How to Safely Eject or Force Eject External Hard Drive on Mac?

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External hard drives are essential tools for backing up data, storing large files, and transferring information between devices. However, safely ejecting these drives from a Mac is crucial to prevent data corruption or hardware damage. Despite its simplicity, users sometimes face issues when trying to eject their drives. This article explores various methods for safely ejecting external hard drives on Mac, troubleshooting strategies, and tips to prevent future problems.

Why Safely Ejecting External Hard Drives Is Important?

Improperly removing an external hard drive can lead to serious consequences, including:

• Data Corruption: Files may become unreadable if the drive is removed while data is being written.
• Hardware Damage: Forceful ejection without proper unmounting can damage the drive's hardware.
• Loss of Work: Unsaved or partially transferred files might be lost permanently.

By understanding and following safe ejection practices, users can ensure the longevity and reliability of their external drives.

Methods to Safely Eject an External Hard Drive on Mac

macOS provides several straightforward ways to eject external hard drives. Ejecting an external hard drive properly ensures that your data remains intact and that your hardware remains functional for years. macOS provides several user-friendly methods for safely ejecting drives, catering to users of varying technical expertise. Below, we delve deeper into each approach:

Method 1. Eject External Device via Finder

Finder is the central hub for file management on Mac, and it simplifies the process of ejecting an external drive.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Open Finder by clicking on its icon in the Dock or pressing Command + Space and typing "Finder."
2. In the sidebar, locate your external drive under the "Locations" section.
3. Click the small triangular eject icon next to the drive's name or right-click the drive, choose Eject.

4. Wait for the drive's name to disappear from the list.

What Happens Internally?

When you click the eject icon, macOS sends a signal to terminate all read/write operations on the drive. It ensures all cached data is saved and that the drive is ready for safe removal.

Common Issues and Fixes:

• If the eject icon is greyed out, it may indicate that the drive is currently in use. Refer to the troubleshooting section for solutions.
• For drives that don't appear in the Finder sidebar, check Finder Settings (Finder > Settings > Sidebar) to ensure "External disks" is enabled.

Method 2. Use the Desktop Icon to Eject Drive

If you have configured your Mac to display external drives on the desktop, this method is incredibly quick and user-friendly.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Locate the external drive's icon on your desktop.
2. Right-click (or Control-click) the icon to open the context menu.
3. Select the option "Eject [Drive Name]."

4. Wait for the drive's icon to disappear before unplugging it.

Advantages:

• This method is faster for users who interact with their drives primarily via desktop icons.
• It eliminates the need to open Finder or another application.

Troubleshooting Tip:

If the drive icon does not appear on the desktop, go to Finder > Settings > General and ensure "External disks" is checked under the "Show these items on the desktop" section.

Method 3. Use the Dock to Eject External Hard Drive

The Dock offers a unique method for ejecting external drives, leveraging the intuitive drag-and-drop feature.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Drag the external drive's desktop icon to the Trash icon in the Dock.

2. Notice how the Trash icon changes to an eject symbol as you drag the drive icon over it.
3. Release the drive icon onto the Trash.

Why the Trash Icon Changes:

This feature is designed to reduce confusion. While the Trash icon typically signifies deletion, in this case, it signals the system's ability to eject external devices.

Precaution:

If the drive remains mounted even after this process, double-check that no files are in use, as this is a common cause for failure.

Method 4. Eject External Hard Drive via Disk Utility

Disk Utility is a powerful macOS tool that allows users to manage disks, partitions, and volumes. It's particularly helpful if you encounter issues using other methods.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Open Disk Utility from Applications > Utilities or by searching for it using Spotlight (Command + Space).
2. In the left-hand panel, select the external drive you want to eject.
3. Click the "Eject" button in the toolbar at the top of the window.

4. Wait for the drive to disappear from the list before unplugging it.

Additional Features of Disk Utility:

• First Aid: If you suspect that your drive is causing issues, run the "First Aid" tool to check for and repair disk errors.
• Formatting and Partitioning: Use Disk Utility to reformat or partition drives for optimal compatibility with macOS.

When to Use Disk Utility:

• If Finder doesn't display your drive.
• If the drive seems stuck or is unresponsive to standard eject commands.

