How to Safely Eject External Drives in Ubuntu
Safely ejecting external drives in Ubuntu prevents data corruption and loss.
Ejecting an external drive signals Ubuntu to complete any ongoing write operations, safeguarding your files.
For instance, abruptly removing a USB drive during a large file transfer on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS could corrupt its file system.
You can easily perform safe ejects using either the file manager or the command line.
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
Safely ejecting your external drive in Ubuntu Linux is important to prevent data loss or corruption.
From the Activities overview, search for and open the Files application.

Ubuntu Linux File Manager has its icon on the Dock by default. Open File Manager.
Locate the device in the sidebar. It should have a small eject icon next to its name. Click the eject icon to remove or eject the device safely.

Alternatively, right-click the device’s name in the sidebar and select Eject.

If any files on the device are open and in use by an application, you won’t be able to remove the device safely. You’ll see a window telling you “Volume is busy.”
To safely remove the device, click Cancel.
Close all the files on the device. Then, click the eject icon to remove or eject the device safely.
That should do it!
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.
What is the difference between safely remove drive and eject drive?
"Safely Remove Drive" and "Eject" are basically equivalent and do two things: It first unmounts the filesystem (as if the umount command were used), then it issues a SCSI eject command (which is accepted by things like CD-ROM drives, and ignored by almost everything else).
Was this guide helpful?
About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
No comments yet — be the first to share your thoughts!