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Windows can sometimes change the drive letter of an external drive due to several reasons:

1. Drive Letter Conflicts: If another device is assigned the same drive letter, Windows might reassign a new letter to avoid conflicts.
2. System Updates: Updates or changes to the system can reset drive letter assignments.
3. Drive Removal and Reconnection: When you disconnect and reconnect the drive, Windows might assign a different letter if the original one is taken by another device.
4. Multiple Devices: If you use multiple external drives, Windows might shuffle the letters based on the order they are connected.

To prevent this from happening, you can manually assign a static drive letter to your external drive using Disk Management. Here’s how:

1. Press `Windows + X` and select Disk Management.
2. Right-click on your external drive and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths.
3. Click Change, select a new drive letter, and click OK.

This should help keep the drive letter consistent. If you have any other questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!