diff --git a/backend/smb/filepool.go b/backend/smb/filepool.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 0061ec1ff..000000000
--- a/backend/smb/filepool.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,99 +0,0 @@
-package smb
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"fmt"
-	"os"
-	"sync"
-
-	"github.com/cloudsoda/go-smb2"
-	"golang.org/x/sync/errgroup"
-)
-
-// FsInterface defines the methods that filePool needs from Fs
-type FsInterface interface {
-	getConnection(ctx context.Context, share string) (*conn, error)
-	putConnection(pc **conn, err error)
-	removeSession()
-}
-
-type file struct {
-	*smb2.File
-	c *conn
-}
-
-type filePool struct {
-	ctx   context.Context
-	fs    FsInterface
-	share string
-	path  string
-
-	mu   sync.Mutex
-	pool []*file
-}
-
-func newFilePool(ctx context.Context, fs FsInterface, share, path string) *filePool {
-	return &filePool{
-		ctx:   ctx,
-		fs:    fs,
-		share: share,
-		path:  path,
-	}
-}
-
-func (p *filePool) get() (*file, error) {
-	p.mu.Lock()
-	if len(p.pool) > 0 {
-		f := p.pool[len(p.pool)-1]
-		p.pool = p.pool[:len(p.pool)-1]
-		p.mu.Unlock()
-		return f, nil
-	}
-	p.mu.Unlock()
-
-	c, err := p.fs.getConnection(p.ctx, p.share)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	fl, err := c.smbShare.OpenFile(p.path, os.O_WRONLY, 0o644)
-	if err != nil {
-		p.fs.putConnection(&c, err)
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to open: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	return &file{File: fl, c: c}, nil
-}
-
-func (p *filePool) put(f *file, err error) {
-	if f == nil {
-		return
-	}
-
-	if err != nil {
-		_ = f.Close()
-		p.fs.putConnection(&f.c, err)
-		return
-	}
-
-	p.mu.Lock()
-	p.pool = append(p.pool, f)
-	p.mu.Unlock()
-}
-
-func (p *filePool) drain() error {
-	p.mu.Lock()
-	files := p.pool
-	p.pool = nil
-	p.mu.Unlock()
-
-	g, _ := errgroup.WithContext(p.ctx)
-	for _, f := range files {
-		g.Go(func() error {
-			err := f.Close()
-			p.fs.putConnection(&f.c, err)
-			return err
-		})
-	}
-	return g.Wait()
-}
diff --git a/backend/smb/filepool_test.go b/backend/smb/filepool_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 019e688f4..000000000
--- a/backend/smb/filepool_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,228 +0,0 @@
-package smb
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"errors"
-	"sync"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/cloudsoda/go-smb2"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-)
-
-// Mock Fs that implements FsInterface
-type mockFs struct {
-	mu                  sync.Mutex
-	putConnectionCalled bool
-	putConnectionErr    error
-	getConnectionCalled bool
-	getConnectionErr    error
-	getConnectionResult *conn
-	removeSessionCalled bool
-}
-
-func (m *mockFs) putConnection(pc **conn, err error) {
-	m.mu.Lock()
-	defer m.mu.Unlock()
-	m.putConnectionCalled = true
-	m.putConnectionErr = err
-}
-
-func (m *mockFs) getConnection(ctx context.Context, share string) (*conn, error) {
-	m.mu.Lock()
-	defer m.mu.Unlock()
-	m.getConnectionCalled = true
-	if m.getConnectionErr != nil {
-		return nil, m.getConnectionErr
-	}
-	if m.getConnectionResult != nil {
-		return m.getConnectionResult, nil
-	}
-	return &conn{}, nil
-}
-
-func (m *mockFs) removeSession() {
-	m.mu.Lock()
-	defer m.mu.Unlock()
-	m.removeSessionCalled = true
-}
-
-func (m *mockFs) isPutConnectionCalled() bool {
-	m.mu.Lock()
-	defer m.mu.Unlock()
-	return m.putConnectionCalled
-}
-
-func (m *mockFs) getPutConnectionErr() error {
-	m.mu.Lock()
-	defer m.mu.Unlock()
-	return m.putConnectionErr
-}
-
-func (m *mockFs) isGetConnectionCalled() bool {
-	m.mu.Lock()
-	defer m.mu.Unlock()
-	return m.getConnectionCalled
-}
-
-func newMockFs() *mockFs {
-	return &mockFs{}
-}
-
-// Helper function to create a mock file
-func newMockFile() *file {
-	return &file{
-		File: &smb2.File{},
-		c:    &conn{},
-	}
-}
-
-// Test filePool creation
-func TestNewFilePool(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	fs := newMockFs()
-	share := "testshare"
-	path := "/test/path"
-
-	pool := newFilePool(ctx, fs, share, path)
-
-	assert.NotNil(t, pool)
-	assert.Equal(t, ctx, pool.ctx)
-	assert.Equal(t, fs, pool.fs)
-	assert.Equal(t, share, pool.share)
-	assert.Equal(t, path, pool.path)
