How to Fix The Media Is Write-Protected | Newest Guide

The media is write-protected, meaning that it (usually a disk) cannot be written to. This error can be caused by a physical write-protect switch or software protection. To resolve the issue, the write protection must be disabled. In this article, the tool has gathered five practical solutions to tackle the write protection problem. Keep reading and learn what you need.

How to Fix "Media Is Write-Protected" on Windows - 5 Ways

The "media is write-protected" error can be caused by several different issues, such as a damaged file system, incorrect permissions, or physical damage to the storage device. Whatever the reason, don't worry – in this article, we'll show you some quick and easy solutions to remove the write protection and get your storage device working normally again. Don't forget to share this guide with your friends or anyone else who might need it:

#1. Use Software to Remove Write Protection

One simple way to remove write protection is by using a tool called Partition Master. This partition manager is designed to manage and protect your hard disk partitions. The software can disable the write protection of an external hard drive with just one click. Additionally, it won't harm your data during the process.

AOMEI Partition Assistant stands out with its numerous advantages, such as resizing, moving, copying, merging, splitting, and converting partitions without data loss. Moreover, it is compatible with Windows 10/8.1/8/7 and XP operating systems.

Step 1: Download and install Partition Master, then go to the Toolbox and click “Write Protection.”

Click on «Remove Write Protection»:

Step 2: Select your USB drive, external hard drive, or SD card and click Disable.

Click on «Remove Write Protection»

#2 Check the physical switch on the media to prevent write protection

This error message can be caused by a physical write protect switch on the device. If the switch is turned on, data cannot be written to the medium. To check the physical write protect switch, follow these steps:

Step 1: Locate the physical write protect switch on your device. Its position varies depending on the model and manufacturer of the device. Many devices have this switch on the side or bottom.

Step 2: Check the switch position. If it's in the "Lock" position, you need to move it to "Unlock" in order to write to the media.

Step 3: Try writing to the media again with the switch in the Off position. If you still can't write to the media, contact the device manufacturer. You might also try the troubleshooting steps in this article.

#3. When the media is write-protected, uncheck "Read-only" in Properties.

The "Media is Write Protected" error usually occurs when a file or drive is set to read-only mode, meaning it can only be read and not modified. This setting can be changed in the properties menu of the file or drive. Once the read-only attribute is removed, users should be able to copy, delete, or move files as usual.

Step 1: Open File Explorer and select the write-protected file.

Step 2: Right-click the file and select "Properties."

Step 3: You can uncheck the "Read-only" option under the "General" tab.

#4. Run CMD to Remove Write Protection

System file corruption could also cause the "media is write-protected" error. If that's the case, you can try running the System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) scans. The SFC checks and repairs corrupted system files, while the DISM scan will fix the Windows image. Since CMD commands might be difficult to understand for inexperienced users, share the detailed tutorial below by clicking the button.

To run the SFC and DISM scans, do the following:

Step 1: Press the Windows key and R at the same time, then type "cmd".

Step 2: Type "sfc /scannow" and press Enter. The scan may take 20 to 30 minutes. Do not close the Command Prompt window while it's running.

Step 3: Restart your computer, and then repeat Step 1 to open the Command Prompt.

Step 4: Enter each of the following commands, pressing Enter after you type each one.

This command translates to English as:
• Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
This is a DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) command used to check the health of the system image.

This line of command translates to:
• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
This command, in Chinese, refers to checking the health of a system image. It is part of the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. Running this command in the Command Prompt scans the system image for any potential issues and attempts to repair them.

This line of command translates to:
• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
This command is used in the Windows operating system to repair the integrity of a system image.

Step 5: Scan for viruses to remove write protection

In some cases, the "Media is Write Protected" error might occur due to a malware infection on your computer. Malware can cause various issues, including errors. Certain types of malware can set drives to be write protected to prevent their removal. If you suspect that the error is malware-related, you should scan your system with an antivirus program. You can use the built-in Windows Defender for this purpose.

Step 1: Click on “Updates & Security” in “Windows Settings.”

Step 2: Click on “Windows Security Center.”

Step 3: Click on Virus and threat protection under Protection.

Step 4: Click on “Scan options.” We recommend selecting “Microsoft Defender Offline scan” here.

< strong > Step 5: Click on "Scan Now".

In addition to trying Microsoft Defender, you can also resort to third-party anti-malware tools like TotalAV. This software provides reliable real-time protection against viruses, malware, and even online threats:

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TOTALAV

TotalAV is an award-winning antivirus and security software that provides real-time protection against viruses, malware, and online threats.

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Antivirus protection enabled

Additional Tip: Formatting the Device After Disabling Write Protection

The media is write protected. You can fix it as mentioned above. Once the write protection is removed, users can format the device with Professional Partition Master.

1. Right-click the external drive or USB device you want to format, and select "Format." 2. Set the Volume label, File system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and Allocation unit size, then click "OK." 3. Click "Yes" to continue. 4. Click the "Perform 1 task" button, then click "Apply" to format the hard drive partition.

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Conclusions

When media is write-protected, the data on it cannot be modified. This can be very frustrating for users, especially when they don't know how to resolve the issue. In our article, we show you some solutions to remove write protection. Whichever method you choose, make sure to follow the instructions carefully to avoid any damage to your computer. With a little effort, you should be able to get rid of the write protection and regain access to your files.