As you’re trying to eject a removable device from your Windows computer, the following error message rears its ugly face on the screen:

Don’t panic. Help is on the way.

In this post, we’ll discuss 6 effective solutions to this error. So, let’s dive right in.

Why does “This device is currently in use” error occur?

Typically, the error arises when you eject a removable device from the system while some files of the device are in use. However, it’s not uncommon to receive the error even when all files of the ejectable device are closed.

Like any other Windows error, the “This device is currently in use” error can occur due to many reasons. The two most common ones are:

• One or more programs are using some files in the removable device
• A program or software, like a third-party antivirus tool or Windows Defender, is accessing the device in the background

How to troubleshoot “This device is currently in use”?

Before we discuss the solutions, a few words of advice:

Do not forcibly unplug your device. If you do so, your computer may fail to recognize the device the next time you plug in. There’s also the risk of the device or its files getting damaged.

Solution #1 – Eject the device from “This PC”

• Press Win + E keys to launch File Explorer
• Double click This PC in the left-side pane

• Right-click the removable device and select Eject

Solution # 2 – Log off the computer

When you log off, all files and programs currently in use are closed. For this reason, it’s a good idea to give this basic solution a try.

Solution # 3 – Use Disk Management to eject the device

• Press Win + R keys to launch the Run dialog box
• Type diskmgmt.msc and hit Enter

• In the Disk Management window, locate the device you want to remove. Next, right-click it and select Eject

Solution #4 – Use Task Manager to eject the device

• Press Ctrl+Shift+Del (some users may need to press Ctrl+Alt+Del) to access the Task Manager window
• Locate the removable device in the Processes tab, right-click the device, and select End task

Solution #5 – Temporarily disable security software

It’s possible that your security software is accessing the files of your removable device in the background. Disable the security software and check if you’re able to eject the removable device.

Solution #6 – Use device manager to eject the device

• Type device manager in the Search bar in the taskbar and hit Enter
• In the Device Manager window, locate and expand the Disk drives entry
• Locate the device you want to remove, right-click it and select Uninstall

That’s it! We hope one of these solutions worked for you. Let us know if this blog post has helped you by leaving a comment below. Please share the post so that others can benefit from it.

Before signing off for the day, a pro tip to keep your Windows computer in top shape: Update your device drivers on a regular basis. How? Glad you asked. While you can update drivers manually, it’s far from easy. A better option is to use an advanced driver update tool such as Driver Updater.

Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:

• You can update device drivers automatically
• The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
• The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
• Automatic driver updates are 100% safe

Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.

Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app

Step 2
Scan all devices

Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically

Start Download

You’re likely to run into INVALID DATA ACCESS TRAP error when upgrading or updating the OS. The error prevents you from completing the update and indicates a rollback from Win 11 to 10 is necessary to troubleshoot the error. That said, a rollback is not always necessary. In this post, we offer you 5 DIY solutions to this problem. We’re sure at least one of them will work for you.

Solution #1 – Uninstall Media Players

• Type settings in the Search bar in the taskbar and hit Enter

• Click Apps in the left-side pane and then click Installed apps

• You’ll see a list of installed apps on your system. Select all media players one by one, click the three-dot icon next to them, and select Uninstall

Solution #2 – Run a CHKDSK scan

Check disk (CHKDSK) is a pre-installed tool in Windows that scans and repairs hard drive errors. Some users were able to fix the titled error by running a CHKDSK scan, so giving it a go is worth it.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Type command prompt in the Search bar in the taskbar, right-click Command Prompt in the search results, and select Run as administrator

• Type the following command and hit Enter: chkdsk C: /f /r /x

• Wait for the scan to complete, which can take anywhere between 10-20 minutes to a couple of hours or more, depending on the size and health of your hard disk

Solution #3 – Disconnect peripheral devices

Although not common, a peripheral device can trigger the INVALID DATA ACCESS TRAP error. Determining which peripheral device is the culprit right off the bat is next to impossible, so consider disconnecting all of them. Next, connect only the most essential ones, such as the keyboard and mouse, and check if that fixes the issue.

Solution #4 – Download Windows 11 ISO manually

When the error occurs during Windows 11 automatic installation or upgrade, manually installing Windows 11 ISO may help solve the issue.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Open a web browser
• Go to Microsoft Software Download page
• Choose Windows 11 and click Download

• Save the Windows 11 ISO file in a suitable location on your PC
• Press Windows + E to launch File Explorer
• Before proceeding with the Windows 11 installation, disconnect the computer from the Internet. Next, if you’re using a third-party antivirus tool, disable it
• When you start installation, you might be asked whether you wish to install additional updates, choose No
• Right-click the Win 11 ISO file and choose Mount

• Click created virtual DVD drive

• Next, click the installation file to begin installation
• Wait for Windows 11 installation to complete. Re-establish your computer’s connection to the Internet and re-enable the third-party antivirus tool

Solution #5 – Update device drivers

Often, the titled error occurs due corrupt or outdated device drivers. The easiest way to ensure your device drivers are up-to-date is by using an advanced third-party tool, such as Driver Updater. With just a single click, it automatically updates all outdated device drivers.

Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:

• You can update device drivers automatically
• The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
• The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
• Automatic driver updates are 100% safe

Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.

Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app

Step 2
Scan all devices

Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically

Start Download