-	assert.Empty(t, pool.pool)
-}
-
-// Test getting file from pool when pool has files
-func TestFilePool_Get_FromPool(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	fs := newMockFs()
-	pool := newFilePool(ctx, fs, "testshare", "/test/path")
-
-	// Add a mock file to the pool
-	mockFile := newMockFile()
-	pool.pool = append(pool.pool, mockFile)
-
-	// Get file from pool
-	f, err := pool.get()
-
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.NotNil(t, f)
-	assert.Equal(t, mockFile, f)
-	assert.Empty(t, pool.pool)
-}
-
-// Test getting file when pool is empty
-func TestFilePool_Get_EmptyPool(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	fs := newMockFs()
-
-	// Set up the mock to return an error from getConnection
-	// This tests that the pool calls getConnection when empty
-	fs.getConnectionErr = errors.New("connection failed")
-
-	pool := newFilePool(ctx, fs, "testshare", "test/path")
-
-	// This should call getConnection and return the error
-	f, err := pool.get()
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-	assert.Nil(t, f)
-	assert.True(t, fs.isGetConnectionCalled())
-	assert.Equal(t, "connection failed", err.Error())
-}
-
-// Test putting file successfully
-func TestFilePool_Put_Success(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	fs := newMockFs()
-	pool := newFilePool(ctx, fs, "testshare", "/test/path")
-
-	mockFile := newMockFile()
-
-	pool.put(mockFile, nil)
-
-	assert.Len(t, pool.pool, 1)
-	assert.Equal(t, mockFile, pool.pool[0])
-}
-
-// Test putting file with error
-func TestFilePool_Put_WithError(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	fs := newMockFs()
-	pool := newFilePool(ctx, fs, "testshare", "/test/path")
-
-	mockFile := newMockFile()
-
-	pool.put(mockFile, errors.New("write error"))
-
-	// Should call putConnection with error
-	assert.True(t, fs.isPutConnectionCalled())
-	assert.Equal(t, errors.New("write error"), fs.getPutConnectionErr())
-	assert.Empty(t, pool.pool)
-}
-
-// Test putting nil file
-func TestFilePool_Put_NilFile(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	fs := newMockFs()
-	pool := newFilePool(ctx, fs, "testshare", "/test/path")
-
-	// Should not panic
-	pool.put(nil, nil)
-	pool.put(nil, errors.New("some error"))
-
-	assert.Empty(t, pool.pool)
-}
-
-// Test draining pool with files
-func TestFilePool_Drain_WithFiles(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	fs := newMockFs()
-	pool := newFilePool(ctx, fs, "testshare", "/test/path")
-
-	// Add mock files to pool
-	mockFile1 := newMockFile()
-	mockFile2 := newMockFile()
-	pool.pool = append(pool.pool, mockFile1, mockFile2)
-
-	// Before draining
-	assert.Len(t, pool.pool, 2)
-
-	_ = pool.drain()
-	assert.Empty(t, pool.pool)
-}
-
-// Test concurrent access to pool
-func TestFilePool_ConcurrentAccess(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	fs := newMockFs()
-	pool := newFilePool(ctx, fs, "testshare", "/test/path")
-
-	const numGoroutines = 10
-	for range numGoroutines {
-		mockFile := newMockFile()
-		pool.pool = append(pool.pool, mockFile)
-	}
-
-	// Test concurrent get operations
-	done := make(chan bool, numGoroutines)
-
-	for range numGoroutines {
-		go func() {
-			defer func() { done <- true }()
-
-			f, err := pool.get()
-			if err == nil {
-				pool.put(f, nil)
-			}
-		}()
-	}
-
-	for range numGoroutines {
-		<-done
-	}
-
-	// Pool should be in a consistent after the concurrence access
-	assert.Len(t, pool.pool, numGoroutines)
-}
diff --git a/backend/smb/smb.go b/backend/smb/smb.go
index c97a8e391..b179bcabb 100644
--- a/backend/smb/smb.go
+++ b/backend/smb/smb.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/cloudsoda/go-smb2"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/config"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/config/configmap"
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/lib/bucket"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/lib/encoder"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/lib/env"
+	"github.com/rclone/rclone/lib/filepool"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/lib/pacer"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/lib/readers"
 )
@@ -514,8 +516,15 @@ func (f *Fs) About(ctx context.Context) (_ *fs.Usage, err error) {
 	return usage, nil
 }
 
