Safely remove hardware in Windows

Use the system tray icon

1. In the system tray area of the taskbar, right-click the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon.

   

   If the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon isn't visible, select Show hidden icons first, and then right-click the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon.

   Tip

   If the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon still isn't visible after selecting Show hidden icons , then see the section Add the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon to the system tray below to add it to the system tray.

2. In the menu that pops up, select Eject <device> for the hardware device that needs to be removed.

3. The notification Safe To Remove Hardware displays and the hardware device disappears from the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media menu. The hardware device can be safely removed.

Add the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon to the system tray

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.

   Or

   Select the following Personalization > Taskbar shortcut:

   Open Personalization > Taskbar

2. In the Personalization > Taskbar window, select Other system tray icons to expand it.

3. Scroll to find Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media.

4. Make sure Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media is turned On.

5. The Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon should now appear in the system tray area of the taskbar.

Use the Settings app to remove a device

1. Select Start and then select Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices .

   Or

   Select the following Bluetooth & devices > Devices shortcut:

   Open Bluetooth & devices > Devices

2. In the Bluetooth & devices > Devices shortcut window, under the Other devices section, find the hardware device that needs to be removed.

3. Once the desired hardware device is found, select it to expand it.

4. Next to Remove this device, select Remove. Make sure Remove is the one immediately below the hardware device that needs to be removed.

5. Once the hardware device disappears from the Other devices section, it can be safely removed.

Use the system tray icon

1. In the system tray area of the taskbar, right-click the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon. If the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon isn't visible, select Show hidden icons first, and then right-click the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon.

   

   Tip

   If the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon still isn't visible after selecting Show hidden icons , then see the section Add the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon to the system tray in this article to add it to the system tray.

2. In the menu that pops up, select Eject <device> for the hardware device that needs to be removed.

3. The notification Safe To Remove Hardware displays and the hardware device disappears from the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media menu. The hardware device can be safely removed.

Add the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon to the system tray

If the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon still isn't visible after selecting Show hidden icons , then use the following steps to make it visible:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.

   Or

   Select the following Taskbar shortcut:

   Taskbar

2. In the Taskbar window, under Notification area, select the Select which icons appear on the taskbar link.

3. In the Select which icons appear on the taskbar window, scroll through the list and find Windows Explorer: Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media

4. Make sure Windows Explorer: Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media is switched On.

   Important

   There might be multiple Windows Explorer options. Make sure to switch On the Windows Explorer item that's labeled Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media.

5. The Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon should now appear in the system tray area of the taskbar.

Use the Settings app

1. On the Windows device, select Start and then select Settings > Devices .

   Or

   Select the following Bluetooth & other devices shortcut:

   Open Bluetooth & other devices

2. In the Bluetooth & other devices window, under the Other devices section, find the hardware device that needs to be removed.

3. Once the desired hardware device is found, select it to expand it.

4. Select the Remove device button. Make sure the Remove device button being selected is the one immediately below the hardware device that needs to be removed.

5. In the Are you sure you want to remove this device? window, select the Yes button.

6. Once the hardware device disappears from the Other devices section, it can be safely removed.