How to remove the protection from a flash drive or memory card

When the USB-flash drive or memory card is write-protected, you can only browse and copy files from the media. Record data or delete them from the disk, as well as format it will not work.

Correct this error, disable write lock in the following ways.

1. Check the physical switch

The main body of an SD-card and some USB-drives can be a switch that activates the physical write protection. Even knowing about its purpose, users sometimes forget about this part, because of which are experiencing difficulties.

If your flash drive has a switch, disconnect it from the system, and slide the lever so that it was not in the Lock position. Then repeat the recording again.

2. Make sure the disk space is available

If the flash drive is not enough space to copy files, the system will usually notify the plain text. But sometimes, the computer writes instead of the standard message that the flash drive is write-protected.

In any case, look at the amount of free storage, and if it is not enough to record new data, or simply too little, remove unnecessary files from the USB device. Then again try to record on it the necessary information.

3. Scan the USB flash drive with the help of anti-virus

Errors related to the protection of the recording can be the result of malware. Check the drive - or better, and all the computer - using antivirus. Perhaps it will solve the problem with a memory stick.

4. Turn off write protection in the system registry (Windows)

If security is enabled as a result of a software glitch, or changing Windows settings, you can help the Registry Editor. To open it, press Win + R, type in field teamregedit and click OK.

With Sidebar, go to the directory: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ StorageDevicePolicies. When you see WriteProtect option, open it by double-clicking the mouse and make sure that the value is zero. If necessary, change it and click OK.

If the system does not StorageDevicePolicies directory, create it yourself: Click on the section Control, right-click, select "Create» → «Forum» and call it StorageDevicePolicies.

If there is no option WriteProtect, you can add it. Click StorageDevicePolicies list, right-click and select "Create» → «DWORD (32-bit)" and call it WriteProtect. Then open it and make sure that the value is zero.

5. Turn off the write protection on the command line (Windows)

Protection can also be deactivated using the command line. To open it, type cmd in the search for a system, click the found item with the right mouse button and select "Run as administrator".

1. In the window that appears, enter the command diskpart and press Enter.
2. then enter the list disk and again - Enter.
3. When the disc table, define the size, which one is your USB flash drive, and note its number.
4. enter the command sele disk [number of your USB drive] (Give the number without the brackets) and press Enter.
5. Then attributes disk clear readonly and again - Enter.

After that, the write protection must be removed and the flash drive will work as it should.

6. Check the USB flash drive in the "Disk Utility» (macOS)

Post write-protection on a Mac can be caused by a software problem on a flash drive. In this case it is necessary to check the drive using the "Disk Utility". Open it in the section Finder → «programs» → «Utility».

On the sidebar, click the problematic USB flash drive. Then click on the top menu "First Aid" and click "Run." If the system finds errors on your drive, then try to restore it.

7. Format drive

If none of the above actions do not work, try format the USB flash drive with built-in or third-party utilities. This will erase all the contents from it, but you can pre-copy the important data from the drive to the computer.

If you can not format the disc, you may have to restore the stickUsing special tools from the manufacturer.