Unlock Write-Protected USB, Memory Card, Hard Disk: Windows 10, 8, 7

Learn how to unlock write-protected USB drives, memory cards (The disk is write-protected), or hard disks in Windows 10, 8, or 7 with our essential guide. Write-protection can prevent you from modifying or transferring data on your storage devices, but with the right techniques, you can easily remove this restriction. In this comprehensive tutorial, we’ll walk you through step-by-step instructions and expert techniques to help you successfully unlock write-protected storage devices in Windows. From utilizing built-in features to leveraging third-party tools, you’ll learn everything you need to know to regain control of your storage devices. Don’t let write-protection limit your data management—watch our guide and learn how to unlock write-protected devices today.

Unlock Write-Protected USB, Memory Card, Hard Disk: Windows 10, 8, 7

You can get similar error messages when working with a computer or laptop, as well as with a mobile phone, tablet PC, TV or car audio. To fix the problem, just follow our directions.

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👨‍💻 How to Unlock a Write Protected USB Drive, a SD or Micro SD Memory Card or a Hard Drive in 2021

👨‍💻 How to Unlock a Write Protected USB Drive, a SD or Micro SD Memory Card or a Hard Drive in 2021

  • Some models of flash drives, memory cards and external drives can have switches to enable write protection. Most often you can find such switches in SD cards. Examine the device carefully and check the position of the switch (if there is any).

    SD card

  • Your device may be infected by a virus blocking your attempts to write or format the drive. Check the device with an antivirus and clean it if necessary.

    Windows Defender

  • Write errors may appear when the USB drive is full. Check it for free space and take a note of what file system it is using. With FAT32 file system, you can’t write files larger than 4 GB.

    FAT32

Method 1. Unlock a USB drive with the Command Prompt

Command Prompt
  • Launch the Command prompt as Administrator, type the command Diskpart and press Enter.

    Diskpart

  • Type list disk and press Enter.

    list disk

  • Find the drive number corresponding to your flash drive. When doing it, the drive size will help you. Type select disk N (where N is the number of the disk that corresponds to the flash drive) and press Enter.

    select disk N

  • Type attributes disk clear readonly and press Enter. This will unlock the device for writing. We also recommend cleaning and formatting the drive for further use. Take the following steps only if the drive contains no important data.

    attributes disk clear readonly

  • Type clean and press Enter - it will delete all data on this drive including service information.

    clean

  • Type create partition primary and press Enter - it creates a new partition.

    create partition primary

  • Then type select partition 1 and press Enter.

    select partition 1

  • Type active and press Enter, and the new partition will become active.

    active

  • Then type format fs=fat32 quick and press Enter - it will format the device in FAT32.

    format fs=fat32 quick

  • After that, type assign and press Enter to give the flash drive a letter name.

    assign

Method 2. Unlock the flash drive in the Windows registry

Windows registry

  • Open the Run window, type the command regedit and press Enter.

    regedit

  • Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ StorageDevicePolicies. If you don’t see it, create it on your own.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/StorageDevicePolicies

  • Set the WriteProtect value to 0. Create this value if it is absent from your system.

Method 3. Local Group Policy Editor

If you see the following message while copying or creating files on your device:

You need permission to perform this action

You need permission to perform this action

Or if you see this message when trying to format the device:

You do not have sufficient rights to perform this operation

You do not have sufficient rights to perform this operation

It means you need to remove write protection for this device in the Local Group Policy Editor:

Group Policy Editor
  1. Open the Run window, type the command gpedit.msc and press Enter.

    gpedit.msc

  2. Go to «Computer configuration» — «Administrative Templates» — «System» — «Removable Storage Access».
  3. Disable «Removable disks: Deny write access». Do it by double-clicking on the setting, check the option for Disabled and click Ok.
  4. Repeat these steps for «User Configuration» — «Administrative Templates» — «System» — «Removable Storage Access».

When you have done it, try creating a file or folder on the flash drive.

