The flash drive seems to be write-protected. How to remove write protection from a flash drive. Causes of the “Disk is write-protected” error. Why is the microsd card write protected?

A USB drive is also called a flash drive. We all use it for personal purposes. External storage devices play an important role in our daily lives. They are very useful when it comes to operations involving moving files from one computer to another.

If the flash drive is inexplicably converted into a write-protected device, a serious problem arises. This means that you can no longer format it. Even record and edit files. You have only one option for using the drive - copying data. In this case, the normal formatting function does not work.

To remove write protection once and for all, follow these additional steps. In this article, we will share step-by-step instructions to solve this problem.

Write protection is a condition in which the user cannot write anything to the USB drive/flash drive. He does not have access to create a folder or copy data on the device. However, it is still possible to transfer content from a write-protected storage device. Therefore, if you are facing this type of problem, then your flash drive is definitely in write protected mode. Plus, now you can't format it.

Why did this happen?

The reasons for this problem may be different. For example, most often it is a virus. If the system is infected with malware, then the likelihood of write protection on external devices is high. For example, you removed the flash drive while transferring data from the computer. As a result, write protection appeared. Even when using data encryption algorithms on a USB storage device, the above-mentioned problem may also occur.

Which flash drives most often become write-protected?

It all depends on how you use the device. It can be easily converted into a write-protected disc. The manufacturer (Sony, HP, Toshiba, SanDisk, Stronium, Samsung, Kingston, etc.) does not matter.

Is it true that in most cases it is the SandDisk Cruzer Blade that gets infected?

Yes, mostly SanDisk flash drives face the problem of write protection. To be more precise, the Cruzer Blade model is vulnerable.

Can I disable/enable write protection?

Yes, you can easily fix this error on any device. Depending on your computer's operating system, the steps may vary. For example, write protection in Windows 7/8/10 or Linux can be easily removed using simple methods.

Steps to remove write protection on a drive in Windows 7/8/10

Troubleshooting a secure drive using the command line and Diskpart

Diskpart is a disk partitioning tool integrated into Windows. It can be accessed by running the command line. Diskpart provides information about partitions and volumes, allows you to delete and create them, expand NTFS volumes, etc.

Click Start (or Windows Search in Windows 8 and 10) and type cmd in the search box. Then right-click on cmd.exe and select Run as Administrator.
Enter the command as in the photo below and press Enter.
Again enter the command as shown below and press Enter. Two available options will appear: hard disk drive (HDD) as 0 and USB flash drive as 1.
Select the drive as in the photo below and press Enter.
Write the command indicated in the yellow square, and then press the Enter key. The first line will say: "Current read-only status: Yes."
To remove write protection using Diskpart, enter the command shown in the bottom photo. If it works, you will see a confirmation: “The disk attributes were successfully cleared.”

Format the USB drive

The last procedure is to format the flash drive. This action should return read/write capabilities to it. Before formatting, check the file system type of the drive. Let's see how to do this:

When finished, click "Done". You can then copy the small file to your USB drive. Everything should work. If not, then try it

Easy Troubleshooting: Check the Storage Chassis

Some USB flash drives have a mechanical switch on the case that automatically turns on write-protect mode.

Hence, check if there is any small slider on it as it may change position due to external factors.

Note! If so, then simply slide the switch to the unlock position and check if the problem is resolved. Otherwise, the drive is most likely damaged. Contact a computer specialist or purchase a new device.

Video - Flash drive writes disk is write protected

When working with flash drives, certain difficulties sometimes arise. For example, often the system, when trying to copy any information to a medium or format it, suddenly displays a message that the disk is write-protected. As a result, you can neither transfer files to a removable drive, nor delete or change them. What to do in such a situation? And most importantly, how to format a write-protected flash drive and return it to its usual working state?

First, we recommend that you take a close look at the media itself. Some USB flash drives and memory cards have a special switch. It has two positions: one activates the write lock, and the other removes it.

This means that all you have to do is move the lever to remove the protection. At the same time, it will be possible to write any information onto the flash drive again. True, you first need to format the drive using standard Windows tools.

