correctly.

It’s possible, though, that viruses that usually infect applications and drain resources in the background can create this situation.

You also need to check which file system your media has. NTFS may prevent the safe extraction of an object. If so, then you will have to start formatting the flash drive in exFAT and the problem will be solved.

The error “this device is currently in use” may pop up when deleting a USB flash drive on the taskbar or on This PC, or it may occur in both cases.

Step 1. Re-eject the device with the taskbar

So, if you didn’t manage to safely remove the USB flash drive through the notification in the taskbar, then try to do this through the This Computer shortcut and vice versa.

By double-clicking on this PC in the pop-up window, select the external device with the right mouse button. You will see the line “Safely remove the device”; click on it. If there was no warning message, feel free to remove the USB flash drive from the computer slot.

If this does not help, do not worry; just proceed to another step.

Step 2. Re-eject the device with Disk Management

So, simultaneously press Win + X, and select Disk Management from the menu. A new pop-up window displays all the drives on the computer. Naturally, you only need to select the USB flash drive with the right mouse button and click on Eject. Now there is no reason for concern; feel free to remove the device.

It should be remembered that the next time this device is recognized by the system, after reconnecting it to the computer, put it in the Online state. This is also easy to do through Disk Management.

Step 3. Run antivirus software

Everyone knows that viruses have the unique ability to spoil everything and everywhere, with the subsequent failure of some computer functions. And the normal removal of devices is no exception, so checking your computer for viruses always, at the slightest deviation from the norm, is good practice and justified. Before starting the antivirus, make sure that it is updated.

If this is not the case, correct this situation, because otherwise there is no guarantee that all viruses will be removed.

Step 4. Formation may help

Formatting the device in exFAT is the most optimal version of the file system, which has all the characteristics suitable for modern flash drives. In general, you will have less problems with this file system than with the rest. However, before formatting, you need to worry about your files - pictures, documents, music, videos, etc., which are stored on a USB flash drive. After all, it is known that after formatting they will be lost.

Now you can format the flash drive in exFAT. In This PC, right-click the USB flash drive. Then you need to select the desired action - at the moment this is formatting. There is nothing complicated here, you just need to be guided by tips and wait a bit for the process to complete. Now you should no longer have questions about safe data retrieval.