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The Disk Is Write-Protected error for Removable Disks

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We all use removable disks in Windows. Well, sometimes, you may come across such errors with these removable disks, that may make you believe that the disk has malfunctioned and can’t be used at all. Today, in this article, we’ll discuss such a scenario I recently faced with a USB Drive. Actually, whenever I plug that drive and perform any operation with this drive results in the following error:

The disk is write-protected, Remove the write-protection or use another disk

The Disk Is Write-Protected

Obviously, the Try again button shown in the above error box does nothing significant to fix the hitch. Due to this, you might feel that the disk is not usable and you should throw it to the dustbin. But wait! If you’re really going to do so, why not try something to make this disk again this writable. Here are the two fixes you can try to make your USB drive working again:

Fix The Disk Is Write-Protected error in Windows

FIX 1

1. Create a system restore point first and then press Windows Key + R combination, type put regedit in Run dialog box and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.

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2. In the left pane, navigate here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control

The-Disk-Is-Write-Protected-2

3. In the left pane of this location, right-click Control key and select New -> Key. Name the new sub-key so created as StorageDevicePolicies. Now come to the right pane of this sub-key i.e. StorageDevicePolicies, right-click and select New -> DWORD Value. Name the newly created DWORD as WriteProtect. In some cases, you might find that this DWORD under the sub-key already exists and the DWORD has a Value set to 1. Double click on the DWORD to modify its Value data:

The-Disk-Is-Write-Protected-3

4. In the above-shown box, change the Value data to 0 from 1. Click OK. Close the Registry Editor and check if the issue is resolved, else try FIX 2 mentioned below.

Remove: Media is Write Protected message.

FIX 2

1. Open administrative Command Prompt.

2. Type these commands one by one and press Enter key after each:

diskpart

list disk

select disk # 

attributes disk clear readonly

(# is the number of the USB drive with which you’re getting error and is plugged in, see screenshot below)

The-Disk-Is-Write-Protected-1

You may now close Command Prompt and re-plug the USB drive and check if the issue is resolved. If the disk is still showing the same error, there could be a possibility that the chip-set of this drive is broken.

If this does not help you, you may want to see this post, which gives additional tips on how to remove the Write Protection on a Disk. If your data on the drive is of paramount importance, you may need to consult a data recovery professional.

Check this if you need to Write protect USB flash drives in Windows 11/10.

I hope this helps!

Read: How to make Disk or Partition Read-Only in Windows.

KapilArya@TWC

An Electrical Engineer by profession, Kapil is a Microsoft MVP and a Windows Insider MVP. Please read the entire post & the comments first & create a system restore point before making any changes to your system.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. troubleshooter313 says

    Type in Run window regedit and click OK
    After registry editor Open Goes to the

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStorage Device Policies

    In the Right Pane Double Click on Write Protect and Type in Value 1
    Write Protection is Added

    For Remove Write Protection
    Double Click on Write Protect and Type in Value 0
    write protection will be Removed

    Or Simply Download the Application Called USB Write Protector
    For Enable and Disable USB Port its worked for me.

    from http://softlinklabs.com/2013/02/usb-write-protector.html

  7. Pawel Dawid Syrek says

    troubleshooter313 YOU STUPID FUCK! If I knew where you live I would come and smash your head! You should go to jail for spreading software containing malware and spyware! Guys don’t download USB Write Protector it’s simply something else in addition you will install loads of shit which will make your computer vulnerable to virus attacks/hack attacks, and will slow down your computer!

  10. Pawel Dawid Syrek says

    well I saw this guy posting the same link everywhere related to this topic, he usually uses the same name troubleshooter or troubleshooter**** with some numbers… I don’t know if USB WriteProtector itself is a malware or not, but the one provided by that idiot, contained loads of crap, installed without my permission which flooded my computers with all kind of crap…

  11. Anand Khanse says

    It is probably the case of the developer bundling crapware. If that is the case, then one has to be careful, irrespective of where he/she downloads it from.

  12. PatSG says

    @Pawel — Thanks for the alert to TWC readers. By googling, I can guess which source you were probably referring to. Users might wish to take note of the following as a precaution.

    1) This “troubleshooter” person seems to be behind “Softlink Labs”, whose current IP address is shared by 407,157 other sites. The domain was created in mid 2014, & appears to be based either in India or Sri Lanka. Its Facebook page “Softlink Tricks” was created in Jul 2013.