If there is no switch on the flash drive, then just check it with antivirus software. The removable drive may be infected with malware, which forces it to be write-protected and prevents it from being formatted.

For reference! If you use a card reader, it's worth checking that too. Sometimes, due to a malfunction of this device, the system writes that “the disk is write protected.”

Removing protection from a disk using the Diskpart utility

Operating systems (OS) starting with Windows XP have a console utility. It's called diskpart. So, using this tool you can manage various disks. Including gaining access to the “problem” media. Working with the utility is easy:

After all the manipulations, the write-protected flash drive should change the file system. In addition, it will again be possible to upload any information to it.

However, please note that there are different write protection systems. Not everything can be removed using the diskpart utility. Therefore, if the procedure does not give the desired result, then try another method. We'll talk about it further.

Removing write protection of a flash drive through the Group Policy Editor

Another method that allows you to format a flash drive even if it is write-protected. It is based on using the capabilities of the Local Group Policy Editor:

How to remove protection from a memory card using the diskmgmt.msc utility?

There is another standard Windows component for disk management. It is called the diskmgmt.msc utility. To use this OS tool to remove write protection, you must:

Press the combination Win+R. Enter “diskmgmt.msc” and click the “Enter” button.
Next, you need to wait a little while the system displays the disk configuration.
Then we find the flash drive and right-click on it.
Select the “Delete Volume” operation. The partition will be defined as “not allocated”.
Next, right-click on it. Click on “Create Volume”.
The system will launch the New Volume Wizard application. Click “Next” several times, leaving all the default settings.
At the end, click “Done”. We are waiting for the flash drive formatting process to complete.

Is it possible to format a write-protected flash drive using third-party programs?

Sometimes standard Windows tools do not help solve problems related to the operation of removable media. Therefore, you should not neglect special utilities. They are specifically designed for restoring and formatting USB flash drives, SD cards, etc. So you can use:

Special proprietary software produced directly by the manufacturer itself. For example, for Transcend products this is the JetFlash Recovery program.
If for some reason it is impossible to use proprietary utilities, then download and try other formatting programs. There are a lot of them. Some of the most popular and convenient are Hp disk format tool, HDD low level format, Recuva, SDFormatter, etc.

What else can help remove write protection on files?

By changing Windows registry settings, in some cases it is possible to remove protection. To do this, open the “Run” line. Enter "regedit". In the menu that launches on the left, go to the StorageDevicePolicies folder. You can find it at the following path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control. Here we are interested in the “WriteProtect” parameter in the right panel. Double click on it. Then we change the number 1 in the “Value” field to 0. All that remains is to connect the flash drive and format it.
Sometimes you can remove write and format protection by updating the drive firmware. This can be done in different ways. We recommend using CheckUDisk, UsbIDCheck, USBDeview or ChipGenius. Through them you will find out the VID and PID codes, which are necessary to determine the chip model of your flash drive. After which you can easily find and download the latest firmware for the media from the network. If you suddenly encounter difficulties at this stage, then use the FlashBoot.ru website.
If it is impossible to copy information or save any files to the card, then try removing the protection in this way. Go to "My Computer". Find the flash drive you need there. Click on it with the secondary mouse button. Select the "Properties" line. Then go to the "Access" tab. Next, click on “Advanced settings”. Check the box next to "Share".
It also happens that the problem associated with the inability to write or format removable media is caused by incorrect installation or incorrect configuration of programs for creating virtual drives. For example, Alcohol 120%, DAEMON Tools, Virtual CD, etc. Therefore, you should try to remove this software. Perhaps it somehow blocks work with the memory card.

If you have tried all the methods described above, but the flash drive still does not format, then most likely it has failed. This happens quite often. Taking the drive to a service center is not the most rational solution. Repairing a flash drive usually costs more than buying it. Therefore, it is best to purchase new removable media.

How to remove write protection from a flash drive - step-by-step instructions

The era of floppy disks is long gone, but sometimes when trying to write to a flash drive, the user may encounter a situation known since the days of using floppy media - it is blocked and cannot be used.

We will look at how to solve this problem in detail in our article today.

So, you need to write some information to a flash drive, you insert it and receive a message like “The disk is write-protected, remove the protection or use another one.”

