How to Safely Eject External Drives in Ubuntu
Safely ejecting external drives in Ubuntu stops your computer from corrupting files or losing data by forcing the system to finish all background writing tasks before you unplug the device. Pulling out a USB stick while data is still moving can break the file system beyond repair and ruin your files.
You can protect your files in just a couple of clicks using the desktop file manager or by typing a quick command in the terminal.
Open the Files application, find your drive in the sidebar, and click the eject icon next to its name. If the drive is busy, close any open files on it first, then click eject.
How to safely eject the external drive in Ubuntu Linux
To safely eject external drives Ubuntu users can use the default file manager to unmount hardware before unplugging it. You can do this by opening the Files app and clicking the eject icon next to your drive name in the left sidebar. This stops all background data transfers so your files do not get corrupted when you disconnect the USB cable.
Open the Files application by searching for it from the Activities overview.
The File Manager also opens by clicking its icon on the Dock, where it’s open by default. The Files app handles your system directories and connected drives.
Locate your drive in the sidebar. A small eject icon appears next to its name. Click this icon to remove or eject the device safely.
Right-clicking the device's name in the sidebar and selecting Eject serves as another option.
Open files lock the device in place, triggering a "Volume is busy" warning if you try to disconnect. Cancel the prompt, close out of any active files, and try clicking the eject icon again.
To proceed, click Cancel.
Active files must be closed before clicking the eject icon to remove the device safely.
The setup is complete.
Conclusion:
- Safely ejecting external storage devices in Ubuntu Linux is crucial to prevent data loss or damage.
- Utilize the "Files" application to eject external drives from Ubuntu Linux safely.
- Always ensure that files on the device are closed and not in use by any application before ejecting the device.
- Following these steps will help maintain the integrity of your data and prevent any potential loss or damage to your files.
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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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