The device is being used: Eject the USB stick correctly

If Windows reports the error "The device is in use" while safely removing hardware, you cannot remove the USB stick or the external hard drive without possible loss or damage. We'll show you how to solve the problem.

Safely remove hardware: The device is currently in use

• The said error message is displayed if a process is still accessing the USB stick or the external hard drive. However, if you remove the hardware from your computer, data loss or errors in the file system may occur.
• If the problem occurs for the first time, shutting down the computer will fix it quickly. Access is automatically stopped and the hardware is removed. If you are sure that there is no longer any relevant access, USB sticks can also be removed without having to remove them safely.
• If you want to be on the safe side or if the problem occurs more frequently, the free software LockHunter will help you. If you select the USB stick or the external hard drive, you will be shown which process is accessing the external device. You can then end this process in the Task Manager.
• In the next practical tip, we will show you which devices the "Safely Remove Hardware" command is really important and which are not.