This problem can be solved quite quickly, and we will talk about this a little later, but now we should say a few words about the purpose of installing protection against downloading on a digital medium.

Pay attention! This operation is performed for only one purpose - to protect the drive from viruses that can spontaneously be copied to removable media without the user’s knowledge.

Methods for removing write protection from a flash drive

There are 2 key ways to remove protection from a flash drive: hardware and software.

The hardware solution is to install a lock switch, which is present in some drive models, as well as SD cards.

Most often, the toggle switch is located on the side edge of the drive.

Carefully inspect your existing drive and look for an open/closed lock icon or the word Lock on it.

Pay attention! Removing the lock is very simple - just move the lock lever in the opposite direction. That's all. Insert the media into the appropriate slot and repeat the file writing operation again.

The software solution involves the interaction of the operating system and the flash drive controller, which is responsible for the ability to record information.

You can remove write protection using this method using the command line of the registry editor or local group policy in Windows 7/8.

Learn more about all of the above methods.

Removing protection using regedit

1. Click “Start” and enter regedit in the search field. Right-click (RMB) on the program and in the context menu go to the “Run as administrator” item.

2. Go to the StorageDevicePolicies section:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies

Important! Important! If there is no such thing, you will have to create it. To do this, click on the section Control - New - Section. We call it “StorageDevicePolicies” without quotes. If there is no such section, you need to create it.

Create (RMB in the right column of the registry) a DWORD parameter (32 bits) in the created branch. For convenience, let's call the element WriteProtect.

3. Make sure that the WriteProtect value is 0. Right-click on WriteProtect and select “Change”. If the value is “1” you need to change it to “0” and click “Ok”.

4. Close the registry editor, remove the media and restart the computer. Insert the flash drive. Now the flash drive works as usual, allowing you to write files.

Removing protection using Diskpart

If the flash drive could not be unlocked using regedit, let's try to do it using the Diskpart command interpreter, which allows you to manage the commands that the user enters into the command line when working with partitions and disks.

1. “Start”, in the search field enter the name of the Windows command line - cmd. Right-click in the program and select “Run as administrator” in the context menu.

2. Now you should enter the commands: diskpart and list disk, and after entering each of them, press the Enter key.

3. In the list above, determine which serial number in the name the flash drive has.

This can be done based on the specified size, in our case an 8 GB flash drive, presented in the table as “Disk 1” with a capacity of 7441 MB.

4. Select the disk with the “select” command, clear the attributes that allow only reading “attributes disk clear readonly”.

If the flash drive needs formatting, you should enter the following commands: “clean”, create a partition “create partition primary”, format it in NTFS “format fs = ntfs” or FAT “format fs = fat”.

Sometimes there are cases where it is impossible to format a USB flash drive or SD card, transfer or write data to them. Windows displays the error message " The disc is write protected. Remove protection or use another drive". Many devices come with a lock lever on the flash drive itself. Make sure that the lever itself on the SD card or flash drive is set to " unlocked"Unfortunately, in some cases, devices may be physically damaged, which will lead to the purchase of a new one. If you are sure that everything is in order: the lever is unlocked, the device has not been subjected to physical shock, then we will consider ways to resuscitate drives and try to remove the protection from recording from flash drives and SD memory cards.

How to remove write protection from an SD card, flash drive or disk

An error when an SD card, flash drive or disk is write-protected may be technical and nothing will help. But there are many cases when malware can change settings in the registry and thereby block the formatting of a flash drive. We will also use special utilities from flash drive manufacturers that will help fix the error if it is a regular software failure.

Note:If there is a physical formatting blocker, then first check the lever on the flash drive or SD memory card; most likely it is blocked.

1. Using the registry

Press a combination of buttons Win+R and enter regedit to enter the Registry Editor.

Follow the path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies

If you don't have a parameter StorageDevicePolicies, then create a partition named StorageDevicePolicies by right-clicking on the folder Contorl. If there is a value, then see below what parameters should be.

