After un-mounting a VeraCrypt volume, the disk stays "in use" and can't be ejected

[Fred Cameron]

Hi,

I often use a VeraCrypt volume on an external USB HDD. It's a simple file container, I didn't encrypt a whole partition.

When I un-mount this volume and try to un-mount the drive to unplug it properly, I have to wait a few seconds until a message appears, saying that the drive is still in use and I can't unplug it. This problem stays until the computer is powered off, which is very annoying because I don't know if I can safely remove the drive until I reboot.

This happens only after I have mounted and un-mounted a file-contained VeraCrypt volume on this drive, which makes me think that VeraCrypt is the culprit. Notably, this doesn't happen when a whole partition on the drive is encrypted. Maybe the container file isn't properly closed by VC in certain cases ?

[Enigma2Illusion]

You risk either loss of data and/or corruption of data removing an active VeraCrypt volume. That is why backups are important.

You can use Microsoft's Process Explorer to determine what files are open or what is accessing the volume.

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/processexplorer

[Fred Cameron]

You risk either loss of data and/or corruption of data removing an active VeraCrypt volume. That is why backups are important.

I know that. Maybe it wasn't clear, but I was trying to report a potential bug in VeraCrypt.

You can use Microsoft's Process Explorer to determine what files are open or what is accessing the volume.

Thanks, I will use this to investigate when it happens again.

[Fred Cameron]

This happened again. I just un-mounted a VeraCrypt volume on my external HDD, and I can't eject it. Sysinternals shows a handle from explorer.exe on the drive, but it happens only after a VeraCrypt volume was un-mounted.

Does anyone know why this handle stays open ?

[Mike Lam]

Yes, I get the same issue. I have two computers, one with Windows 7 Pro and another with Windows 10 Home. Both computers have the same issue. I have to shutdown my computer, otherwise, even after unmounting and waiting for a few minutes, I cannot eject my USB drive safely. It always says it's busy.

I've tested this in several different scenarios, I'm certain it's Veracrypt that causes this issue. I don't even have to access the mounted Veracrypt drive, I just have to mount it, un-mount it, and then I cannot safely eject my drive.

Basically, as Fred Cameron has stated, once you mount a Veracrypt volume on a USB drive, then in order to eject it safely, you have to shutdown the computer. Un-mounting is not enough for whatever reason.

I do believe it's a bug as well.

[Piet Piedro]

Try: Open "This Computer"; right click on USB and than "Eject".

[Gene Swacker]

I am having the same problem as originally described by Fred Cameron and also Mike Lam. Can't eject my external hard drive (USB connected) after mounting and then unmounting a simple file container, not a whole partition. I use this small container to backup my files that contain sensitive information. So it is important to me but a real pain to have to restart after each backup. Anybody come up with a solution yet?

[Gary Marks]

If you aren't already doing this when mounting, try checking the box to "Mount volume as removable medium" in the VeraCrypt "Mount Options..." dialog. Also, you may have to close any open Explorer windows before the dismount is clean.

[sulaco]

This does not work I tried.

[morbid face]

I know that's been long ago, but I faced the same problem even now with the version 1.26.7.
For those still having this kind of problems; you have to eject the encrypted partition first. After that, the file manager will display a message letting you know that removing your device is safe.
I hope it helps :)