Summary

Windows may use the Quick removal policy for an external drive, which disables Windows disk write caching and can reduce write performance while read speeds appear normal.

This became the default policy in Windows 10 version 1809 and also applies to Windows 11.

If your Plugable external SSD writes data much more slowly than expected, checking the drive's removal policy is a good first troubleshooting step.

Applicable To

• Plugable Thunderbolt 3 NVMe external SSDs connected to Windows 10 or Windows 11 computers.
• Other Plugable external storage devices that support Windows removal policy settings.

The available settings and their effects may vary depending on the storage device and its connection.

Background

Windows includes two primary removal policies for external storage devices:

Quick removal (Default)

This policy disables Windows disk write caching so that external drives can generally be disconnected without using the Safely Remove Hardware process, provided no file transfers or other disk operations are in progress.

Because Windows cannot cache disk writes, write performance may be lower than expected.

Better performance

This policy allows Windows to cache write operations, which may improve write performance in some workloads.

However, enabling this policy changes how the drive must be disconnected from the computer.

If you enable Better performance, always use Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media before disconnecting the external drive. Wait until Windows confirms that it is safe to remove the device. Disconnecting the drive before cached write operations have finished can result in data loss or file corruption.

Changing the removal policy does not guarantee faster write speeds. Performance also depends on the external drive, host connection, workload, and other system conditions.

Check the Drive Policy

To check or change the removal policy for your external SSD:

1. Connect your Plugable external SSD to the computer.
2. Open File Explorer and identify the drive letter associated with the external SSD.
3. Right-click the Windows Start button and select Disk Management.
4. In the lower section of Disk Management, locate the external drive. Right-click the disk label (for example, Disk 1) associated with the external SSD and select Properties.
5. Verify that you have selected the correct drive before continuing.
6. Open the Policies tab. If the Policies tab is not visible, select the Hardware tab, choose the external drive, click Properties, and then open the Policies tab.
7. Check which removal policy is currently selected:
   • Quick removal: Windows disk write caching is disabled.
   • Better performance: Windows can cache disk write operations.
8. If Quick removal is selected and you want to test whether write caching improves performance, select Better performance.
9. If available, also select Enable write caching on the device, as recommended by Microsoft.
10. Click OK to apply the changes.

After changing the policy, retest write speeds using the same connection, benchmark settings, and test conditions.

Reminder: Once Better performance is enabled, always safely eject the external drive before disconnecting it.

If Write Speeds Are Still Low

The Windows removal policy is only one possible cause of reduced write performance.

If changing the policy does not improve write speeds, consider the following factors:

• Host connection: Confirm that the computer's port supports the connection type and performance capabilities required by your external SSD.
• Cable: Use the original cable supplied with the drive or another cable that meets the device's connection requirements.
• Workload: Transferring many small files can produce different results than transferring a single large file.
• Available storage space: SSD performance may change as the drive fills.
• Temperature: Sustained transfers may cause the SSD to reduce performance to manage heat.
• Benchmark method: Different testing applications, file sizes, and settings can produce different results.

For the most useful comparison, use the same computer port, cable, and benchmark settings when testing performance.

A drive that performs below its advertised maximum speed is not necessarily malfunctioning. Advertised speeds typically represent performance under specific testing conditions.

Additional Information

Microsoft provides detailed documentation explaining Windows external storage removal policies, their effects on write caching, and how to change the settings.

Microsoft: Manage Default Media Removal Policy

Need Assistance?

If your Plugable external SSD continues to experience unexpectedly low write speeds after checking these settings, please contact Plugable Support at support@plugable.com.

When contacting support, please include:

• Your Plugable product model
• Your computer manufacturer and model
• Your Windows version
• The type of connection being used (Thunderbolt or USB, as applicable)
• The read and write speeds you are experiencing
• The benchmark application or file transfer method used
• Whether changing the Windows removal policy affected performance

This information will help our support team evaluate your configuration and recommend appropriate troubleshooting steps.