Mac won't eject an external drive: 5 things to try

2 min read · 6 steps · Updated 3 October 2026

The message that a disk could not be ejected because it is in use means exactly that: some program still has a file open on it. Pulling the cable anyway risks damaging the files that were being written. The fixes below go from gentle to firm.

Menu names are from recent versions of macOS, where the settings app is called System Settings.

Step by step

1. Eject the normal way first

   In the Finder, click the eject symbol next to the drive in the sidebar, or select the drive and press Command-E. Wait until the drive disappears from the sidebar before you unplug it.

   Done

2. Quit the app that is using it

   The warning often names the app. Quit it and eject again. To see what is open, hold Command and press Tab. Typical culprits are Photos, Music, a video player, Preview with a PDF from the drive, and Terminal.

   Done

3. Close the documents on the drive

   If you cannot quit the whole app, close every document and window that shows files from the drive, including Finder windows and Quick Look previews.

   Done

4. Wait for background work

   Spotlight indexes new drives, and Time Machine or a cloud app may still be copying. Give it a minute or two, check that no progress bars are running, and try again.

   Done

5. Log out and back in

   Choose Apple menu, Log Out, then log in again. That closes everything in your account that held the drive. Eject it straight away, before opening other apps.

   Done

6. Shut down

   If the drive still refuses, choose Apple menu, Shut Down. When the Mac is completely off, unplug the drive and start the Mac again.

   Done

Good to know

The Force Eject button in the warning skips the check. Use it only when you are sure nothing is being saved to the drive.

If another user account on the Mac is using the drive, that user has to log out first.

If macOS says the disk was not ejected properly after the Mac woke from sleep, the drive lost its connection during sleep. Try another cable or port, or a hub with its own power supply.

After a forced removal, check the drive: how to repair a disk on a Mac with Disk Utility First Aid. If the drive does not appear at all: external drive not showing up on a Mac: 8 fixes to try.

In short: Quit the app that has files open, close documents from the drive, wait for copying and indexing, log out and in, and as a last resort shut down before unplugging.