Copying a folder to a USB stick is only half the job. Before you pull the drive out, finish the transfer, check what arrived and ask the desktop to release it. This guide covers that small but useful routine, including what to do when the drive is busy.
For: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with the default GNOME Files desktop; other GNOME releases may arrange controls differently. Time: 3–5 minutes after the transfer finishes. Difficulty: Beginner. You need your existing USB drive and permission to access its files. No terminal commands or administrator password are required.
Keep the original files on the computer until you have checked the copy. A removable drive should not become the only home for something important just because you are preparing to disconnect it.
1. Copy into a clearly named destination
Open Files and identify the intended drive by its displayed name and the folders you recognize. If two connected devices look alike, pause and identify them before proceeding. Avoid guessing from the first item in the sidebar.
For a straightforward copy, select the source files, press Ctrl+C, open the intended destination folder on the drive and press Ctrl+V. GNOME documents these shortcuts in its copy and move guide. Copy leaves the source in place; Cut and Paste moves it. Use Copy when your aim is a second copy.
Choose a fresh folder name such as Presentation-copy-2026-10-26 when it helps separate today’s work from an older version. If a replacement prompt appears unexpectedly, stop and compare the destination rather than approving every overwrite.
2. Check the destination before disconnecting
Wait for the transfer activity in Files to finish. Open the destination folder and check the expected names and folders. For a presentation, open the copied presentation from the USB drive and inspect an early and a later slide. For a folder of documents, spot-check several files, including one that matters most.
These practical checks can catch an obvious wrong destination or unreadable file, but they are not a complete integrity test. A matching filename alone does not prove matching contents.
If the copy fails because the destination is full, leave the original intact. Our Ubuntu disk-space guide explains how to inspect space before deleting anything. Do not format a drive to fix an ordinary copy problem: formatting can destroy its existing contents.
3. Close files and eject the drive
Save and close documents opened from the drive. In Files, locate the correct device in the sidebar and use its eject icon, or right-click its name and choose Eject. Follow any completion or error message before unplugging it. GNOME’s safe removal instructions describe both controls.
The risk is disconnecting while software still uses the device, which can damage or lose files. A finished-looking folder view is not a substitute for the desktop’s removal operation. If the action is still working, keep the drive connected.
4. If you see “Volume is busy”
Choose Cancel, close files using the drive and try Eject again. Check the document or media app you just used, including an unsaved editing window. Save work before closing it. If you opened a terminal in that location, leave that directory or close the terminal after completing its work.
Avoid Eject Anyway while diagnosing the problem; GNOME warns that it can cause errors in apps with files open. Repeatedly clicking it does not explain which work is still active. Do not switch to forced unmount commands or terminate unfamiliar system processes just to make this routine task finish.
A short finish checklist
Before pulling the plug: the copy has finished, the expected destination files are present, open work is saved and closed, and the desktop has completed removal without an unresolved error. Keep the source copy until the destination has served its purpose and any backup plan is satisfied.
To access the drive again after a successful eject, disconnect and reconnect it, then select it in Files. If it does not return or you see read errors, stop writing new data to it and investigate the exact error. Reconnecting is not a repair, and a failed check is not a reason to delete the original.
Optional gear
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Commissions do not influence our recommendations.
Samsung BAR Plus 128GB USB-A flash drive on Amazon (paid link). An optional USB-A destination for everyday file copies if you need another drive. The linked 128GB Champagne Silver model is MUF-128BE3/AM. Check the exact model, seller and your computer’s port before ordering. This is a research-based suggestion, not a speed or durability test; optional bundled software is outside this Ubuntu guide.
AI-generated category illustration; not a product photo.
You do not need to buy anything to follow this article. Check the exact model, seller and compatibility before buying.
