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Fix 'Volume in Use' Error: Stop Windows from Blocking Device Ejection

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External storage devices like USB drives are convenient for data portability. However, improperly removing them can lead to data loss or corruption. Windows provides the “Safely Remove Hardware” feature to prevent this, but users sometimes encounter an error message even when using this feature. This error prevents the safe ejection of the device.

Windows can’t stop your ‘Generic volume’ device because a program is still using it. Close any programs that might be using the device, and then try again later.

This error typically arises when Windows detects that a program or system process is still accessing the external drive. Common reasons include ongoing file transfers, background indexing by Windows Search, or incorrect device removal policy settings. Let’s explore several effective solutions to resolve this issue and ensure the safe removal of your USB storage device.

1. Close all open Program & Explorer windows

Explanation

One of the simplest and often overlooked solutions is to ensure that no programs or File Explorer windows are actively using files on your USB drive. Even if you believe you have closed all relevant applications, some processes might still be running in the background and accessing the drive.

File Explorer itself can sometimes keep a handle on the drive, especially if you have recently browsed files on it or have preview panes enabled. Closing all File Explorer instances and any applications that might be interacting with the USB drive can release the system’s lock on the device, allowing for safe ejection.

To close all File Explorer windows, you can right-click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager”. In Task Manager, under the “Processes” tab, look for “Windows Explorer”. If you see multiple instances or if you are unsure, simply select “Windows Explorer” and click “End task”. Windows will automatically restart Explorer, ensuring a fresh start. After restarting Explorer and closing all other applications, try ejecting your USB drive again.

2. Configure Device Removal Policy

Step-by-step guide

Windows offers different removal policies for external storage devices, which can influence how aggressively the system manages the drive and whether it allows for quick removal. The “Quick removal” policy is generally recommended for convenience, while “Better performance” might sometimes lead to the “Volume in Use” error. Adjusting this policy can resolve the issue.

  1. Open File Explorer: Click on the File Explorer icon on your taskbar or press Windows key + E.

  2. Locate the USB drive: In the left-hand pane, find “This PC” and expand it to see your connected drives. Identify the drive letter associated with your USB storage device.

  3. Access Drive Properties: Right-click on the USB drive and select Properties from the context menu.

    Access Drive Properties

  4. Navigate to Hardware Tab: In the Properties window, click on the Hardware tab.

    Hardware Tab

  5. Select the Disk Drive: Under “All disk drives,” you will see a list of storage devices. Select the specific disk drive that corresponds to your USB device. It might be listed as “Generic USB Device” or with the brand name of your USB drive.

  6. Open Device Properties: With the correct disk drive selected, click on the Properties button below, under “Device properties”.

    Device Properties Button

  7. Change Settings: In the new “Properties” mini-window, click on the Change Settings button located at the bottom. You might need administrator privileges to do this.

    Change Settings Button

  8. Go to Policies Tab: Another mini-window will appear. Navigate to the Policies tab.

    Policies Tab

  9. Choose Removal Policy: Under “Removal policy,” you will see two options:

    • Quick removal (default): This policy manages storage operations in a way that keeps the device ready to remove at any time. However, using this policy might disable write caching, which can slightly decrease performance.

    • Better performance: This policy enables write caching to improve performance. Windows may cache write operations to the device, which means data might still be in the cache even after a write operation appears to be complete. If you use this policy, you must use the Safely Remove Hardware process to ensure data integrity.

    Ensure Quick removal (default) is selected. If it’s already selected, you can try switching to Better performance, applying the changes, and then switching back to Quick removal. This process can sometimes reset the device’s behavior.

    Quick Removal Policy

  10. Apply and OK: Click OK to close the “Properties” mini-window, and then click OK again to close the device properties window.

  11. Test Ejection: Try ejecting your USB drive again using the “Safely Remove Hardware” icon in the system tray or by right-clicking the drive in File Explorer and selecting “Eject”.

3. Change the file system to FAT32

When to consider FAT32

If you consistently encounter the “Volume in Use” error with a particular USB drive, especially if the drive is frequently used across different operating systems, changing the file system to FAT32 might be a viable solution. FAT32 is an older file system that is known for its broad compatibility and simpler file management, which can sometimes reduce conflicts that lead to ejection errors.

Important Considerations:

  • Data Loss: Formatting a drive will erase all data on it. Back up all important data from your USB drive to another location before proceeding with formatting.
  • File Size Limit: FAT32 has a file size limit of 4GB. If you need to transfer files larger than 4GB, FAT32 is not suitable. Consider using exFAT or NTFS instead if large file support is required and the error persists with other file systems.