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⚕️ Tools to Check Hard Disk and Repair Bad Sectors in 2021 ✔️💻

⚕️ Tools to Check Hard Disk and Repair Bad Sectors in 2021 ✔️💻

Method 4. USB Flash Drive and memory card Repair Tools

Program Description
USB Disk Storage Format Tool Helps to format flash drives and fix file system errors
Check Flash Allows to test flash drives for errors and perform formatting
DiskGenius A program for disk management, which includes tools for fixing errors on flash drives
USB Repair Tool A specialized program for fixing errors on flash drives
JetFlash Online Recovery For users of the Transcend devices
SP USB Flash Drive Recovery Software For users of the SP devices
Kingston Format Utility For users of the Kingston devices
Vladimir Artiukh

Author: , Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: , Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

  • What are the common causes of having a protected USB flash drive, recording memory card, or hard drive?
    1. Physical Damage: The USB flash drive, recording memory card, or hard drive may have been damaged due to physical impact or exposure to extreme temperatures.
    2. Corrupted File System: The file system of the device may have been corrupted due to virus attack, power surge, or incorrect formatting.
    3. Bad Sectors: The device may have bad sectors due to prolonged use, which can prevent access to the data stored on the device.
    4. Forgotten Password: The device may have been password-protected and the user may have forgotten the password, which can prevent access to the data stored on the device.
    5. Malfunctioning Device: The device may be malfunctioning due to hardware or software issues, which can prevent access to the data stored on the device.
  • What are the three ways to unlock a protected USB flash drive, recording memory card, or hard drive in Windows?
    1. Use the password: If you know the password for the USB drive, you can unlock it by entering the correct password.
    2. Use a third-party tool: There are various third-party tools available that can help you unlock a protected USB drive or memory card.
    3. Format the drive: You can also format the drive to erase all the data and unlock it. However, this will delete all the data stored on the drive.
  • What is BitLocker, and how can it be used to unlock a protected drive?

    BitLocker is a full-disk encryption feature included with Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. It encrypts the entire drive, including the operating system, user data, and applications. It can be used to unlock a protected drive by entering a recovery key or password. It also offers additional features such as two-factor authentication, auto-unlock, and PINs.

  • Can you unlock a protected drive using the Command Prompt in Windows? If so, how?

    Yes, you can unlock a protected drive using the Command Prompt in Windows. To do this, open the Command Prompt by pressing Windows+R and typing "cmd". Then, type "manage-bde -unlock X: -password" (where X is the drive letter of the protected drive) and enter the password for the drive when prompted.

  • What is Disk Management, and how can it be used to unlock a protected drive?

    Disk Management is a Windows utility that allows users to manage their hard drives and other storage devices. It can be used to create, format, delete, and resize partitions on hard disks. It can also be used to assign drive letters to partitions, change the file system of a partition, and unlock a protected drive. To unlock a protected drive, right-click on the drive in Disk Management, select Change Drive Letter and Paths, and then select Remove.

Comments (23)

  • ApeAdventurer
    ApeAdventurer 24.10.2024 15:05 #
    What if the write-protection on my USB drive is not a technical issue, but rather a security measure put in place by someone else to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information? How can I bypass this protection without compromising the security of the data stored on the device?", "refusal
    Reply
  • Larry Jones
    Larry Jones 7.11.2023 23:25 #
    Can anyone remove the write protection a 8gb p/n R7TGR_A01 Mentor Media I have tried every source, software that I could find. I have 20 of these hate to throw them in the trash.
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 8.11.2023 09:37 #

      Removing write protection from a USB flash drive can beabittricky,andthesucoessoftre D) d&

      process depends on the specific drive andthe cause ofthe write protection. Here are some

      EEE gun

      . Physical Write Protection Switch:

      * Checkif your USB flash drive has a physical write protection switch on the side. Ifit does,

      make sure it is in the "off or unlocked position.

      . Registry Editor (Windows):

      * Press Win + R,type "regedit" and press Enter to open the Windows Registry Editor.

      * Navigate to the following key:

      AN ARSTER rolsal ae a Str SUN Elta SSES KETTE FAR TEST N FELCEr

      * Ifyou donttfind the "StorageDevicePolicies” key, you may needto create it by right-

      clicking on "Control" and selecting "New" > "Key" and then namingit

      KEEIER ET TEE

      * Inside "StorageDevicePolicies,” right-click and create anew DWORD value named

      Ne et ag

      * Double-click on "WriteProtect" and set its value to 0.

      * Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

      EN na ren

      * Open a Command Prompt with administrator privileges.

      * Type "diskpart" and press Enter.

      * Type list disk" to see alist ofall connected disks. Identify your USB drive by its size.

      * Type "select disk X" (where X isthe number ofyour USB drive).

      Bd EBENEN EcKe NEE TEE el a0

      * Closethe Command Prompt.

      . Formatting Tool:

      BAUSTELLE HOSE Ke NEE En ECTS OR AUE PN EISSEIER ET TE Ta eelakg

      the "SD Card Formatter" from the SD Association. These tools can sometimes override

      write protection.

      Reply
  • canadian pharmacies online
    canadian pharmacies online 30.10.2023 13:02 #
    Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this write-up and the rest of the site is extremely good.
    Reply
  • AAli
    AAli 15.02.2023 02:39 #
    Thank you very much for this use full tricks and great instructions. This is the exact solution I needed, issue resolved now.
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 15.02.2023 09:48 #
      Glad we could help.)
      Reply
  • JoeM
    JoeM 8.10.2022 16:40 #
    After many hours (2 of which with Microsoft levels 1 & 2), your solution regarding Group Policy (2nd part of #5) did the trick! Thank you!
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 24.10.2022 12:21 #
      We're glad we could help you )
      Reply
  • john
    john 16.05.2022 15:06 #
    Hi i have tried everything but still no luck in removing write protection from my usb
    Reply
  • Elizabeth
    Elizabeth 24.01.2022 18:12 #
    I looked at multiple articles and tried all their approaches and could not resolve my USB drive error. This article gave me the exact steps that I needed, with clear instructions and an easy format to follow. Thank you!
    Reply
    • Vladislav Kuprienko
      Vladislav Kuprienko 25.01.2022 10:47 #
      We are glad we were able to help you )
      Reply
  • yasser
    yasser 6.09.2021 13:12 #
    It says: The device is not ready.
    Reply
  • Rich Wood
    Rich Wood 25.12.2020 23:22 #
    Can you unlock a password-protected drive if you don't know the password? If so, how?
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 25.12.2020 23:42 #
      No, it is not possible to unlock a password-protected drive if you don't know the password. The only way to access the data is by using the correct password.
      Reply
  • Jordie Howlader
    Jordie Howlader 25.12.2020 20:38 #
    What is the difference between a write-protected and a password-protected drive?
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 25.12.2020 20:57 #
      A write-protected drive is a drive that has been locked so that files cannot be written, edited, or deleted. A password-protected drive is a drive that requires a password to access or modify its contents.
      Reply
  • Tucker Vann
    Tucker Vann 25.12.2020 17:45 #
    How can you recover lost data from a protected drive that has been unlocked?
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 25.12.2020 18:03 #
      If the drive has been unlocked, you can try using a data recovery software to scan the drive and recover the lost data. Popular data recovery programs include Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, and MiniTool Power Data Recovery.
      Reply
  • Nicholas Getson
    Nicholas Getson 25.12.2020 14:32 #
    Can you unlock a protected drive without losing your data? If so, how?
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 25.12.2020 15:05 #
      Yes, you can unlock a protected drive without losing your data. Depending on the type of protection, you may need to enter a password or use a recovery tool to gain access to the drive. If the drive is encrypted, you may need to use a specialized tool to decrypt it.
      Reply
  • Mel Marchment
    Mel Marchment 25.12.2020 10:19 #
    How do you use the DiskPart command to unlock a protected drive?
    Reply
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 25.12.2020 10:51 #
      To unlock a protected drive using the DiskPart command, you will need to open an elevated Command Prompt window. Once the Command Prompt window is open, type in “diskpart” and press Enter. This will launch the DiskPart utility. Next, type in “list disk” and press Enter to list all available disks. Find the disk that is protected and type in “select disk [disk number]” and press Enter. Then type in “attributes disk clear readonly” and press Enter to unlock the disk. Finally, type in “exit” and press Enter to exit the DiskPart utility.
      Reply
  • Maxim Cherniga
    Maxim Cherniga 25.12.2020 10:02 #
    If you have any questions about unlocking a write-protected USB drive, memory card, or a hard disk in Windows 10, 8 or 7, leave a comment to ask us.
    Reply
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