Overview
Some USB devices, such as a flash drive, must first be stopped before they can be removed from your computer or shut off. Stopping the device is done to ensure that nothing is being written to the memory card. If you remove the device without first stopping it the information on it can be corrupted.
Safely Removing a USB Device
- Look for the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon on the taskbar. You may first need to click the upward-facing arrow on the far-left side of these options to view it.
- Click the "Eject" icon. Doing so will bring up a small a drop-down menu.
- In the new window, click on the device you wish to remove. A flash drive is listed as "USB Mass Storage Device". Click the Eject button.
- Wait for the "Safe to Remove Hardware" prompt. Once this notification displays on the bottom-right side of your computer's screen, your flash drive is ready for removal.
- Physically remove the flash drive from your device.
Alternative Method
If the above method does not work, make sure the device has stopped all activity like copying or syncing files and follow the steps below.
- Open the Start menu by either clicking the Windows icon on the bottom-left corner of the screen or by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard.
- Type Settings in the search bar and hit the Enter key on your keyboard or click on Settings with your mouse.
- Select Devices from the menu on the new window.
- In the Bluetooth & other devices section, select Devices and printers under related settings.
- Find the device that you want to remove from the list and select it.
- Click the Remove Device button.
- A small window will pop up asking if you are sure that you want to remove the device. Click Yes.
- Physically remove the flash drive from your device.