Go to the created StorageDevicePolicies folder, select it, and right-click on the empty field with the right mouse button and Create > DWORD value (32 bits). Give the new parameter a name WriteProtect, then double-click on it with the mouse to open properties and assign a value 0 . Restart your PC and check if it gives you the error that the disk is write protected. If this method does not help, then move on.

2. Using CMD

Insert the flash drive or SD memory card into the computer's USB port and run Command Prompt as administrator.

Enter the following commands:

diskpart- launching a tool for working with disks.
list disk- shows which drives are connected to the computer. The flash drive in my case is located Disc 1 size 7640 MB.
select disk 1- Where 1 this is the disk number shown above. Disc 1 in my case this flash drive.
attributes disk clear readonly- clear the attributes of the flash drive.
clean- clean the flash drive.
create partition primary- create a section.
format fs=fat32- format it in FAT32. (You can change fat32 on ntfs, if you use a flash drive only on Windows systems.)

3. Using Group Policy

Click win+r and type in the line gpedit.msc.

Navigate to the following paths: Computer configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Access to removable storage devices. On the right, find the items " Removable drives" And turn off by double-clicking on the desired line - write, read, execute, if enabled.

With the development of information technology, floppy disks went out of use. They have been replaced by USB drives. It should be noted that flash drives have become more popular even than CDs and DVDs. Removable media allows you to record information repeatedly.

Unfortunately, when users try to add new documents to the media, they may see the following message on the screen: “USB media is write protected.” Before you start eliminating the blocking, you need to figure out why the write protection of the flash drive worked.

Reasons for enabling protection

Before removing write protection from a flash drive, users are advised to consider the reasons for installing a protective function on the media. Protection is enabled for the following reasons:

The OS security policy has been configured. Thus, the system protects the user from loss of confidential information;
Computer infection by viruses;
Changing the volume attributes to “Read Only”;
Hardware write prohibition;
Firmware corruption.

Most of the reasons can be eliminated using the operating system. It is important to carefully familiarize yourself with the methods, and only then apply them.

Mechanical protection

Having discovered that the disk is write-protected, newcomers begin to panic. You need to calm down and try to correct the situation. First of all, it is recommended to inspect the appearance of the USB drive. Many flash drives have a miniature jumper, which serves as protection.

Having discovered a miniature “lever” on the body of a removable disk, users are advised to move it in the opposite direction. After this, you need to check the media by inserting it into the system unit. It is best not to use the ports located on the front side, as they may have poor contact and the drive will not be detected.

If physical switching does not help, it is best to return the “lever” to its place and then move on to other methods. Some flash drives have writing on them. The jumper must be installed opposite “Unlock”. The same applies to the memory card used in cameras.

The registry as a means to disable protection

The Windows platform has a tool called the registry, which contains settings for programs and the entire OS as a whole. Sometimes there are situations when malware changes the registry value, as a result of which protection appears on the flash drive that prevents the writing of any types of files.

To change the setting, you must activate the system registry editor. To do this, open the Start menu, and then type “regedit” in the search bar.

It should be noted that the system registry can be launched using the task utility. To call it, press the combination of two keys Win + R. In the form that launches, type the word “regedit” and then click on the “OK” button.

After opening the system registry, users should open the branch: “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE->SYSTEM->CurrentControlSet->Control”.

The next step is to find the “StorageDevicePolicies” subsection in the “Control” section. If such a directory does not exist, it should be added. It is recommended to press the right button of the manipulator under the “Control” section. As soon as the menu opens, you will need to select the “create” item, and then click on the “Section” inscription. The new section should be called “StorageDevicePolicies”.

Now we need to add a parameter. In the window located on the right side, you need to right-click and then select “Create”. When the submenu opens, it is recommended to select “DWORD Value (32-bit).”

It should be noted that the “StorageDevicePolicies” section with the “WriteProtect” parameter can be created, but its value will be “1”. To remove write protection, you need to set the value to “0”, after which it is better to restart the computer.

Working with CMD

Many users do not know how to remove protection from a flash drive using CMD commands. To launch the console, you need to launch the task execution utility, or open Start, and then type “cmd” in the search bar.

After starting the console, you need to use the Diskpart command. Immediately after this, another console will appear in which all actions will be performed.