    The website provides “USB Write Protector” (.exe file, 647 KB, 22 Feb 2013), “Troubleshooter’s BIOS Cracker” (.exe file, 647 KB, 23 Mar 2012) & so on for free public download.

    Note: This “USB Write Protector” was formerly publicized as “Softlink Write Protection Remover”, which is still available for download at various sites. Beware of new pseudonyms arising in the future.

    By inspection, it appears that the various files — regardless of filename & link — as provided at the “Softlink Labs” website are each 647 KB in size, signed by the confirmed-unsafe “Install Path Ltd”, & share the exact same MH5 hash (37b785510dd69908277a352e2f53fb70).

    As such, “Softlink Labs” & “troubleshooter” already smell like a lot of trouble. By unethically hijacking the name of a perfectly legitimate & safe software (see 2 below), it appears that Softlink Labs is engaged in propagating swindle-masquerade-malware.

    2) The above is not to be confused with the below software, which is legitimate, safe & works as it claims. I have tested it myself. This utility is available at reputable sites like Softpedia, as well as from the developer’s webpage (with detailed changelog).

    • Software: USB WriteProtector (latest version 1.2.0.0)
    • Purpose: Enable & disable write protection for connected USB devices
    • Developer: Werner Rumpeltesz
    • Type: Portable, no installation needed
    • Download Size & Extension: 194 KB, .rar
    • Extracted File: UsbWriteProtect.exe, 440 KB

    • Released: 30 May 2011, with 8 additional languages added between Jun 2011 & Feb 2014; To save space, unwanted languages can be deleted from the “Language” sub-folder.

    • Copyright: © 2006-2011 Werner Rumpeltesz
    http://www.gaijin.at/en/dlusbwp.php

    http://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTABLE-SOFTWARE/Security/Encrypting/Windows-Portable-Applications-Portable-USB-WriteProtector.shtml

  13. Pawel Dawid Syrek says

    Thank you for the info, and apologies for my anger, but this happened in least expected moment, the good think is that I’m aware of how to remove all the malware and spyware, but some people can have a hard time doing it so. Being a witness when a people who knows nothing about malware/spyware and other wares came to ask me for help. Thanks a lot for a thorough research! In addition I managed to remove write protection on my usb by going to registry settings and following this tip:

    Open Start Menu >> Run, then type regedit and press Enter, this will open the registry editor.

    Navigate to the following path:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStorageDevicePolicies

    Double click the WriteProtect key in the right pane and set the value to 0

    (myself changed it to 1 NOT 0) and it worked, I am not sure if I would change to 0 would do the same… at first it showed me VALUE 4 not sure why.

    In the Value Data Box and press OK button

    Exit Registry, restart your computer and then again re-connect your USB pen drive on your computer.

  14. PatSG says

    @Pawel — No worries … if you hadn’t gotten annoyed at “troubleshooter” trying to stir trouble at TWC, I wouldn’t have known that he/she & “Softlink Labs” are trying to spread malware that uses the name of a legitimate software.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStorageDevicePolicies

    The above registry key does not exist in my system, & I have not encountered USB write-protection errors. It seems that by default this registry key does not exist in Win 7 or Win 8.

    Perhaps the above key (with “WriteProtect” somehow set to 4) was created in your system as a result of some previous unknown corruption or USB-software installation. Glad to know that you have resolved your USB issue w/o the need for 3rd-party software.

  15. tobby says

    non is working for me. i can’t delete files from my flash drive or send files into it. is there not a software kindof one can use. Thanks

  18. Nippy says

    there is no HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControl in my windows 8.1 what will I do? Thanks.

  23. Zdenko says

    Nice article but nothing worked to many users!

    Even when you tried to format your USB Key it didn’t allow you saying “the disk is write protected”!
    I have had the same problem and I RESOLVED IT ! The problem is very dilated, you know for it, but may be also manufakturers of yours USB keys knows for it? I have 4GB USB Key Transcend and I found a Tool “Restore/Format” write protected USB Key on their site. With it I succefully formated my Key. i suggest you to look in the site of your manufacturer for the tool or ask them for help.

    WARNING: Make sure that you back up all the files and information from your USB drive to your computer. All data will be lost once the USB drive is formatted.
    Very glad if I help you, yours Zdenko (73 years)

  24. szyhawk says

    The second fix – the ‘diskpart’ fix – was successful!! I have been trying to fix this issue with my WD Passport for ages. I have tried the regedit method and anything else i could find… Finally!

