How to Add the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media Icon to the System Tray in Windows 11
These steps turn on the safely remove hardware icon in the Windows 11 system tray, so you can eject a USB or external drive before unplugging it. Do them in order, since the screenshots below match each stage.
Open Settings Personalization Taskbar, or right-click an empty spot on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings. Under Notification area, expand Other system tray icons and set Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media to On. The change saves immediately with no restart. Plug in a USB drive and the icon will appear in the system tray.
Why You Need to Safely Remove Hardware
If you pull the drive out during that window, the last files you saved can be incomplete or damaged. In the worst case the drive’s file system gets corrupted, and Windows asks you to repair it the next time you plug the drive in.
For most external drives, Windows 11 uses a “quick removal” policy by default, which cuts that risk. It does not remove it. Large copies, drives in use by an app, and drives set to “Better performance” are still at risk. Ejecting first costs you two seconds.
Bringing Back the “Safely Remove Hardware” Icon
The "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" icon disappears from the Windows 11 system tray (the area near the clock) when no removable device is connected. That is normal, so a missing icon does not always mean something is broken. The steps below make sure the icon is allowed to show whenever a device is plugged in. The change takes effect straight away and needs no restart.
Step 1Open Taskbar Settings
- Right-click an empty spot on your taskbar. A small context menu appears. Click an empty area, not an app icon or the clock, or you will get a different menu.
- Select Taskbar settings. The Settings app opens on the Taskbar page.
Step 2Find System Tray Options
- Scroll down to the Notification area section. On some builds it is called System tray icons. Both names refer to the same section.
- Click Other system tray icons to expand it. You should now see a list of icons with an On/Off switch beside each one.
Step 3Turn On the Safely Remove Hardware Icon
- Find the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media entry in the list. On some Windows 11 builds this switch is listed under the name Windows Explorer, with the Safely Remove Hardware description underneath. It is the same switch.
- Set the switch to On. Settings saves the change as soon as you flip it. There is no Apply or OK button.
To undo it later, come back to Settings Personalization Taskbar and set the switch to Off.
The setting is now on, so the icon appears in the system tray whenever a removable device is connected. The remaining steps check that it works and show how to use it.
- Plug a USB drive or external hard drive into an open port. Wait a few seconds. The icon should appear in the system tray. If you don’t see it, click the small up arrow (Show hidden icons) next to the tray, because Windows may have put it in the overflow flyout. Drag the icon onto the taskbar if you want it always visible.
- Click the icon in the system tray. A list of connected removable devices opens.
- Click the device you want to remove. Windows starts closing its connections to the drive.
- Wait for the “Safe to remove hardware” message. Only then unplug the drive.
If Windows says the device is still in use, close any open files or folders on that drive, and any app that was using it. Then try the eject again.
When the Icon Still Doesn’t Show Up
If you turned the setting on and the icon is still missing, the usual cause is that no removable drive is connected. Windows hides the icon when there is nothing to eject. Plug a USB flash drive into an open port, wait a few seconds, and check the system tray again.
- No Removable Device ConnectedWindows hides the icon when it doesn’t detect a device that needs safe removal. Plug in a USB drive and see if the icon appears. Check the hidden icons arrow too.
- Device Not RecognizedYour PC might not be recognizing the connected device properly. If the icon still won’t show up, try a different USB port or cable first. Then check for a driver issue, and test the device on another computer to rule out a fault in the device itself.
As a fallback, you can open This PC in File Explorer, right-click the drive, and choose Eject. It does the same job as the tray icon.
Reference:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/Windows/Hardware/safely-remove-hardware-in-windows
Summary
Getting the "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" icon back is a common need, and it only takes a few settings. Once it is on, the icon is there whenever you need to disconnect external storage, which protects your data. Make a habit of using it before you pull any drive.
Frequently asked questions
How to eject USB when it doesn't show on task bar?
Open Settings, select Personalization, then Taskbar, and expand Other system tray icons. Turn on Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media. If the icon still does not appear, right-click the drive in File Explorer and choose Eject, which stops the drive before you unplug it.
What is the eject option on system tray?
The eject option is the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon in the system tray, near the clock. Click it to see a list of connected USB drives and external hard drives. Select the device, and Windows closes its connections so you can unplug it without risking lost or damaged files.
How to remove device on system tray?
Click the up arrow or the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon in the system tray, then select the device name. Wait for the notification that says it is safe to remove the hardware, then unplug the device. If you don't see the icon, turn it on in Taskbar settings.
How to pin eject hardware to task bar?
You cannot pin the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon to the taskbar in Windows 11, because the system tray does not accept pinned items. Instead, turn the icon on under Settings, Personalization, Taskbar, Other system tray icons. It then stays visible beside the clock whenever a removable device is connected.
Why might the safely remove icon be missing 🪟 Windows 11?
The most common cause is that the icon is turned off under Other system tray icons in Taskbar settings. It also appears only when Windows detects a removable device, so a drive connected in a way Windows treats as internal will not show it. Try a different USB port to check.
How to remove USB stick icon out from the task bar popup menu and place it right on the task bar itself?
Windows 11 does not let you drag the icon out of the popup menu onto the taskbar. The system tray is part of the taskbar, so the icon can only be shown or hidden. Open Settings, go to Personalization, then Taskbar, and turn on Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media under Other system tray icons.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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