Before removing protection, you need to decide on the disk. To do this, enter the command “list volume” in the console and then press Enter. After this, a table with all devices will appear. The last volume will be removable media. It is of a removable type, and it will also have a size indicated (for flash drives, the size can be indicated in megabytes, i.e. for 8 GB it will be written 7788 MB).

The next step requires entering the command “Select volume #”, where instead of “#” the volume number corresponding to the removable media is indicated.

When the volume is selected, you need to use the “Attributes volume clear readonly” command. After that, just press Enter.

After the operation is completed, all parameters will be cleared and the write protection will be removed. To check, it is recommended to reinsert the USB flash drive and then send the files to the media.

Changing the security policy

If the disk is write-protected, it is recommended that you read the security policy. First, you should call the “Run” utility, and then enter “gpedit.msc” in the field. In the application that opens, you need to enter the computer configuration, and then expand administrative templates. In the list that opens, find the system, and then select “Access to removable storage devices.”

A list will be displayed in the right window. The user will need to find the “Removable drives: Prohibit writing” option. To start editing a policy, you need to “click” on the entry with the right button of the manipulator, and then select “Edit”.

Now remove the write protection by checking the box that says “Disabled.” You can get rid of a protected recording by checking the box that says: “Not specified.” After this, all that remains is to click on the “Apply” button and “OK”.

Application of specialized software

Users often have to deal with the fact that a USB drive is write-protected, but they do not know how to remove the protection. If manipulations with OS utilities do not produce a positive result, you should seek help from specialized software.

HP USB Disk;
JetFlash Recovery;
Apaser Repair.

Each program is unique and released by developers to recover specific flash drives. It is best to check with the manufacturer which program is best suited.

HP USB Disk Utility

If the flash drive does not allow the user to move or add files, and the manufacturer of the USB device is unknown, we recommend using the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool. The utility is distributed completely free of charge. Thanks to the program, it is possible to completely restore the operation of a removable disk. The only thing worth remembering is that all information on the media will be deleted.

After downloading the file, the program is launched as an administrator. The next step requires you to select the media and then format the flash drive. In this case, all parameters will be restored.

JetFlash Recovery program

This program is capable of correcting errors in USB drives manufactured under the Transcend brand, as well as A-data. The advantage of the utility is that it can:

Remove recording protection;
Correct block reading errors;
Recognize RAW file system;
Format the media without deleting data.

It is best to download the application from the manufacturer’s official website. After downloading the utility, you must run it as an administrator. After this, you can begin to resuscitate the host, remove the protection or select any suitable action.

Application from Apaser

The utility is designed to resuscitate flash drives produced by Apacer Technology Inc. The application allows you to:

Format the device;
Eliminate the protective function;
Fix block reading errors.

After downloading and launching the program, a form with a “Format” button will appear. After clicking it, the disk will be formatted. The data will of course be deleted, but the write protection will be eliminated.

The program can be downloaded from the official Internet resource. Even a beginner can handle managing the program.

Other ways to “treat” the carrier

If all of the above methods do not help, all that remains is to infect the host with viruses. First of all, you should check USB drives for viruses. This can be done with any antivirus programs. It is also recommended to check the media with Anti-Autorun utilities.

Even if antivirus software detects Trojans and other malware, it is recommended to format the flash drive. This can be done using Windows. If all else fails, your best bet is to boot into Safe Mode and then repeat the procedure. To do this, you need to restart the computer, and when it turns on, press F8. After this, you need to select a download method. When the computer turns on, you just need to format it.

It is important to note that before performing any procedure, it is recommended to check how full the disk is. Perhaps the disk space is simply full, so a new file cannot be written. This can be done by opening the media properties and first opening “My Computer”.

Conclusion

Faced with blocking the recording of information on removable media, many users despair. There is no need to be upset, because in 90% of cases, the methods described above allow you to restore the functionality of the flash drive. There's no need to rush. It is necessary to gradually test each of the existing methods.

If nothing helps, then physical damage to the media has occurred. Of course, in this case, you can restore everything, but you will have to contact the experts. It should be noted that this is not profitable. The cost of repairs may be more expensive than the cost of new removable media.