Why Are There Multiple Methods?

macOS offers multiple ways to eject a drive to suit the needs and preferences of different users. For casual users, Finder or desktop icons may be sufficient, while advanced users or those troubleshooting problems may rely on Terminal or Disk Utility. Regardless of the method you choose, the goal is the same: ensure a safe disconnection to protect your data and hardware.

Troubleshooting: When the Drive Won't Eject

Sometimes, external drives refuse to eject, often due to ongoing processes or system errors. Here's how to troubleshoot and resolve these issues.

Ensure No Active Processes or Open Files

The most common reason a drive won't eject is that an application is still accessing it.

1. Check if files on the drive are open in apps like Preview, Pages, or Finder.
2. Close all files and quit any apps using the drive.

Pro Tip

To identify which app is causing the issue:

• Right-click the drive icon and select Get Info.
• Look for "Open Files and Ports" in the info window.

Use the 'Force Quit' Option

If an app remains unresponsive:

1. Go to the Apple menu and select Force Quit.
2. Identify the problematic app from the list and click Force Quit.
3. Retry ejecting the drive using any of the methods above.

Use Terminal to Force Eject

For advanced users, Terminal provides a powerful way to manually eject or force eject drives.

Step 1: Locate the Drive Identifier

1. Open Terminal from Launchpad > Other > Terminal.
2. Type the following command to list all drives:

   diskutil list

3. Note the identifier of the external drive (e.g., /dev/disk5).

Step 2: Unmount the Drive

Use the following command to unmount the drive:

diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX

(Replace diskX with your drive’s identifier.)

Step 3: Force Eject the Drive

If the unmount command fails, try:

diskutil eject /dev/diskX

Terminal commands are effective when graphical methods don't work.

Shut Down the Mac

As a last resort:

1. Shut down your Mac completely.
2. Disconnect the external drive after the system powers down.

This method ensures that no processes are accessing the drive.

Tips for Preventing Eject Issues

Preventing eject problems is often easier than solving them. Here are some best practices:

Close All Applications Using the Drive

Before ejecting, ensure that:

• No files on the drive are open.
• Applications like Time Machine, media players, or file transfer tools have stopped accessing the drive.

Use Proper Drive Formats

Formatting your drive in Mac-compatible formats reduces compatibility issues:

• Use HFS+ or APFS for macOS.
• Avoid using NTFS unless you have third-party drivers installed.

Regularly Check Drive Health

Periodically verify your drive's health using Disk Utility:

1. Open Disk Utility and select your drive.
2. Click First Aid to scan for and repair potential issues.

Avoid Forced Removal

Resist the temptation to unplug the drive without ejecting it properly. Doing so frequently increases the risk of file corruption.

When to Seek Professional Help

If eject issues persist, there may be underlying hardware problems or file system errors.

1. Signs of Hardware Issues
   • Repeated inability to eject, even after troubleshooting.
   • Unusual noises or vibrations from the drive.
   • Error messages indicating read/write failures.
2. Consult Professionals
   • Contact Apple Support for assistance with macOS-related issues.
   • Approach a data recovery specialist if you suspect data corruption or drive failure.

Recover Lost Data from External Hard Drive After Improper Ejection

Improper ejection may cause data loss on the external hard drive. You can use data recovery software to get the lost data back.

Step 1. Download and install Donemax Data Recovery for Mac on your Mac and reconnect the external hard drive to your Mac.

Step 2. Open Donemax Data Recovery for Mac, select the external hard drive to start data recovery.

Step 3. Click on Scan button to deeply scan the external hard drive and find all recoverable files.

Step 4. Once the scan is completed, you can preview all recoverable files. Then select the wanted files, click on Recover button to save them.

Conclusion

Safely ejecting an external hard drive on Mac is a simple yet vital step in ensuring data integrity and device longevity. Whether you're using Finder, Disk Utility, or Terminal, following the correct steps can prevent a host of issues. For those rare instances when the drive won't eject, troubleshooting techniques like force quitting applications or using Terminal can resolve the problem. By adopting these practices and maintaining your drive, you can enjoy seamless and safe use of your external storage devices.