See what has files open on a disk, and eject the one that is stuck.
macOS says a disk was not ejected because one or more programs may be using it, and often does not say which. Vitals lists every disk with the apps and programs holding files on it, by name, and Quit Them and Eject does the rest once you say yes.
Google Chrome 21.23 GB 
VS Code 8.17 GB 
Terminal 3.86 GB 
Safari 2.69 GB 
GitHub Desktop 427 mW Google Chrome 367 mW 
Zoom 145 mW Terminal 86 mW Google Chrome 
Google Chrome 
Photos 
Safari 
Figma Photos Google Chrome XcodeNot runningXcodeCPU 51.4% Music Playing 100% Zoom Playing 80% Google Chrome Playing 35% Slack Silent Muted Safari Silent 100% Figma Silent 100% Notion Silent 100% Mail Silent 100% 
Claude · 9 processesTerminal · node
Codex · pythonVisual Studio Code · nodeTerminal · node
Cursor · nodeTerminal · pythonVisual Studio Code · nodeTerminal · 3 processesTerminal · goCursor · node The numbers are simulated: a web page cannot read your Mac, and should not.
Every disk, and whether it can be ejected.
Each connected disk is a card: its name, whether it is internal, external or on the network, how many files are open on it, and In Use or Ready to Eject. Pick one to see who holds it.
- Internal, external and network disks
- In Use, or Ready to Eject
- How many files are open on each
- Eject from the card, as Finder does
The apps holding a disk, with the files they hold.
Under the disk is every app and program with something open on it: the folder it is working in, how many files it has open, how many of them for writing, and whether it runs from that disk. Helper processes count under their app.
- Working folder, open files, files open for writing
- A Terminal tab sitting in a folder on the disk
- Spotlight and Time Machine, named for what they are doing
- Show a file in Finder, or its app in Vitals
Quit what holds it and eject, in one step.
Quit Them and Eject names the apps it will quit and asks. It quits them the way ⌘Q does, then ejects the disk. An app can still ask you to save, and if one does not quit, Vitals says which.
- Names what it will quit, and asks first
- Apps quit as ⌘Q does, so they can ask to save
- Tries again while macOS lets go
- Says when the disk is safe to unplug
Type a file name and see who has it open.
The filter searches every open file on every disk. Type part of a name or a path and the apps holding a match are listed. It is also how to find what has a file open when the Trash says the item is in use.
- Search by file name or path
- Across every disk at once
- The app, and the process inside it
- Ask an assistant, or vitals files in the terminal
Open files, before and after
A disk that will not eject is one of the Mac's oldest annoyances. Finder says one or more programs may be using it and, often, not which. The answer is in Terminal: lsof with the disk's path, a list of process names and numbers, and then a hunt for the app each one belongs to.
So people pull the cable and hope, or click Force Eject and risk the file that was being written.
Open Files, a section of Vitals' Developer tab, lists every disk with the apps and programs holding files on it, by name, with the files. Quit them from there, or let Quit Them and Eject do it and eject the disk once they have gone. Nothing is quit until you say so.
Where it is in Vitals
The tab, the menu bar item and the setting, in the order you would reach for them.
- 01
Open the Developer tab and choose Open Files
Every connected disk is listed with how many files are open on it and whether it is ready to eject. Vitals picks the first external disk for you.
- 02
See who holds the disk
Under the disk are the apps and programs with something open on it. Open one to see its files, and how many are open for writing.
- 03
Quit them and eject
Click Eject on a disk that is in use and Vitals names what it will quit. Say yes and it quits them, ejects the disk and tells you it is safe to unplug.
- 04
Find one file
Press ⌘F and type part of a file's name or path. Whatever has it open is listed, on any disk.
Open files: Activity Monitor and Vitals
The whole comparison is row by row. These are the rows about open files.
Activity Monitor 
Vitals The words behind it
What the numbers mean, from the Activity Monitor glossary.
- Open Files and Ports
Open Files and Ports is a tab in the window Activity Monitor opens for a single process.
- lsof
lsof is a Terminal command that lists the files, folders and network connections every process has open.
- mds_stores and mdworker
mds, mds_stores and mdworker are the macOS processes that build and maintain the Spotlight search index.
- backupd
backupd is the Time Machine backup process in macOS.
- Force Quit
Force Quit ends an app or process immediately, without letting it save or clean up.
Questions
The ones people ask about open files before they buy.
Why can't I eject my external drive?
Something still has a file or a folder open on it: an app with a document, a Terminal tab working in one of its folders, or macOS indexing it or backing up to it. Open Files names each one, with the files it holds.
How do I see which app is using a file?
Open the Developer tab, choose Open Files, press ⌘F and type part of the file's name or path. Every app holding a file that matches is listed, on whichever disk it is.
Does Vitals force eject a disk?
No. It quits the apps you agree to quit, the way ⌘Q does, so an app can ask you to save first, then ejects the disk as Finder does. If something will not let go, Vitals says what it is.
What about Spotlight and Time Machine?
They are named for what they are doing: Spotlight indexing the disk, Time Machine backing up to it. macOS's own processes usually let go within a few seconds, and Vitals tries again while they do.
Why are some of macOS's processes left out?
Without Full System Metrics, Vitals cannot read the files of the processes macOS runs itself, such as Spotlight's, and says how many it left out. Turn it on in Settings → Permissions and they are listed too.
Does it show files on the startup disk too?
Yes. Every disk is listed, the startup disk included. Open an app under it to see its files, and how many are open for writing.
Can my assistant or a script ask?
Yes. Over MCP an assistant can ask what is holding a disk or a file, and vitals files answers the same in the terminal.
Is it the same as lsof?
It reads what lsof reads, every process's open files, and groups them by disk and by app, with helper processes counted under the app they belong to.
Read on
Guides that use this, and how Vitals compares with the apps people buy for it.
More of Vitals
All featuresHomebrew
Every Homebrew package with its size and when it last ran, the services with Start and Stop, and what a cleanup would free.
Docker containers
Inside the one big Docker process: every container's memory, CPU, network and ports, with Stop on each.
Volume mixer
Turn the meeting up and the music down: a slider for every app with sound, the mic, and your Bluetooth batteries.
Lifetime for $29 while the launch price lasts
0 left at this price. Then $49, or $15 for a year of updates. One payment, 14-day refund.
Get Vitals for $29