Learn how to remove write protection on USB drives with these simple and effective methods. Say goodbye to frustrating write protection issues with these troubleshooting tips.Among flash drives, there are models with write protection, which are usually used to store especially important information. If for some reason you need to remove the lock from the device, you can do this in several ways. We will tell you about them in this article.
How to Remove Write Protection on USB.
Checking the hardware switch
Some flash drives and memory cards are equipped with a small switch that physically activates or deactivates the write protection feature. This switch is often marked with the word “Lock” or a lock icon.
Make sure the switch is in the “Unlock” or “Open” position. If the switch is damaged or does not work, try using a different adapter or replace the flash drive.
Virus check
Sometimes malware blocks writing to a flash drive to protect its files from being deleted. To fix this problem, connect the drive to your computer and run a full scan with an antivirus. Use modern programs such as Dr.Web or Kaspersky Lab .
After removing the malware, check if the protection has been removed.
Changing Settings in the Windows Registry
If protection is activated at the operating system level, it can be disabled using the registry editor.
- Press Win + R, type regedit and press Enter;
- Go to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStorageDevicePolicies;
- Find the WriteProtect value. If its value is set to “1”, change it to “0”. If the value does not exist, create it by selecting New → DWORD (32-bit) Value and naming it WriteProtect.
After that, save the changes and restart your computer.
Using the command line
The command line allows you to manually manage disk settings. Run it as an administrator by pressing Win + X and selecting the appropriate item. Then run the following commands:
- diskpart – opens the disk management utility;
- list disk — displays a list of all connected storage devices;
- select disk X — replace X with the number of your flash drive;
- attributes disk clear readonly – removes write protection.
After executing the commands, disconnect the flash drive, restart the computer and reconnect the device.
Third party formatting programs
There are utilities that help remove the write restriction. For example, HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool allows you to perform a low-level format of the drive, eliminating any blockages. Download the program, connect the flash drive and follow its instructions to complete the process.
Full formatting of the media
If other methods do not work, format the device. Keep in mind that this process deletes all data. Open File Explorer, right-click on the flash drive and select Format.
Select a file system (e.g. FAT32 or NTFS) and start the process. You can also use third-party programs such as EaseUS Partition Master for deeper formatting.