When I try to eject the Time Machine backup drive I am receiving the error, "The disk wasn't ejected because one or more programs may be using it." I have tried logging out and logging back in again. I have also tried shutting down the MacBook and disconnecting it from the computer, then starting up the computer again and connecting the disk drive. It will eject once fine, but then the old problem crops up again.
MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 26.4
chrisste wrote:
When I try to eject the Time Machine backup drive I am receiving the error, "The disk wasn't ejected because one or more programs may be using it." I have tried logging out and logging back in again. I have also tried shutting down the MacBook and disconnecting it from the computer, then starting up the computer again and connecting the disk drive. It will eject once fine, but then the old problem crops up again.
if the Spotlight is indexing that drive Typically given time it will "release" the drive.
Asking it to eject multiple times... no harm there.
you can force quit the drive if necessary from the Terminal .app copy and paste:
diskutil umount force
notice the trailing blank space; drag and drop the TM icon directly onto the terminal window to complete the path
use the enter\return key to execute the command... and let it complete w/ a confirmation.
ex.
chrisste wrote:
When I try to eject the Time Machine backup drive I am receiving the error, "The disk wasn't ejected because one or more programs may be using it." I have tried logging out and logging back in again. I have also tried shutting down the MacBook and disconnecting it from the computer, then starting up the computer again and connecting the disk drive. It will eject once fine, but then the old problem crops up again.
if the Spotlight is indexing that drive Typically given time it will "release" the drive.
Asking it to eject multiple times... no harm there.
you can force quit the drive if necessary from the Terminal .app copy and paste:
diskutil umount force
notice the trailing blank space; drag and drop the TM icon directly onto the terminal window to complete the path
use the enter\return key to execute the command... and let it complete w/ a confirmation.
ex.
Thanks! I think I solved the problem. Here's what happened: After trying everything that Apple suggested I thought it may be a problem with the WD external drive so I erased and reformatted it. While doing this, I remember getting a dialog box that said something about creating a password (which I did). After removing the password the drive has ejected just fine. Could this have been the culprit?
chrisste wrote:
Thanks! I think I solved the problem. Here's what happened: After trying everything that Apple suggested I thought it may be a problem with the WD external drive so I erased and reformatted it. While doing this, I remember getting a dialog box that said something about creating a password (which I did).
After removing the password the drive has ejected just fine. Could this have been the culprit?
Good computing chrisste ! Sure sounds like it if it resolved the issue.
Time Machine drive won't eject: 'disk in use' error