Ejecting an external hard drive is the process of safely removing it from a computer before physically unplugging it. If you don’t eject an external hard drive, you risk losing data or damaging the device. Ejecting an external hard drive on a Mac computer is easy to do, and this blog post will guide you through several methods.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Eject External Hard Drive Mac
Ejecting external hard drives on a Mac computer is essential because it ensures that the drive has finished all read and write operations. Failing to eject an external hard drive can lead to corruption and damage to the data on the drive. Additionally, a sudden disconnection while transferring data can cause the drive to malfunction or stop working entirely.
Method 1: Eject via Finder
To eject an external hard drive via Finder, follow these steps:
1. Open Finder
2. Locate the external hard drive in the "Devices" section on the left sidebar
3. Right-click on the external hard drive’s name
4. Select "Eject" from the drop-down menu
Pros:
– This is the quickest and easiest method
– You can eject multiple external hard drives at once
Cons:
– The external hard drive doesn’t disappear from the desktop, which could be confusing
Method 2: Eject via Dock
To eject an external hard drive via Dock, follow these steps:
1. Click on the external hard drive’s icon on the Dock
2. Drag the icon to the Trash bin icon on the Dock
3. Release the icon over the Trash bin icon
Pros:
– This method removes the external hard drive from the desktop, which avoids confusion
– You can eject multiple external hard drives at once
Cons:
– You could accidentally delete important data if you’re not careful
Method 3: Eject via Terminal Commands
To eject an external hard drive via Terminal Commands, follow these steps:
1. Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal)
2. Type "diskutil list" and hit Enter
3. Find the external hard drive’s name in the list
4. Type "diskutil eject [external hard drive name]" and hit Enter
Pros:
– This method is good for those who prefer using command line
– You can use this method even if you can’t locate the external hard drive on Finder or the Dock
Cons:
– You need to be careful while typing the command to avoid errors
– It requires previous experience with Terminal Commands
What to Do If You Can’t Eject External Hard Drive Mac
If you can’t eject an external hard drive on your Mac computer, try these fixes:
– Close any programs or files that might be using the external hard drive
– Try a different ejecting method (e.g., if you tried using Dock, try using Finder)
– Restart your Mac computer
– Disconnect the external hard drive physically (only as a last resort)
Bonus Tip
If you plan on using an external hard drive frequently, consider formatting it to work with your Mac computer. Formatting the drive to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or APFS formats will guarantee that the drive works optimally with your Mac computer.
5 FAQs
Q1: Why can’t I see my external hard drive on my Mac computer?
A: There are several reasons why you can’t see an external hard drive on a Mac computer. It could be that the external hard drive isn’t properly connected, the cable is damaged, or the drive isn’t formatted to work with a Mac.
Q2: What happens if I unplug an external hard drive without ejecting it?
A: Unplugging an external hard drive without ejecting it could cause damage to the drive and lead to data corruption or loss.
Q3: Can you eject multiple external hard drives at once?
A: Yes, you can eject multiple external hard drives at once using any of the methods listed in this post.
Q4: Is it safe to physically unplug an external hard drive if it’s still mounted?
A: No, it’s not safe to physically unplug an external hard drive if it’s still mounted. You must eject it first.
Q5: Why do external hard drives show up on the desktop?
A: External hard drives show up on the desktop to make it easier for users to access the data on these drives.
Final Thoughts
Ejecting an external hard drive on a Mac computer is an easy but crucial task. Always remember to eject an external hard drive before physically unplugging it to avoid data loss or damage. Follow any of the methods listed in this post to eject your external hard drive quickly and safely.