+// file is a pooled write handle together with the connection it lives on.
+type file struct {
+	*smb2.File
+	c *conn
+}
+
 type smbWriterAt struct {
-	pool    *filePool
+	fs      *Fs
+	pool    *filepool.Pool[*file]
 	closed  bool
 	closeMu sync.Mutex
 	wg      sync.WaitGroup
@@ -531,13 +540,13 @@ func (w *smbWriterAt) WriteAt(p []byte, off int64) (int, error) {
 	w.closeMu.Unlock()
 	defer w.wg.Done()
 
-	f, err := w.pool.get()
+	f, err := w.pool.Get()
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("failed to get file from pool: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	n, writeErr := f.WriteAt(p, off)
-	w.pool.put(f, writeErr)
+	w.pool.Put(f, writeErr)
 
 	if writeErr != nil {
 		return n, fmt.Errorf("failed to write at offset %d: %w", off, writeErr)
@@ -561,12 +570,12 @@ func (w *smbWriterAt) Close() error {
 	var errs []error
 
 	// Drain the pool
-	if err := w.pool.drain(); err != nil {
+	if err := w.pool.Drain(); err != nil {
 		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("failed to drain file pool: %w", err))
 	}
 
 	// Remove session
-	w.pool.fs.removeSession()
+	w.fs.removeSession()
 
 	if len(errs) > 0 {
 		return errors.Join(errs...)
@@ -575,6 +584,32 @@ func (w *smbWriterAt) Close() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// openPoolFile opens a fresh write handle on its own connection for share/path.
+func (f *Fs) openPoolFile(share, path string) func(context.Context) (*file, error) {
+	return func(ctx context.Context) (*file, error) {
+		c, err := f.getConnection(ctx, share)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		fl, err := c.smbShare.OpenFile(path, os.O_WRONLY, 0o644)
+		if err != nil {
+			f.putConnection(&c, err)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to open: %w", err)
+		}
+		return &file{File: fl, c: c}, nil
+	}
+}
+
+// releasePoolFile closes a pooled handle and returns its connection.
+func (f *Fs) releasePoolFile(fl *file, err error) error {
+	closeErr := fl.Close()
+	if err == nil {
+		err = closeErr
+	}
+	f.putConnection(&fl.c, err)
+	return closeErr
+}
+
 // OpenWriterAt opens with a handle for random access writes
 //
 // Pass in the remote desired and the size if known.
@@ -624,7 +659,8 @@ func (f *Fs) OpenWriterAt(ctx context.Context, remote string, size int64) (fs.Wr
 	o.fs.addSession()
 
