Windows users often faces this error “Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device” when they try to Eject/Safely USB mass storage device from Windows 10. This guide will help you to troubleshoot and fix this issue.

Errors

Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device
Problem Ejecting USB Attached SCSI (UAS) Mass Storage Device. This device is currently in use. Close any programs or windows that might be using the device, and then try again.

Update ALL your missing drivers with just 1 click

Common Reasons

These are the common reasons for this error “Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device”

  • You have accidently created a shortcut of a folder or file in the USB device and placed it on your desktop or documents folder.
  • A file or files that belongs to the USB device is open
  • A process or an executable is running from the USB device
  • Windows Security or Antivirus software might be scanning the USB device
  • A malware in your system is accessing the USB device.
  • A malware in the USB device currently running and active in the background

Forcibly removing USB storage device from your computer may lead to data loss. Carefully follow these steps to remove the USB mass storage device safely from your computer.

Prerequisites

  1. Save all your open files before starting the trouble shooting
  2. Download and run Windows USB Troubleshooter , After that try “Safely remove hardware”, if failed then please follow these troubleshooting steps mentioned below.

Troubleshooting steps

1. Delete Shortcuts

You may have accidently created a shortcut of a folder or file in the USB device and placed it on your desktop or documents folder, Delete that shortcut and then try to eject the USB device. Follow the next step if you are unable to eject the USB safely.

2. Close all files and folders

Close all files and folders that are active on your desktop. Try to eject it now. Follow the next step if failed.

3. Restart Explorer.exe

Open command prompt as administrator and execute these commands in the given order. Windows task bar will disappear after executing first command; second command will restore it.

taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F
C:\Windows\explorer.exe
Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device - Kill/Terminate explorer
Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device – Kill/Terminate eplorer.exe

4. Run Antivirus Scan

I hope you have a good and updated Antivirus software installed on your Windows 10 and it is active. Scan the USB device using your Antivirus software and remove if there is any infection. (See the affordable Antivirus Software). Try to eject it now. Follow the next step if failed. You can use Microsoft safety scanner to scan your computer.

5. Temporarily Disable The Antivirus

Disable your antivirus software temporarily , after that try to remove the USB safely. Follow the next step if failed.

6. Open Task Manager and End Task “rundll32.exe”

rundll32.exe is a Windows process that might be running in the background. This process can be closed either through command prompt or through task manager.

  • Kill rundll32.exe from command prompt
Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device - Kill/Terminate rundll21.exe
Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device – Kill/Terminate rundll21.exe
  • Kill rundll32.exe from task manager

Open task manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys together. Go to “Processes” tab, right click any of the columns and select “Process name”. Go through the running process and see whether “rundll32.exe” is running. If you found this process, then right click it and select “End task”.

Windows 10 Rundll32.exe end
Windows 10 Task Manager – Add Process name column
Windows 10 Rundll32.exe end
Windows 10 – End Task

7. Log off or Shutdown

Follow this step if all of these steps mentioned above failed .

  • Log off from Windows , re-login and try to eject the USB Drive.
  • Shut down your computer, then remove the USB device from the drive.

Advanced Method – Find out the process accessing USB device

  1. Download “Process Explorer” tool from Microsoft Explorer
  2. Go to Find menu then select “Find Handle or DLL” in the tool menu.
  1. Enter the drive letter of the USB device in the Handle or DLL substring textbox, and press Search Button.
  2. Find the process and its PID in the following box.
  3. In system process tree view, find the process according to the Find Handle or DLL dialog box.
  4. Press Ctrl + H to show Handles in Lower Pane View.
  5. Find the File according with the drive letter , and right click it, choose Close Handle.

Does this article solve your problem ? Please post your queries as comments to this post.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR