The disk is write-protected. Please remove the write protection from the USB device.

Don't panic when you see the "disk is write protected" message on your USB drive. You can resolve it by removing the write protection or using a different disk. This applies to USBs, SD cards, and both internal and external hard drives.

How to Fix "Disk is Write Protected" Error in Windows 11/10/8/7

In this article, we will show you how to disable write protection on a hard drive or USB drive in Windows 11/10/8/7. The following example demonstrates how to remove write protection from a USB drive.

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Note: The solutions are listed from simplest to most complex. Follow these steps one by one to fix a write-protected USB flash drive, memory card, or computer HDD/SSD. If you're not very computer literate, don't worry. You can use a disk repair and data recovery tool for manual assistance. Our technical team can help with system-related issues, including system crashes, blue screens, and unbootable devices.

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What causes USB write protection?

Sometimes, write protection is added to prevent files on a storage device from being modified or deleted. However, a USB flash drive, SD card, or an internal or external hard disk may become unreadable due to the following reasons:

The physical switch for the USB is located on the Lockside. The USB might have been accidentally set to read-only mode. BitLocker protection might be enabled on the USB drive. A third-party encryption software or a virus might cause the write protection error on the USB drive.

The only solution is to disable write protection. Follow the full guide on this page to get your device writing and transferring files again.

Method 1: Remove Write Protection Using a Physical Lock Switch

Sometimes, when the physical switch on a USB drive or SD card is locked, the device becomes read-only on all PCs and devices it's connected to. Let's see how to use the physical controls to unprotect SD card/USB:

Step 1: Locate the physical switch on your USB drive or SD card and move it from the “on” to the “off” position.

Insert the unlocked USB or SD card into your computer and check if the write protection is gone.

Note: If your USB flash drive does not have a switch, or if you continue to receive the write protection error, follow Method 2 to remove the write protection.

Method 2: Remove write protection from USB using Diskpart command

This option will clear the “read-only” attribute of the drive, making it writable. This applies to internal drives, external drives, USB drives, and even SD cards.

Here's how to do it using the Diskpart command:

Step 1: Press Windows + R, type cmd in the box that appears, and press Enter. This will open the Command Prompt.

Step 2: Type diskpart in the Command Prompt window, and then press Enter.

Step 3: Type list disk and press Enter to view the available disks.

4. Type select disk 2 and press Enter. Replace the 0 with the number of your write-protected device.

5. Type attributes disk clear readonly, and press Enter.

Step 6. Once the disk is unmounted, type exit to leave Diskpart.

After that, restart your computer and check if you can access and use the data on your USB or hard drive again. If you prefer a video tutorial, you can watch this video to fix the “disk is write protected” error.

• 0:00 Start
• 0:35 How to remove write protection using Registry Editor
• 2:14 Removing write protection using CMD
• 3:27 Running the tool Partition Master

Method 3: Use a Third-party Write Protection Removal Tool

If you don't consider yourself very computer-savvy or comfortable with the command line, don't worry. There are graphical solutions that can help you unprotect your hard drive, USB drive, or even an SD card.

CleanGenius is one of those tools that can help you fix such issues on your disk without having to resort to the command line.

This is a simple and easy-to-understand guide on how to use this tool to solve your problem:

Step 1: Download and install the free CleanGenius program on your computer.

Step Two: Run the CleanGenius tool on your computer, choose Optimize, and select Write Protect mode.

Step 3: Select the write-protected device and click on “Disable” to remove the protection.

Method 4: Remove write protection from disk via Registry Editor

The Registry Editor can also fix the write protection error on a USB, SD card, or internal/external HDD/SSD. This is an advanced operation, and you should avoid it if you aren't sure what you're doing. Incorrect modifications to your computer's registry can cause a lot of problems.

Exercise caution when using this method to remove write protection from a Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista computer.

Step 1: Connect the read-only mobile device to your computer.

Step 2. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type regedit, and press Enter.

Step 3: Click on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and expand System.

Step 4. Click Current ControlSet, and then click Control.

Step 5. Check the Storage Device Policies key, and change the DWORD value to 0. Click OK.

Step 6. Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

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

Method 5: Turn Off BitLocker to Unlock a Write-Protected USB Drive

When BitLocker is enabled on a hard drive partition, it protects your files with encryption. In order to make changes to a BitLocker-protected partition, you'll need to disable the protection first. Here's how to turn off BitLocker encryption and unlock your drive:

Step 1: Open File Explorer, right-click on your BitLocker-encrypted partition or USB drive, and select Manage BitLocker.

Step 2: Select the locked device, and then click Turn Off BitLocker.

Step 3: Wait for BitLocker to decrypt automatically.

After that, with BitLocker turned off, you can manage data on the USB partition and save new files to it.

Restoring Data and Formatting a USB After Removing Write Protection

After removing the write protection from the storage device, you can access the files and modify the USB flash drive or the external USB drive.

However, if the file is missing or the USB is still inaccessible, follow these two tips:

#1. Recover the data first: If files get lost after removing USB write protection

Download the Data Recovery Wizard tool to recover any lost data in the process of removing write protection. This software also applies to hard drive recovery, SD card recovery, USB drive recovery, and more.

Step 1: Select the USB drive to scan

Run the data recovery wizard, select the USB drive where you lost your important files, and click “Scan” to start.

Step 2: Preview and Check USB Drive Data

After the scan is complete, you can use the filter options and search function to locate specific types of files quickly.

Step 3: Recover Files from Flash Drive

Once the scan is complete and lost USB drive files are found, click on “ Recover ” to restore them. You should save the recovered files to a secure location on your computer instead of the USB drive.

#2. How to format a USB drive to NTFS or FAT32:

To make sure your USB drive stays in good condition, format it to the NTFS or FAT32 file system.

To format a USB drive, connect it to your computer and follow these steps to use Disk Management for formatting:

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run box, then type diskmgmt.msc in the Run dialog and press Enter.

Click on “Storage” and then “Disk Management”. Right-click your USB drive, and select “Format”.

Step 3: Format the USB drive as either FAT32 or NTFS, then click OK.

(FAT32 is used for flash drives up to 32 GB in size; NTFS is used for drives 64 GB and larger.)

Conclusions

This page offers five methods to help you solve the write protection issue on your USB, SD card, or internal/external hard drive, including:

1. Switch the physical lock on your USB or SD card to the off position. 2. Use the Diskpart command to clear the read-only attribute. 3. Utilize a USB Write Protect Removal tool. 4. Modify the Registry DWORD value to 0. 5. Disable BitLocker drive encryption.

If you are wondering how to remove write protection from USB drive on Windows 11/10/8/7, the above guide will help you unprotect it.

"Frequently Asked Questions about 'This Disk Is Write Protected' Error" 1. What is the "This Disk Is Write Protected" error? This is an error message indicating that you are attempting to write data to a storage device (such as a USB flash drive, SD card, or hard disk) that has been set as read-only by the system, and the system is preventing this action. 2. Why do I get this error? Typically, this can occur due to a physical write protection switch being in the protected position (if the device has one), issues with the file system, or driver problems. Sometimes, viruses or malware can also cause this issue. 3. How can I fix the "This Disk Is Write Protected" error? - Check the physical write protection switch: If your device has one, ensure it's set to allow writing. - Use Command Prompt: In Windows, run Command Prompt with administrator privileges, then type `diskpart`, select your device, and use the command `attributes disk clear readonly` to remove the read-only attribute. - Format the device: Note that this will erase all data. Backup important files first, then try formatting the device in non-read-only mode. - Update drivers: Make sure your drivers are up-to-date, as outdated drivers can cause issues. - Scan for viruses: Run an antivirus scan to check for malware. 4. What should I do if none of these solutions work? If basic troubleshooting steps don't resolve the issue, you may need professional assistance. Contact the device manufacturer's technical support or seek help from a professional computer technician for diagnosis and repair. 5. Can I prevent this issue in the future? To minimize the chances of encountering this problem, keep your operating system and drivers updated, regularly scan for viruses, and handle your devices carefully to avoid unnecessary physical damage.

Here are some common questions and answers that can help you resolve write protection issues on your storage device.

How do I remove the write protection from my Micro SD card?

To remove the write protection from an SD card, follow this quick guide:

1. Run Command Prompt as an administrator. 2. Type **diskpart.exe**. 3. Type **list disk**. 4. Type **select disk **+** number** (replace "number" with the disk's number). 5. Type **attributes disk clear readonly**.

Refer to How to Format a Write Protected SD Card for a more detailed guide.

2. How do I remove write protection from a single file?

If your file or folder is set to read-only, you can follow these steps to unlock it from write protection:

- Right-click the folder, and select "Properties." - On the "General" tab, uncheck the "Read-only" box next to "Attributes." - Click "OK."

How do I add write protection to a flash drive?

There are three ways to enable write protection on a USB flash drive:

• Use the USB write protection switch. • Change the read-only setting with Diskpart. • Alter security permissions in USB properties.

4. How do I remove write protection from a Seagate external hard drive?

Connect your Seagate external hard drive to your computer and note its disk number. Open Command Prompt and type in each of the following commands, pressing Enter after each one:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator. 2. Type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each: ```shell diskpart list disk select disk n (Replace 'n' with the disk number of your write-protected Seagate external hard drive.) attributes disk clear readonly ``` Make sure to replace "n" with the actual disk number of your Seagate external hard drive. This will clear the read-only attribute and allow you to write to the drive.

If you find that files are missing from the disk after that, consider using a reliable Seagate data recovery tool to get your valuable files back.