There are many times when you attempts to format a writing protected USB drive or copy files from USB drive you may receive an error message “The disk is write protected” and your files in USB drive turns into read-only. So if you find this “Read only” restriction again and again, don’t bother, nothing is wrong with your USB drive, it’s just it has somehow got locked down with write protection of the disk, according to which you are only able to read the contents not modifying it.
This write protection can easily be undone even without the usage of any third party tools. And the article here is written to make you learn how to remove write protection from USB drive in few minutes and giving you the capability to copy, edit and modify any files from your USB flash drive.
Solution #1: Alter USB Drive’s Properties
Here in this method we would simply change the pen drive’s properties to remove the write protection. How?
Step 1. First go to “My computer” and under “devices with removable storage” option search for your USB flash drive option.
Step 2. Once you find your disk, right click on it and then choose “Properties”. A pop up box will appear in which you will be prompted to choose the security tab and change the permission. Just change the status of this option and you are all set to go without any write protection anymore.
Solution 2: Remove Write Protection from USB Drive via Regedit
When you are finding it difficult to remove the Write protection error, using Registry Editor to remove it is the easiest and most direct method of all. But make sure you follow the step guidelines below as exactly as mentioned. Even a slightest mistake can render serious damage to your operating system.
Step 1. Connect your flash drive to your computer.
Step 2. Access “Run” tool and type “regedit” in the search field and hit “Enter”.
Step 3. Go to the location HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControl.
Step 4. Now check if there is a folder key named “StorageDevicePolicies”. Change its DWORD value to “0” and click “OK” to save the change.
TIP: IF you can’t find the respective folder, then you right click on “Control” and create a new key. Name it “StorageDevicePolicies”. Right click on it again to open the DWORD value pop up box. Change its name “Write protection” and finally double click it one more time to change the number.
After you are done with the steps, exit regedit and reboot your computer.
Solution #3: Use DiskPart Command
As you can clearly deduce that we are going to use command prompt to modify the read – writing attributes of USB drive. But attempt this method only if you are sure that you won’t do any mistake while handling the command lines, because even a little error in typing commands can bring down your system to heavier damage.
- Step 1. Press “Windows key + R” together to bring the “Run” tool box at the bottom left corner of the screen.
- Step 2. In the search field type “cmd” and hit “Enter”.
- NOTE: You can also click on “Start” menu and type “command prompt” and then right click on it to select “Run as administrator” option from the drop down menu. This will open up the cmd box with admin rights.
- Step 3. As soon as the black cmd panel turns up, type “diskpart” and press “Enter”. Click “Ok” to confirm the command and a new black box will open up above the already opened up black panel.
- Step 4. Next in the newly opened panel you have to type “list disk”. This will show you all the disk partitions already available.
- Step 5. Carefully choose the USB flash drive disk partition by typing “Select disk n”, here is the number of your locked pen drive.
- Step 6. Now type “attributes disk clear read only” command and hit “Enter”.
- Step 7. Once you get the message “Disk attributes cleared successfully”, close the Window and you can try re-plugging the pen drive to check if the write protection is removed or not.
If everything has been done as accurately as explained, then you are most likely to get the outcome you were aiming here.
Conclusion:
In case none of the methods seem to remove write protection from USB flash drive, then there could be possibly some hardware defect. Take your USB flash drive to any hardware repair shop, they might find a way to remove the restriction. If it does not work out on overall basis, then you are left with no other option other than to replace your USB drive.