 	return &smbWriterAt{
-		pool: newFilePool(ctx, o.fs, share, smbPath),
+		fs:   o.fs,
+		pool: filepool.New(ctx, o.fs.openPoolFile(share, smbPath), o.fs.releasePoolFile),
 	}, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/filepool/filepool.go b/lib/filepool/filepool.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0152a3b63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/filepool/filepool.go
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+// Package filepool keeps a set of reusable write handles open on a single
+// remote path, one per connection, so several goroutines can write to the same
+// file at once without sharing a handle.
+//
+// It is used by backends that implement fs.OpenWriterAter over a connection
+// pool, where the core writes the chunks of a large file concurrently at
+// non-overlapping offsets.
+package filepool
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sync"
+
+	"golang.org/x/sync/errgroup"
+)
+
+// Pool hands out handles of type T for a single file. Handles are reused when
+// free and opened on demand otherwise. It is safe for concurrent use.
+//
+// The zero value is not usable; call New.
+type Pool[T any] struct {
+	ctx     context.Context
+	open    func(context.Context) (T, error)
+	release func(handle T, err error) error
+
+	mu   sync.Mutex
+	free []T
+}
+
+// New returns a Pool.
+//
+// open opens a fresh handle on its own connection. release closes a handle and
+// returns its connection: err is the error that made the handle unusable (nil
+// when the handle is simply being drained) and the returned error is the result
+// of closing it.
+func New[T any](ctx context.Context, open func(context.Context) (T, error), release func(handle T, err error) error) *Pool[T] {
+	return &Pool[T]{ctx: ctx, open: open, release: release}
+}
+
+// Get returns a free handle, opening a new one if none are free.
+func (p *Pool[T]) Get() (T, error) {
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	if n := len(p.free); n > 0 {
+		h := p.free[n-1]
+		p.free = p.free[:n-1]
+		p.mu.Unlock()
+		return h, nil
+	}
+	p.mu.Unlock()
+	return p.open(p.ctx)
+}
+
+// Put returns a handle to the pool. If err is non-nil the write that used the
+// handle failed, so the handle is released instead of being reused.
+func (p *Pool[T]) Put(handle T, err error) {
+	if err != nil {
+		_ = p.release(handle, err)
+		return
+	}
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	p.free = append(p.free, handle)
+	p.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+// Drain releases every free handle, closing them concurrently, and returns the
+// first error encountered.
+func (p *Pool[T]) Drain() error {
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	free := p.free
+	p.free = nil
+	p.mu.Unlock()
+
+	g := new(errgroup.Group)
+	for _, h := range free {
+		g.Go(func() error { return p.release(h, nil) })
+	}
+	return g.Wait()
+}
diff --git a/lib/filepool/filepool_test.go b/lib/filepool/filepool_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6e8fb36b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/filepool/filepool_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+package filepool
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// handle is a fake pooled handle used by the tests.
+type handle struct {
+	id       int
+	released bool
+	relErr   error
+}
+
+// harness wires a Pool up to counters so the tests can assert on the open and
+// release calls without a real backend.
+type harness struct {
+	mu       sync.Mutex
+	next     int
+	opens    int
+	openErr  error
+	releases int
+	closeErr error
+}
+
+func (h *harness) open(context.Context) (*handle, error) {
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	defer h.mu.Unlock()
+	h.opens++
+	if h.openErr != nil {
+		return nil, h.openErr
+	}
+	h.next++
+	return &handle{id: h.next}, nil
+}
+
+func (h *harness) release(hd *handle, err error) error {
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	defer h.mu.Unlock()
+	h.releases++
+	hd.released = true
+	hd.relErr = err
+	return h.closeErr
+}
+
+func newPool(h *harness) *Pool[*handle] {
+	return New(context.Background(), h.open, h.release)
+}
+
+func TestGetOpensWhenEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	h := &harness{}
+	p := newPool(h)
+
+	hd, err := p.Get()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, hd.id)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, h.opens)
+	assert.Empty(t, p.free)
+}
+
+func TestGetReusesFreeHandle(t *testing.T) {
+	h := &harness{}
+	p := newPool(h)
+
+	hd, err := p.Get()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p.Put(hd, nil)
+	assert.Len(t, p.free, 1)
+
+	got, err := p.Get()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Same(t, hd, got, "a free handle should be reused instead of opening a new one")
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, h.opens)
+}
+
+func TestGetOpenError(t *testing.T) {
+	h := &harness{openErr: errors.New("connection failed")}
+	p := newPool(h)
+
+	hd, err := p.Get()
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Nil(t, hd)
+	assert.EqualError(t, err, "connection failed")
+}
+
+func TestPutSuccessKeepsHandle(t *testing.T) {
+	h := &harness{}
+	p := newPool(h)
+
+	hd, err := p.Get()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p.Put(hd, nil)
+
+	assert.Len(t, p.free, 1)
+	assert.Zero(t, h.releases, "a healthy handle must not be released")
+}
+
+func TestPutErrorReleasesHandle(t *testing.T) {
+	h := &harness{}
+	p := newPool(h)
+
+	hd, err := p.Get()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	writeErr := errors.New("write error")
+	p.Put(hd, writeErr)
+
+	assert.Empty(t, p.free, "a handle put back with an error must not be reused")
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, h.releases)
+	assert.True(t, hd.released)
+	assert.Equal(t, writeErr, hd.relErr, "release must receive the write error")
+}
+
+func TestDrainReleasesEveryHandle(t *testing.T) {
+	h := &harness{}
+	p := newPool(h)
+
+	var handles []*handle
+	for range 3 {
+		hd, err := p.Get()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		handles = append(handles, hd)
+	}
+	for _, hd := range handles {
+		p.Put(hd, nil)
+	}
+
+	require.NoError(t, p.Drain())
+	assert.Empty(t, p.free)
+	assert.Equal(t, 3, h.releases)
+	for _, hd := range handles {
+		assert.True(t, hd.released)
+		assert.NoError(t, hd.relErr, "draining passes a nil error to release")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDrainReturnsCloseError(t *testing.T) {
+	h := &harness{closeErr: errors.New("close failed")}
+	p := newPool(h)
+
+	hd, err := p.Get()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p.Put(hd, nil)
+
+	assert.EqualError(t, p.Drain(), "close failed")
+}
+
+func TestConcurrentGetPut(t *testing.T) {
+	h := &harness{}
+	p := newPool(h)
+
+	const workers = 10
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	wg.Add(workers)
+	for range workers {
+		go func() {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			for range 100 {
+				hd, err := p.Get()
+				if err != nil {
+					return
+				}
+				p.Put(hd, nil)
+			}
+		}()
+	}
+	wg.Wait()
+
+	// Every handle handed out was returned, so draining must release them all
+	// with no leaks.
+	require.NoError(t, p.Drain())
+	assert.Empty(t, p.free)
+	assert.Equal(t, h.opens, h.releases)
+}