How to Fix Disk Not Ejected Properly in macOS Tahoe 26.2
Is your Mac showing the "Disk Not Ejected" notification every time it wakes from sleep?
Follow Fix 1: The Drive Integrity Repair — full Terminal commands and step-by-step instructions below. Verified on macOS Tahoe 26.2.
Recommended Troubleshooting Tool
Before proceeding with manual fixes, we recommend using CleanMyMac X. Ideal for scanning disks for errors and clearing hidden system junk.
The Symptom
External USB or Thunderbolt drives disconnect automatically when the Mac enters sleep mode, risking data corruption.
The Fix
- Change Energy Saver Settings
Go to System Settings > Battery (or Energy Saver) > Options and turn OFF "Put hard disks to sleep when possible."
- Disable Power Nap (Intel)
In Energy Saver, turn off "Enable Power Nap." This prevents the Mac from waking up for background tasks that might interrupt the drive connection.
- Check the Cable & Hub
Faulty USB-C hubs often fail to maintain power delivery during low-power states. Try connecting the drive directly to the Mac.
Fix 3: The Drive Integrity Repair
When the disk file system is damaged by frequent improper ejections.
Recommended Tool: Disk Drill
- S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring: Check if the drive is disconnecting because its hardware is failing.
- Data Recovery: If a "Disk Not Ejected" event led to a corrupted volume, use Disk Drill to rescue your files before reformatting.