How to Fix Seagate External Hard Drive Write Protected

"I borrowed a Seagate external hard drive from a friend to transfer some games. However, upon connecting it to my laptop, I am unable to move, copy, or delete any files from the drive, which is causing issues. I'm seeking assistance to resolve this persistent problem. - from Microsoft Community"

Suppose your Seagate hard drive has write-protection attributes enabled. In that case, you won't be able to transfer or modify data on it. To regain full control, you need to make the drive writable. Tools Software offers five effective solutions to resolve the Seagate external hard drive write-protected issue in Windows.

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Follow the step-by-step guide to regain access to your drive.

How to Fix Seagate External Hard Drive Write Protected

There are several solutions to address the issue of a write-protected Seagate external hard drive. This section will cover five of the most effective methods to assist you. Users can opt for any approach to manually remove the write protection. However, for novice Windows users, we recommend utilizing the convenient tool mentioned in the second method.

Method 1: Gain Full Control of Seagate Disk via Properties Security Tool

If your Seagate External drive is preventing you from accessing data due to a write-protected error, you must gain full control. This method outlines the step-by-step process to disable the write-protection attributes using the built-in Windows Property Security tool. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Connect your computer to the hard drive.

Step 2: Open "File Explorer" and select the Seagate drive under "Devices and Drives."

Step 3: Right-click on the drive and select "Properties." Alternatively, you can use "Alt + Enter" to open the properties.

Step 4: The top menu should have a "Security" tab selected.

Step 5: Click the "Edit" button under the "Group or User Names" section.

Edit the group or user names to remove write-protection

Step 6: Choose the permission as "Everyone."

Click on your username to view your permissions as well.

Step 7: If you can't find your username on the list, click the "Add" button and enter a name.

Step 8: Check the "Full Control" box and click "OK."

Step 9: Select "Apply" and wait for it to change the permissions.

Step 10: Click "OK" and close the window.

Check if the data is editable. If the problem continues, utilize a specialized tool in the subsequent solution.

Method 2: Remove Write Protection from Seagate

This is the simplest solution to resolve the write protection issue on any external or internal drive. This method employs a user-friendly tool specifically designed to handle hard drive issues. Users with varying levels of skill in Windows can utilize this tool without prior experience. If you wish to avoid complicated processes, the convenient option is to use a tool like Partition Master.

The utility boasts an intuitive interface and an abundance of user-friendly features designed to remove obstacles that hinder disk management tasks. The Remove write protection feature is a godsend for Windows users, as it effortlessly removes write protection from hard drives with just a few clicks. Even beginners can swiftly regain full access to any drive within seconds. Moreover, it is compatible with all versions of Windows and supports various storage formats.

Download the tool Partition Master and follow the steps to automatically fix the Seagate external hard drive write-protected issue.

Step 1. Download and install Partition Master. Proceed to the Toolkit section and click on "Write Protection."

Click "Remove Write Protection"

Step 2. Choose your write-protected USB, USB external drive, or SD card and click "Disable."

Click "Remove Write Protection"

Other scenarios where you might need to use tools like Partition Master to remove write protection include:

Method 3: Clear Read-Only State via Command Prompt

This is an easy method to remove the read-only status of an external drive. If you are familiar with basic CMD commands, please follow these steps:

Step 1: Use the Windows key to search for "Command Prompt."

Step 2: Simply click it and choose "Run as administrator."

Step 3: After each command, type the following commands and press "Enter."

• diskpart
• list disk

A list of connected disks will be displayed on the screen.

Step 4: Type the number of the disk whose read-only status you want to clear, and press Enter.

Select disk 2

Step 5: Type the provided command and press "Enter."

attributes disk clear read-only This command translates to: attributes disk clear read-only

This command will remove the read-only attributes from your external disk, allowing you to write data onto it.

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Method 4: Remove Write Protection Using the Windows Registry

The Registry is an inherent Windows utility that can address any disk-related errors. However, it's a complex process involving several steps, and we advise you to use this method only if you possess basic computer knowledge. A single misstep could potentially cause significant issues for your computer, such as unintended data loss. Below are the steps to remove the write-protection from your external drive using the Windows Registry:

Note: Please carefully follow each step.

Step 1: Press the "Win + R" keys to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2: Click on the search box, type "regedit," and press "Enter."

Step 3: Select "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" and click "System."

Step 4: Click "CurrentControlSet" and then choose "Control."

Step 5: Click on "StorageDevicePolicies" and change the DWORD value to 0.

Step 6: Select "OK" to save the changes and close the Registry menu.

Step 7: Restart your computer and check if the write-protected status has been removed.

Wait for the computer to restart, and then check if your device is accessible.

Method 5: Disable BitLocker to Remove Write Protection

BitLocker encryption might be the reason for the write-protection issue on your Seagate external hard drive. The data encryption functionality of BitLocker prevents users from writing data onto the drive. To remove BitLocker's write protection, follow these steps:

Step 1: Press "Windows + E" keys to open File Explorer, and then select the Seagate External drive.

Step 2: Right-click the drive and select "Manage BitLocker."

Step 3: Select the encrypted drive and click "Turn off BitLocker."

The decryption process may take some time. Please wait until it's completed.

When BitLocker protection is disabled, the drive is no longer write-protected. Enjoy effortless data management on your Seagate hard drive. If you find this guide helpful, please click the buttons to share it with your friends.

Why is my Seagate External Hard Drive Write Protected?

The primary cause of a write-protected drive is the addition of encryption or alteration of attributes to read-only. Users often apply write protection to external drives to prevent unauthorized access. This ensures that only authorized individuals can add or modify data on the write-protected drive. Additionally, if the drive is not intentionally write-protected, it might have corrupted or damaged sectors.

The following list outlines the possible reasons for Seagate external drives being read-only: 1. Insufficient permissions to access the drive's data 2. The Seagate external drive is set to write-protected 3. Hard drive corruption or presence of bad sectors 4. Write-protect error due to a virus infection 5. Write-protection issues caused by third-party encryption software or malware

Further Reading: SD Card Write Protected But Not Locked

Conclusion

We hope this article effectively explains how to resolve the Seagate external hard drive write-protected issue. We have provided the best solutions to assist you and discussed the possible causes of a write-protected drive. If you are a non-experienced Windows user or prefer a less complex solution, we recommend trying the tool Partition Master.

Frequently Asked Questions About Seagate External Hard Drive Write Protection

If you have more questions or require detailed answers regarding Seagate External Hard Drive write protection, please explore the FAQs below.

1. How to fix Seagate's external hard drive being read-only on Windows?

This tutorial offers several methods to fix a read-only hard drive. You can swiftly examine the disk for hardware write-protection switches and utilize tools like Partition Master or execute the following Diskpart command to remove write-protection:

attributes disk clear read-only This command translates to: attributes disk clear read-only

**2. How do I change permissions on a Seagate external hard drive on Mac?**

遵循以下步骤来更改Mac上硬盘的权限：

Step 1. Right-click on the Seagate external hard drive and choose "Get Info."

Step 2. Navigate to the "Sharing & Permissions" section and modify the settings to grant the necessary access.

**3. Why is my external drive suddenly write-protected?**

Your external drive might unexpectedly become write-protected due to a corrupted file system, a faulty drive, or accidentally altered write-protection settings. To address this issue, examine these potential problems. Right-click on the drive and expand its properties to view the access permissions.