diff --git a/CHANGELIST.md b/CHANGELIST.md
index 46a2abbe..b7f796a9 100644
--- a/CHANGELIST.md
+++ b/CHANGELIST.md
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@
 - Ensure volume label is trimmed if used in filenames
 - Remove DPM identifier for StarForce Keyless
 - New Redumper Drive Pregap Start option
+- Clarify the unmounted device case
 
 ### 3.5.0 (2025-10-10)
 
diff --git a/MPF.Frontend/Tools/ProtectionTool.cs b/MPF.Frontend/Tools/ProtectionTool.cs
index 1c7aa02b..5b8968f0 100644
--- a/MPF.Frontend/Tools/ProtectionTool.cs
+++ b/MPF.Frontend/Tools/ProtectionTool.cs
@@ -207,13 +207,16 @@ namespace MPF.Frontend.Tools
         /// Format found protections to a deduplicated, ordered string
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="protections">Dictionary of file to list of protection mappings</param>
+        /// <param name="drive">Drive object representing the current drive</param>
         /// <returns>Detected protections, if any</returns>
-        public static string? FormatProtections(Dictionary<string, List<string>>? protections)
+        public static string? FormatProtections(Dictionary<string, List<string>>? protections, Drive? drive)
         {
             // If the filtered list is empty in some way, return
             if (protections == null)
-                return "(CHECK WITH PROTECTIONID)";
-            else if (protections.Count == 0)
+                return "[EXTERNAL SCAN NEEDED]";
+            else if (protections.Count == 0 && drive?.Name == null)
+                return "Mounted disc path missing [EXTERNAL SCAN NEEDED]";
+            else if (protections.Count == 0 && drive?.Name != null)
                 return "None found [OMIT FROM SUBMISSION]";
 
             // Sanitize context-sensitive protections
@@ -637,7 +640,7 @@ namespace MPF.Frontend.Tools
                     foundProtections = foundProtections.FindAll(p => p != "StarForce");
                 }
             }
-            
+
             if (foundProtections.Exists(p => p.StartsWith("StarForce Keyless")))
             {
                 foundProtections = foundProtections.FindAll(p => !p.StartsWith("StarForce Keyless"));
diff --git a/MPF.Frontend/Tools/SubmissionGenerator.cs b/MPF.Frontend/Tools/SubmissionGenerator.cs
index 8b59ee73..d363a810 100644
--- a/MPF.Frontend/Tools/SubmissionGenerator.cs
+++ b/MPF.Frontend/Tools/SubmissionGenerator.cs
@@ -131,9 +131,15 @@ namespace MPF.Frontend.Tools
                 {
                     Dictionary<string, List<string>>? protections = null;
                     if (options.ScanForProtection)
-                        protections = await ProtectionTool.RunCombinedProtectionScans(basePath, drive, options, protectionProgress);
+                    {
+                        // Explicitly note missing/invalid device paths
+                        if (drive?.Name == null)
+                            resultProgress?.Report(ResultEventArgs.Success("No mounted device path found, protection outputs may be incomplete!"));
 
-                    var protectionString = ProtectionTool.FormatProtections(protections);
+                        protections = await ProtectionTool.RunCombinedProtectionScans(basePath, drive, options, protectionProgress);
+                    }
+
+                    var protectionString = ProtectionTool.FormatProtections(protections, drive);
 
                     info.CopyProtection.Protection += protectionString;
                     info.CopyProtection.FullProtections = ReformatProtectionDictionary(protections);
diff --git a/MPF.Frontend/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs b/MPF.Frontend/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
index 36ad2337..0d72adde 100644
--- a/MPF.Frontend/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
+++ b/MPF.Frontend/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
@@ -1959,7 +1959,7 @@ namespace MPF.Frontend.ViewModels
             try
             {
                 var protections = await ProtectionTool.RunProtectionScanOnPath(CurrentDrive.Name, Options, progress);
-                var output = ProtectionTool.FormatProtections(protections);
+                var output = ProtectionTool.FormatProtections(protections, CurrentDrive);
 
                 LogLn($"Detected the following protections in {CurrentDrive.Name}:\r\n\r\n{output}");
                 return output;