Eject button in Files app

[baconcat_8964]

Does anyone know what this 'Eject' button in the Files app does?

I tried to connect a DVD drive to my iPad, but the Files app could not recognize any disk, and this button was greyed out. I also tried both an external HDD and SSD, but I cannot eject a drive before disconnect. So I wonder in what specific scenario this button will become active and perform its function.

 

[bob_zz123]

I think it is active for network file shares only - if you do "connect to server" to connect an SMB file share. An eject function for external disks (Similar to like on the Mac) has been requested for a very long time but has not been forthcoming. I think Apple's response at one time was that it just wasn't required but obviously this is not ideal because we have all been taught to eject USB disks before unplugging them! Anyway, don't hold your breath.

 

[jonnyb098]

The questions being asked in this forum lately are beyond belief. The eject button is if you have an external drive attached your device and want to disconnect it before physically unplugging.

 

[It’s always something]

The questions being asked in this forum lately are beyond belief. The eject button is if you have an external drive attached your device and want to disconnect it before physically unplugging.

Yes, but as the OP pointed out the Eject button is grayed out with external drives attached.

 

[baconcat_8964]

I think it is active for network file shares only - if you do "connect to server" to connect an SMB file share. An eject function for external disks (Similar to like on the Mac) has been requested for a very long time but has not been forthcoming. I think Apple's response at one time was that it just wasn't required but obviously this is not ideal because we have all been taught to eject USB disks before unplugging them! Anyway, don't hold your breath.

Thanks! I haven't tried it with SMB before. Several of my external storage devices are still HDDs, not flash drives. So, every time I disconnect them from my iPad without ejecting, it feels like a shock. After upgrading to iPadOS 26, I saw this button and thought it could save me, but it doesn't function at all.

 

[Morac]

The questions being asked in this forum lately are beyond belief. The eject button is if you have an external drive attached your device and want to disconnect it before physically unplugging.

For people who’ve never used a Mac, they wouldn’t know what the eject button is for as iPadOS never used to have one (which was a major complaint).

 

[baconcat_8964]

For people who’ve never used a Mac, they wouldn’t know what the eject button is for as iPadOS never used to have one (which was a major complaint).

One major reason I want an eject button in iPadOS is that one of my external HDDs has become corrupted because I connected it to my iPad several times without being able to eject it before unplugging. Now it has one but not working, which is beyond confusing.

 

[hovscorpion12]

The eject is for attached SSD/storage devices. Since many complained that there is no proper way to remove an attached SSD.