Click on the upward arrow by the clock. This will show the hidden items and allow you to safely remove the devices.
Where's the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon?
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Anonymous
I just upgraded to Win 8 from Win XP. I'm used to seeing a popup or icon in my lower right taskbar to 'safely remove hardware' after plugging in my camera or phone but I don't see one in Windows 8. What happened to it? Will I have a problem if I just unplug my device or do I need to take other steps to make sure it's safe to unplug?
Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
Hello PuzzledJane,
Follow the instructions supplied by Alex T Jr. This will allow you to see the remove hardware icon.
If you want the icon to appear permanently on display then click on the up arrow in the notification area and then, when the list of icons appears, click the Customize option. A list of all of the icons will now appear. Locate the safely remove hardware icon and click on the arrow in the dialogue box to the right of this option. From the drop down list select 'show icon and notification' and then press the OK button.
The safely remove hardware icon will now permanently be displayed in the notification area.
This forum post is my own opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinion or view of Microsoft, its employees, or other MVPs.
John Barnett MVP: Windows XP Associate Expert: Windows Expert - Consumer: www.winuser.co.uk | vistasupport.mvps.org | xphelpandsupport.mvps.org | www.silversurfer-guide.com
71 additional answers
Sort by: Oldest
-
Anonymous
2013-11-29T22:25:57+00:00 Ditto, I'm on windows 8 and there is no safely remove icon.
Why doesn't a MS representative chip in with an explanation and advice???
And, by the way, in 'computer' if I R click on the attached usb device there is no 'eject' option either!
-
Anonymous
2013-11-29T22:51:20+00:00 Windows 8 is bullshit!!! I hate it! How do I revert back to windows 7? All of these answers are bullshit too!!! Whoever engineered Windows 8 should be fired!!!
-
Anonymous
2014-01-18T01:37:21+00:00 quote
Locate the safely remove hardware icon and click on the arrow in the dialogue box to the right of this option.
/quote
Unfortunately, that option is not present. This appears to be a significant bug (surprise, surprise) in Windows 8. Anyone for Linux, wouldn't that be nice?