# How to fix “The disk is write protected” error on USB drives **URL:** https://www.compsmag.com/blogs/fix-the-disk-is-write-protected-usb-drives/ **Author:** Ayushi Chauhan **Published:** 2023-10-11 **Updated:** 2023-10-11 **Categories:** Blogs **Reading Time:** 8 min --- How to fix "The disk is write protected" error on USB drives: Even though cloud storage is now available, many people still prefer to use USB drives to back up their data and transfer files. If you are trying to copy files from your Windows [computer](https://compsmag.com/best/computers/)to your USB drive, you might get a message that says "The disk is write protected." A USB drive is a device for storing data that has flash memory and a USB port built right in. USBs are used to store data, back it up, and move files from one device to another. It is simple to use; all you have to do is plug it into your computer to start sending files right away. But sometimes people have trouble with them when they try to use them. The "Disk Is Write Protected" error is seen by some users when they try to access their USB flash drive. Many times, the USB drive error shows up when the [PC](https://compsmag.com/best/desktop-computer/)has blocked the removable storage from the system or when the removable drive itself has a write-protected switch turned on. When you try to use CD drives or[Micro SD cards](https://compsmag.com/best/microsd-card/), you might get the same error. The "Disk Is Write Protected" error could also be caused by software. There are the steps in this guide that should help youhow to fix "The disk is write protected" error on USB drives. ## What is the "The disk is write protected" error? Are you getting an error that says "disk is write protected" while you're trying to format a write-protected USB pen drive? What does it mean when you try to format a flash drive, pen drive, or SD card and receive the error message "The disk is write-protected"? It indicates that the Windows [operating system](https://compsmag.com/best/operating-systems/) has set administrator limitations, the registry entry is damaged, a virus infection is present, or that your USB pen drive has been locked by third-party encryption software. A "The disk is write-protected" error message will appear if you try to format the USB flash drive while it has the write protection status that prevents formatting. One of the most common causes, which is overlooked by some users, is a switch that may be present on the device that turns on write protection. You might also experience this problem if the storage device is already at its maximum capacity. The majority of these are fairly simple to resolve, but there are a few that are more challenging. It's possible, for instance, that this error was brought on by corrupt partitions on the drive itself, or that malware was responsible for the security breach. ## What are the causes of the "The disk is write protected" error? 1. **Physical Write Protection Switch:** Many USB drives and SD cards come with a physical switch that can be used to enable or disable write protection. If this switch is in the "locked" position, it will prevent any write operations to the device. 2. **File System Permissions:** The file system on the storage device may have restrictive permissions that prevent you from writing to it. This can happen if the device was previously used on a different system or if there are permission issues. 3. **Corrupted File System:** If the file system on the storage device is corrupted, it can prevent write operations. Corruption can occur due to improper ejection, sudden power loss, or other factors. 4. **Malware or Virus Infection:** Malware or viruses can sometimes modify device settings or inject malicious code that prevents writing to the device. Security software may trigger write protection to prevent further infection. 5. **Registry or Group Policy Settings:** On Windows systems, there are registry settings and group policies that can enforce write protection on removable storage devices. These settings may have been configured by an administrator or as part of system policies. 6. **Firmware or Driver Issues:** Outdated or malfunctioning device firmware or drivers can sometimes lead to write protection issues. ## How to fix "The disk is write protected" error on USB drives ### Remove Individual Files With Write Protection ![How to fix "The disk is write protected" error on USB drives](https://compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a-137.jpg) 1. **Type** **cmd** into the **Win+R** box, then press **Enter** or **OK**. 2. When asked, type the **path** to the **directory** where the **damaged file** is located and press **Enter**. I **typed** in **D:** to get to our **USB drive**. 3. When you type **dir /x** and press **Enter**, a list of all the **files** in that **directory** with their **short names** will appear. Try **dir /x /p** if you have a **long list** of **files**. It will **pause** the list and show you **one screen** at a time. 4. To get rid of a **file**, type **del** and then the **short name** of the **file**. Press **Enter** to finish. To get rid of my **test file**, I **typed dir WETALS\1.TXT**. ### Turn Off BitLocker or Remove Encryption 1. **Open** File Explorer, right-click on the **drive** or **partition** that has **BitLocker** and choose "**Manage BitLocker**." 2. **Pick out** the **bad drive** in the **BitLocker Drive Encryption** window and click "**Turn off BitLocker**." 3. The **decryption** will begin with **BitLocker**. It will not **show up** again when you try to **edit** or **save** the files after it's done. 4. It's the **same** if you used a **third-party tool** to **password-protect** or **encrypt** your **USB drive**; the **exact steps** will depend on the **tool** you used. ### Double-Check Drive Permissions 1. **Open** File Explorer and **click** on **This PC**. 2. Then, **right-click** on your **USB drive** and choose **Properties**. 3. On the **Security** tab, make sure that the **group**, whose name you can use, has the **right permissions** to **write**. 4. This group should be called "**Everyone**." 5. **Click** the **Edit** button, **check** the **box** next to **Write** in the **Allow** column, and **click** **OK**. If you don't see that **checkmark**, choose **Everyone**. ### DiskPart Command Prompt Utility 1. To **get** to Windows Terminal (Admin), press **Windows Key + X** and then **choose** it from the list. 2. Type **diskpart** and press **Enter (1 in the picture above)**. 3. After that, type **list disk** and hit **Enter**. As shown in **picture 2**, you should see a list of disks that are currently **mounted**. 4. **Check** that you can see the **USB drive**. **Disk 4** is mine. **Write down** the **number** of your disk. Type in the next command: **Pick out disk [your disk number]**. 5. After making your choice, type the following command: **disk clear read-only attributes**. 6. After clearing the USB drive, there should no longer be any **read-only files** on it. ### Check to Make Sure the USB Stick Isn't Full 1. **Open** Windows Explorer, and **browse** to This PC. 2. This gives you an **overview** of all drives connected to your system. 3. **Right-click** your **USB drive** and select **Properties**. 4. You'll be presented with a delightful **donut chart** (what was wrong with the venerable **pie chart**, Microsoft?) displaying your current drive **capacity**. 5. As you can see, we've got **room to spare**. But if your **USB drive** is completely full, it can return a Write Protection error **message**. ## Conclusion Write protection on USB flash drives or SD cards is a useful feature that keeps you from deleting files by accident and stops suspicious files like viruses and files from unknown sources. External hard drives are very common and widely used these days because they are small and easy to carry around. If you protect writing to a USB drive, it can only be read. If that happens, you won't be able to add or change data on that disk. Any attempt to write something will be blocked, including adding or making a new file, editing existing data, deleting files that are already there, formatting the USB drive, and so on. People also only allow readable access to their storage device so that others can't share the data that is stored on it. ## Questions and Answers --- *End of Article*