How to Remove Write Protection from USB Drive in Windows 11/10?

How to remove write protection from usb drive in windows 10?

“I have tried to remove or add to my drive, "write-protection" message appears. In this issue, my pen drive is not write-protected because it can add or remove on another computer but only can't in my computer with window 10. How can I do this problem? Please give any advice for me.”

-Question from Reddit

Did you receive the message "the disk is write protected" while trying to copy files or folders to a USB flash drive or SD card on Windows 10? Take it easy now! This post will show you how to remove write protection on USB drive, pen drive or SD cards. Many people on various social media platforms have raised their voices that they face this issue. One such example is given above. Don’t worry; this article will elaborate on how to remove write protection from a USB drive in Windows 10.

1. Part 1: Overview of Write-protected USB
2. Part 2: How Do I Remove Write Protection from a USB Drive in Windows 10?
   • Fix 1: Use Lock Switch
   • Fix 2: Run Diskpart Command
   • Fix 3: Edit Registry
   • Fix 4: Disable BitLocker Encrypted
   • Fix 5: Format Write-protected USB
3. Part 3: How to Recover Data after Formatting Write-protected USB?HOT
4. Part 4: Write-protected FAQs

How to Remove Write Protection from USB Drive on Windows 10?

Part 1: Overview of Write-protected USB

1. What does write-protected mean?

Physical or virtual write protection (sometimes known as read-only) is available. When write protection is activated on a USB device, it can prevent new data from being written or old files from being altered. This usually implies that you can only read the data already on the USB but not erase or modify it. You can prevent data from being rewritten or erased by employing write protection.

Do you know any way to USB write protection removal in Windows 10? Don't worry; this post will show you how to remove write protection from USB/pen drive for free.

2. Why has my USB stick become write protected?

Whenever you experience the write protection error, you should be interested in potential causes. A few reasons are given below:

• There is a physical write protection switch on some SD cards and USB drives. If this is going on, move it to the open position.
• Infections assault the USB drive or SD card. If you track down an infection, dispose of utilizing your antivirus programming.
• The USB drive or SD card is having no further space.

It appears to be challenging to fix compose security mistake in the third case, for you can't just move or erase records on the USB drive or SD card. In this condition, you might attempt arrangements presented in the following part.

Part 2: How to Remove Write Protection from USB Drive in Windows 10?

Do you know how to remove USB write protection? The steps below will show you how to remove write protection on usb drives in Windows 11/10.

Fix 1: Use Lock Switch

A physical switch on some USB flash drives allows you to lock or release write protection. On a USB flash drive, the location of a button will be different. Ascertain that the lock switch has been pushed up to the unlock position. If the USB drive is locked, you won't transfer data to it.

If the write protection switch on your USB drive is turned off and you still get the error message, or if your USB drive has no physical button, proceed to next fix.

Fix 2: Run Disk part Command

You may remove write protection from USB drives using Diskpart, a command-line program included with Windows. Please refer to the steps below:

Step 1: Hold “Windows + R" on your keyboard. To open the DiskPart Command Prompt, type "diskpart" in the pop-up Run dialogue box and hit the “OK” button.

Step 2: Type the commands below one at a time, and pressing Enter after each one:

• List disc - This command displays all of the disks connected to the computer, including internal hard drives.
• “n” is the number of USB flash drives, thus select disc n. You can tell which one it is by looking at the Size column.
• Disc characteristics clear read-only - modify the properties of your USB to make it non-read-only.

Step 3: Close DiskPart Command Prompt & re-plug your USB flash drive to verify if the write protection fault is fixed. If not, then please move towards the next step.

Fix 3: Edit Registry

Step 1: On your keyboard, press "Windows + R." To open the Registry Editor, type "Regedit" in the pop-up Run dialogue box and hit Enter or click on “OK”.

Step 2: Expand the left-hand pane's entries to get to the path.

Step 3: Right-click the Control (folder) key, choose “New” and pick Key. StorageDevicePolicies is the new key's name.

Step 4: Right-click on the white space in the right-hand pane and select the newly generated key. Choose “New” and then DWORD (32-bit) Value. Create a new DWORD named WriteProtect.

Step 5: Change the value of the newly formed DWORD from 1 to 0 by double-clicking it. To modify, click "OK."

Step 6: Restart your computer after closing Registry Editor.

Fix 4: Disable BitLocker Encrypted

If BitLocker is activated on your USB, it will encrypt your files and keep them safe. You'll need a password or recovery key to disable BitLocker on a USB stick. If you don't have any other choices, you'll have to reformat the hard disc.

On a PC, follow these steps to fix write protected USB:

Step 1: Launch "File Explorer" and search for the storage device you're looking for. BitLocker was activated for the device if the icon included a padlock.

Step 2: Select "Manage BitLocker" from the context menu by right-clicking on the icon. This step opens the BitLocker Drive Encryption window, which displays a list of all storage units and their encryption state.

Step 3: To turn off BitLocker, right-click the secured USB drive and select "Turn off BitLocker." Enter the password or choose another option before entering the recovery key. The state indicates that the device is being decrypted and that BitLocker will be turned off after it is completed.

Try copying something on the USB stick again after you've disabled BitLocker to see whether the problem has gone away.

Video Tutorial on How to Remove Bitlocker in Windows 10 || Recover Bitlocker Data on Windows 10

Fix 5: Format Write-protected USB

When searching the internet for remedies to the issue of USB/SD card write protection, formatting the USB drive, SD card, or other external storage devices will come up.

Because the file system may have been corrupted, leaving your drive in a terrible state, this is regarded as a good approach to remove write protection from USB/pen drive/SD card. However, you should be noted that formatting the USB will cause you data loss. No worries, a professional USB data recovery tool can assist you in data recovery.

Summary

This post provides many strategies to assist you in resolving USB write-protected in Windows 10 issue. These solutions can also remove write protection from USB drives in Windows 10 if the disc is write-protected. Tenorshare 4DDiG enables you to retrieve your data after they have been formatted.