Eject button is greyed out for external hard drive


  1. desbest
    Posts : 255
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Eject button is greyed out for external hard drive


    When right clicking my hard drive in This PC, there is no Eject option on the context menu.

    Also the Eject button on the ribbon toolbar is greyed out so it won't let me click it. It only appears in safely remove hardware.

    How do I get it back so it appears?

    I'm using Windows 10 1909
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  3. Paul Black
    Posts : 18,044
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit v1909 - Build 18363 Custom ISO Install
       New #2

    Hello @desbest,

    desbest said:
    When right clicking my hard drive in This PC, there is no Eject option on the context menu.

    Also the Eject button on the ribbon toolbar is greyed out so it won't let me click it. It only appears in safely remove hardware.

    How do I get it back so it appears?
    Very strange!

    Try this . . .

    [1] Press the Win Key + I to open Settings.
    [2] Go to Update and security.
    [3] Navigate to the Troubleshoot panel.
    [4] Scroll down and locate Hardware and devices.
    [5] Select it and click Run the troubleshooter.

    I hope this helps!
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  4. Berton
    Posts : 14,020
    Win10 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home, Win7, Linux Mint
       New #3

    The same process exists on my main Desktop, with a drive letter assigned to 2 USB HDDs can only Eject from the Safely Remove on the Notification Area.
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  6. Paul Black
    Posts : 18,044
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit v1909 - Build 18363 Custom ISO Install
       New #4

    Hello @desbest,

    Does this also happen if you plug the external HDD into another port?
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  7. Farvatten
    Posts : 915
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit 22H2 19045.3324
       New #5

    desbest said:
    When right clicking my hard drive in This PC, there is no Eject option on the context menu.
    Assuming this is an External USB HDD then normally there is no Eject option because it's not classed as 'Removable', only USB Flash Drives have the context menu option according to my own experience as well as this well respected source.

    Bree said:
    Only for drives Windows sees as a 'removable drive', such as a USB flash drive. A USB HDD isn't a removable drive, you can only eject it from the icon in the taskbar.
    There's the Task Tray 'Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media' option to eject.

    Or Settings > Devices > Other Devices

    Eject button is greyed out for external hard drive-settingsdevicesusb-eject.jpg
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  8. desbest
    Posts : 255
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    According to an Independent Advisor on the Microsoft Answers technical support forum.

    Hi and thanks for reaching out! I'm an Independent Advisor and a Microsoft user like you. Please allow me to assist with your issue.

    If you are on Windows 10, version 1809 and above, you no longer need to eject external USB storage devices. The default removal policy has been changed from Better performance to Quick Removal. Please check this article that I find useful:
    With Windows 10 1809, Microsoft drops safe removal of USB drives as the default option

    Please let me know if I can help you further!

    Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.
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