If you encounter the “Disk Is Write Protected” error when trying to access or modify files on a USB drive, there are several methods you can try to fix the issue. Here are some possible solutions:
- Check the physical write protection switch: Many USB drives have a physical switch that can enable or disable write protection. Ensure that the switch on the USB drive is in the correct position to allow writing.
- Use a different USB port or computer: Sometimes, the USB port or the computer you are using may cause write protection issues. Try connecting the USB drive to a different USB port or using it with a different computer to see if the error persists.
- Modify the registry settings (Windows only): This method involves modifying the registry, so proceed with caution and create a backup of your registry before making any changes.
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box, then type “regedit” and press Enter.
- In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies
- If you don’t see the “StorageDevicePolicies” key, right-click on the “Control” key, select New, and then choose Key. Name the new key “StorageDevicePolicies.”
- Inside the “StorageDevicePolicies” key, right-click on an empty area and select New, then choose DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name the new value “WriteProtect.”
- Double-click on the “WriteProtect” value and set its data to “0” (zero).
- Click OK, close the Registry Editor, and restart your computer.
- Use diskpart utility (Windows only): The diskpart utility allows you to manage disks and partitions from the command prompt. Here’s how you can use it to remove write protection:
- Press Win + R, type “cmd,” and press Enter to open the command prompt.
- In the command prompt, type “diskpart” and press Enter.
- Type “list disk” and press Enter to view the list of available disks.
- Identify your USB drive based on its size and other attributes.
- Type “select disk X” (replace X with the appropriate disk number of your USB drive) and press Enter.
- Type “attributes disk clear readonly” and press Enter.
- Once the process completes, close the command prompt and check if the write protection error is resolved.
- Format the USB drive: If none of the above methods work, you may need to format the USB drive. Keep in mind that formatting erases all data on the drive, so make sure to backup any important files before proceeding. You can format the drive using the built-in formatting tools in your operating system or third-party disk management software.
If you’ve tried all the methods mentioned above and the USB drive still shows the “Disk Is Write Protected” error, it is possible that the drive itself is faulty. In such cases, you may need to replace the USB drive.