Steps to Safe Eject and Remove External Drives on Windows or macOS

Critical: Not using safe eject may result in the loss of data. Need more help? Answer ID 16458: Consequences of an Unsafe External Drive Removal

Safe eject a drive on Windows, macOS, or WD Drive Utilities.

Windows

1. Click Safely Remove Hardware.
   
   


2. Click the drive to eject.
   
   


3. Remove the drive after the Safe to Remove Hardware message shows.
   
   

Need more help?
Answer ID 16330: Problem Ejecting an External Drive on Windows

macOS

1. Right-click the drive.
   Select Eject.
   
   


2. Remove the drive once ejected.

WD Drive Utilities (Windows and macOS)

WD Drive Utilities can be used on supported WD drives.

Supported Drives

• Direct Attached Storage (DAS) Drives: My Book, My Book for Mac, My Book Duo, My Book Pro, WD Drive Plus, WD easystore Desktop, WD easystore Portable, My Passport works with USB-C, My Passport, My Passport for Mac, My Passport Ultra, My Passport Ultra for Mac, My Passport Ultra (USB-C), My Passport Ultra for Mac (USB-C),My Passport Ultra Metal, WD Elements SE, WD Backup Drive Desktop
• Drives not listed above are NOT supported.
• Attach a Supported WD Drive message.
  
  Need more help?
  Answer ID 6265: Attach a Supported WD Drive Message in WD Security & WD Drive Utilities

Instructions

1. Download WD Drive Utilities.
    
   • WD Drive Utilities for Windows
   • WD Drive Utilities for macOS


2. Open WD Drive Utilities.


3. Right-click the drive.


4. Click Eject Disk.
   
   


5. Remove the drive from the computer.