Formatting to FAT32

  1. Backup Data: Ensure you have backed up all the data from your USB drive. Formatting will delete everything.

  2. Open File Explorer: Open File Explorer as described earlier.

  3. Locate USB Drive: Find your USB drive under “This PC”.

  4. Format Option: Right-click on the USB drive and select Format from the context menu.

    Format Option

  5. Format Settings: In the “Format” window:

    • File system: From the “File system” dropdown menu, select FAT32 (Default).
    • Allocation unit size: Leave this as “Default allocation size”.
    • Volume label: You can enter a new name for your drive or leave it as is.
    • Format options: Check the box for Quick Format. This option performs a faster format but does not scan the drive for bad sectors. If you suspect drive issues, you can uncheck “Quick Format” for a full format, which takes longer but performs a thorough check.

    Format Settings FAT32

  6. Start Formatting: Click on the Start button.

  7. Warning Message: You will see a warning message that formatting will erase all data. Click OK to proceed if you have backed up your data and are sure you want to format the drive.

  8. Format Completion: Wait for the formatting process to complete. Once done, click OK in the confirmation message.

After formatting to FAT32, reconnect your USB drive and try using it. Monitor if the “Volume in Use” error persists. If the error is resolved, FAT32 might be a suitable file system for your use case, especially if compatibility is a priority. If you need to handle files larger than 4GB or require more advanced file system features, consider other solutions if the error reappears.

4. Change drive letters

How to change drive letters

Sometimes, conflicts with drive letters assigned to your USB device can cause ejection issues. Changing the drive letter can resolve these conflicts by assigning a new, unique identifier to the drive.

  1. Open Disk Management: Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type diskmgmt.msc and press Enter or click OK. This will open the Disk Management utility.

    Run Dialog Disk Management

  2. Locate USB Drive: In Disk Management, find your USB storage device in the list of drives. It is usually identified by its storage capacity and might be labeled as “Removable”. Note the current drive letter assigned to it.

    Disk Management Locate USB

  3. Change Drive Letter and Paths: Right-click on the volume (partition) of your USB drive. Be careful to select the volume corresponding to your USB drive and not your system partitions. From the context menu, select Change Drive Letter and Paths….

    Change Drive Letter and Paths

  4. Change Option: In the “Change Drive Letter and Paths for [Drive Letter]” window, click on the Change button.

    Change Button Drive Letter

  5. Assign New Drive Letter: In the “Change Drive Letter or Path” window, use the dropdown menu next to “Assign drive letter” to choose a new drive letter for your USB device. Select a letter that is not currently in use by other drives. Windows will typically suggest available letters.

    Assign New Drive Letter

  6. Confirm Changes: Click OK in the “Change Drive Letter or Path” window.

  7. Warning Prompt: You might receive a warning prompt stating that some programs that rely on drive letters might not run correctly. Click Yes to confirm the change. In most cases, this warning is not a concern for USB storage devices, as applications usually access files by path rather than drive letter for removable media.

    Warning Prompt Drive Letter Change

  8. Close Disk Management: Close the Disk Management utility.

  9. Reboot (Optional): While not always necessary, restarting your computer after changing the drive letter can ensure that all changes are fully applied and any potential conflicts are resolved.

After changing the drive letter, try ejecting your USB drive again. A new drive letter can sometimes bypass underlying issues causing the “Volume in Use” error.

5. Using DISKPART to get the drive to be offline

Command-line method using DISKPART

DISKPART is a powerful command-line utility for managing disks and partitions. Using DISKPART to take the USB drive offline forcefully dismounts the volume, which can be helpful when standard ejection methods fail.

Caution: Using DISKPART incorrectly can lead to data loss or system instability. Follow these instructions carefully.

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  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Press Windows key, type cmd, right-click on “Command Prompt”, and select “Run as administrator”. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control.

    Run Command Prompt as Administrator

  2. Start DISKPART: In the Command Prompt window, type diskpart and press Enter. This will launch the DISKPART utility.

    diskpart

  3. List Disks: Type list disk and press Enter. This command displays all disks connected to your computer, including internal and external drives. Identify your USB drive from the list. Carefully note the disk number corresponding to your USB drive. Usually, USB drives are listed as removable and their size can help you identify them.

    list disk

    The output will look something like this (disk numbers and sizes will vary):

      Disk ###  Status         Size     Free     Dyn  Gpt
  --------  -------------  -------  -------  ---  ---
  Disk 0    Online          476 GB      0 B
  Disk 1    Online           14 GB      0 B  *

    In this example, “Disk 1” is likely the USB drive based on its size (14 GB) and the asterisk () indicating it’s removable. *Double-check the size** to ensure you select the correct disk number for your USB drive.

