Cannot Safely Remove My Passport Drive – Causes and Solutions

Many users encounter the frustrating error message “Cannot safely remove the device” when trying to eject their Western Digital (WD) My Passport external hard drive. This issue usually means that the drive is still being used by the system, even if it appears inactive. If not addressed properly, removing the drive without a safe ejection can lead to data corruption or loss. This guide outlines the common reasons behind the problem and provides effective solutions to safely remove your My Passport drive.

Why You Can’t Safely Remove the Drive

There are several possible reasons why Windows or macOS prevents safe removal of the WD My Passport external drive:

Background Processes Still Accessing the Drive: Some applications or services may still be reading from or writing to the drive, including file explorers, antivirus software, or backup tools.

Windows Explorer is Still Open: If a folder or file on the drive is open in File Explorer, Windows considers the drive in use.

Indexing or Auto-Scan Tools: Windows indexing service or automatic scanning from antivirus software can delay drive ejection.

File Syncing or Backup in Progress: If cloud syncing software or backup applications are accessing files, the drive cannot be safely removed.

Write Caching is Enabled: In some cases, write caching holds temporary files for performance. Removing the drive while data is still being cached can cause damage.

Solutions to Safely Eject My Passport

Close All Files and Applications

Ensure no files from the external drive are open in any program. Also, close applications like Word, Photoshop, video editors, or music players that might be accessing files stored on the drive.

Exit File Explorer Windows

Make sure no File Explorer windows are currently displaying contents from the My Passport drive. Even if you're not directly using a file, the system may still count the folder view as active use.

Disable Background Applications

Check your taskbar for backup software, antivirus scans, or cloud syncing tools like OneDrive or Google Drive that may be monitoring the external drive. Temporarily disable or pause them before attempting ejection.

Use Task Manager to Identify the Lock

Open Task Manager and look under the Processes tab. Look for any processes that might be using the drive, such as media players, security software, or file-sharing applications. End the relevant tasks if you’re sure they’re safe to stop.

Use the "Safely Remove Hardware" Tool

Click on the USB icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner on Windows) and try ejecting the drive using the “Safely Remove Hardware” option. If that fails, try ejecting from This PC by right-clicking the drive and selecting Eject.

Disable Write Caching (Windows Only)

If you frequently face this issue, consider disabling write caching:

Right-click on This PC > Manage

Go to Device Manager > expand Disk Drives

Right-click on your My Passport > Properties

Go to the Policies tab

Select Quick Removal instead of Better Performance

This allows for immediate disconnection without caching.

Use Command Prompt to Eject

Advanced users can open Command Prompt and use the diskpart tool to list and remove USB drives. This should be done cautiously to avoid ejecting the wrong drive.

Final Thoughts

The “Cannot safely remove” message for WD My Passport drives is common but manageable. By identifying which program or process is still using the drive, you can take appropriate action and prevent data loss. Always ensure the drive is safely ejected before unplugging it to protect your files and maintain the longevity of the device.