    Thank you so much!

  26. Maxamad Muqtaar Maxamad Niinii says

    how to solve The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error

  28. :( says

    Tried the diskpart method, got “DiskPart failed to clear disk attributes.” Any ideas?

  29. Kapil Arya says

    ^^ Seems like the disk is damaged. Suggest you to contact manufacturer or professional data recovery services to retrieve data or get hardware fixed.

  30. asazes says

    there is no EXFAT on the file type.
    when i format my usb.

    it keeps saying
    ” the disk is write protected “

  34. Bill Brown says

    Hi,

    Use the Diskpart command in step 2.
    This may help.

    1. Is your Windows account an administrative account?
    windows+r
    lusrmgr.msc
    Open Groups
    Open Administrators
    If your user account is listed, then you are an admin.

    2. Did you open an administrative command prompt.
    windows+r
    cmd
    Ctrl + Shift + Enter
    Then run steps from 2. above.
    If that fails, change every time is says “disk”, after “diskpart”, to “volume”.

  41. Alex Leyva says

    FIX 1 didn’t work for me so i tried FIX 2 and everything goes smoothly until the last step.

    After i enter “attributes disk clear readonly” i get

    “Microsoft DiskPart version 6.0.6000
    VOLUME – Manipulate volume attributes”

  42. Young Khemist says

    create it ur self
    by right clicking on “control” and selecting “new key”
    right click on the right pane and select “new DWORD key”
    and rename it “WriteProtect”

  43. sohaib jamal says

    Sir i cant find “storagedevices polices” in windows 7 ultimate…. please help me…
    give me an alternate way …
    plzzzzzz
    plzzzzz

  45. Jagan Arvind Yadav says

    i have an usb which is write protected and its showing in hard disk drives options.not in removable devicethan how to remove it.

  46. Matthias B says

    First, check if you ‘unlocked’ your external drive. On a lot of sd cards nowadays there’s a little lock-button. Having it locked creates the same error and can’t be fixed with the solutions above

  49. Clinton Laker says

    Thanks a lot.. it worked.. i just search the “writeprotect” Value and found it in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001ControlStorageDevicePolicies….and i follow your instruction…

  53. fying says

    Both are Not Working to me…In fact, The Flashdrive is not detected after trying this.

  54. Muhammad Faraz Khan says

    dude i can’t formet my CArd these method i had tried know what can i do ..

  57. jcy says

    replying for the benefit of others: right click on the command prompt icon and choose “run as administrator”

  59. Chirag Chetan says

    I had a bootable usb with ubuntu 12.04 in it. and now i am not able to format it. tried both the above steps but none seems to be working. I have windows 7 ultimate. Fix 1 doesnt have storage policies option and fix 2 not working. any help would be appreciated. Even tried low level formatting software.

  61. Simon Hayes says

    doesn’t work for me tryed everything they said but nothing working doing my head in trying to delect everything off my 500gb usb stick so i can use it on my ps4

  62. Dilshan Hettiarachchi says

    i tried through all this method to unlock my USB device. I was just able to remove the wire protection temperately . the pen will unprotected at the begging when it connect to the computer bus after some time it will protected automatically. I format my drive several times in windows computer and also in linaX but it will repeat the same error again and again . help me to fix this.

  68. Lou says

    So… Fix 2. For some reason, the disk won’t work at all. It was working before I pulled it from my tablet to try and transfer a file to it on my Win10 desktop. Now that I’ve run through these steps to fix the problem (neither worked btw), the disk seems to be completely unwriteable no matter where I plug it into.

    Do you have a step by step to undo these so called “fixes”?

  69. Vinlander Lokison says

    i went to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControl and there is no StorageDevicePolicies folder (win10)

  70. Andrew Christou says

    Thanks this really helped when i added the new registry policy and then used the command line to remove the readonly state.

  71. CrazyKP says

    Still I Cant change the Write Protect from My USB. Even though I have tried both the methods!!!!!

  72. Red Aardvark says

    At least in Windows 10, the command needed in Fix 2 is Select Disk=# That is, an equals sign is required.

  76. swathi sambram says

    how to remove write protection from disk windows 8 ….i tried making the value to 0 in the run regedit plz help me i m nt able to use any pendrive
    solutions.

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