  4. Select Disk: Type select disk #, replacing # with the disk number you identified in the previous step for your USB drive. For example, if your USB drive is Disk 1, type select disk 1 and press Enter.

    select disk 1

    DISKPART will confirm the disk selection: Disk 1 is now the selected disk.

  5. Take Disk Offline: Type offline disk and press Enter. This command takes the selected disk offline, forcefully dismounting all volumes on it.

    offline disk

    DISKPART will confirm: DiskPart successfully set disk 1 offline.

    At this point, Windows will no longer access the USB drive, and it should be safe to physically remove it.

  6. Exit DISKPART: Type exit and press Enter to exit the DISKPART utility. Then, type exit again to close the Command Prompt window.

    exit
exit

Bringing the Disk Online Again:

When you reconnect your USB drive later, it might remain offline and not be accessible in File Explorer. To bring it back online using DISKPART:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and start DISKPART as described in steps 1 and 2 above.
  2. List Disks: Type list disk and press Enter to see the list of disks. Your USB drive will likely be listed as “Offline”.
  3. Select Disk: Type select disk #, replacing # with the disk number of your USB drive (it should be the same number you noted earlier). Press Enter.

  4. Bring Disk Online: Type online disk and press Enter.

    online disk

    DISKPART will confirm: DiskPart successfully set disk 1 online.

  5. Exit DISKPART: Type exit and press Enter twice to exit DISKPART and Command Prompt.

Your USB drive should now be online and accessible in File Explorer again. Use the DISKPART offline/online method with caution and only when other ejection methods fail, as it forcefully dismounts the drive and should be used as a last resort.

6. Manage the hogging processes

Identify and terminate processes using Task Manager

Sometimes, specific applications or background processes are persistently using the USB drive, preventing ejection. Task Manager can help you identify and terminate these processes.

  1. Open Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys simultaneously to open Task Manager. Alternatively, right-click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager”.

    Task Manager Shortcut

  2. Check Processes: In Task Manager, go to the Processes tab. Look for applications or processes that might be using your USB drive. Common culprits include:

    • File Explorer (if it’s not already closed as suggested in Solution 1)
    • Backup software
    • Media players
    • File synchronization tools
    • Antivirus software (sometimes scans external drives in the background)
    • Any application you were recently using to access files on the USB drive.

    To help identify processes using disk activity, you can click on the “Disk” column header to sort processes by disk usage. Processes heavily using disk I/O might be accessing your USB drive.

    Task Manager Processes Tab

  3. End Task: Once you identify a suspicious process, select it by clicking on it. Then, click the End task button in the bottom right corner of the Task Manager window.

    End Task Button

    If you are unsure about a process, try ending tasks for applications you suspect might be using the drive. Be cautious when ending system processes you are unfamiliar with, as this could cause system instability. However, for most user-installed applications, ending their tasks is generally safe.

  4. Restart Explorer.exe (Optional): If you are still facing issues, you can try restarting Windows Explorer (explorer.exe) through Task Manager. In the “Processes” tab, find “Windows Explorer”, right-click on it, and select “Restart”. This can sometimes release any lingering handles File Explorer might have on the USB drive.

    Restart Explorer Option

  5. Try Ejecting Again: After ending the suspected processes and optionally restarting Explorer, try ejecting your USB drive again using the “Safely Remove Hardware” icon or the “Eject” option in File Explorer.

By managing running processes, you can manually release any applications or services that are preventing the safe ejection of your USB device. This method provides a direct way to control which programs are accessing the drive and resolve the “Volume in Use” error.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I eject my USB when it says it’s in use?

If your USB says it’s in use, first ensure you have closed all files and programs that might be accessing the drive. Then, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Look for any processes that might be related to your USB drive or files you were using on it. Select these processes and click “End task”. After ending the tasks, try ejecting the USB again by right-clicking the drive in File Explorer and selecting “Eject”.

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

To force eject a USB device in Windows 11, you should first try the standard ejection methods. Right-click the USB icon in the system tray and select “Eject”. If this fails, try using File Explorer: right-click the USB drive under “This PC” and select “Eject”. If these methods do not work, consider using DISKPART as described in Solution 5 to take the drive offline before physically removing it. As a last resort, if all else fails and you need to remove the drive, shutting down your computer completely will ensure no processes are using the drive, allowing for safe physical removal, although this is not ideal for regular use.

Let us know in the comments below if these solutions helped you resolve the “Volume in Use” error, or if you have any other tips to share!

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