How to Remove Write Protection from a USB

USB write protection means that we can’t change or edit the files or anything from USB because our operating system has set some restrictions to prevent unauthorized editing or manipulation of data. You can only view the files in USB write protection mode. Sometimes, USBs or Flash Devices may become write protected because of viruses. In some cases, it’s a better and most convenient, and safe tool to use to avoid data to be accidentally deleted or interrupted by malware.

Methods for Removing Write Protection from USB

There are various methods for removing write protection from USB. You can try these methods according to your desires or related issues  of your USB . Here each and every step is mentioned and elaborated. Following these steps you can easily remove write protection from your USB.

Check the protected lock switch on the USB

Check Physical Lock

Sometimes, a physical lock is available on USBs, with the help of it we can easily remove write protection. First, locate the physical lock on the USB. If it’s ON then change it to OFF through a Button present on it. Connect the unlock USB to check whether the write protection is removed or not. If not, then retry it.

Removing write protection by using diskpart

Insert USB

Insert USB into a computer port and press WINDOWS KEY+R then a dialogue box should be open as shown in the image. Type diskpart and then press OK then a command prompt window will be open.

Check Disk List

In the command prompt, you have to enter some commands. First, type list disk, it shows all the disks connected to the computer including internal and external storage.

Select Disk No.

Now you have to select the no. of disk/USB from which you want to remove the write protection.
For example: in the below image, we select disk no 1 which is external storage(USB).

Type Commands

Then type command attributes disk clear readonly, this will remove write protection from the USB and close the command prompt and reconnect your USB.

Removing Write Protection Using Regedit

Insert USB

Insert USB into a computer port and press WINDOWS KEY+R then a dialogue box should be open as shown in the image. Type regedit and then press OK then a registry editor window will be open.

Create Key Folder

Then select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control.
In the control folder make a new folder StorageDevicePolicies by RIGHT-CLICK on NEW then select KEY and enter the folder name.

Rename DWORD Value

Then RIGHT-CLICK on StorageDevicePolicies select NEW < DWORD(32-bits) values. Name it as WriteProtect and press ENTER.

Create DWORD Value

To edit the DWORD dialogue box, DOUBLE-CLICK on WriteProtect. A value data text box will be open. Replace the value with 0 and press OK and close regedit.

NOTE: Steps no. 2, and 3 will be followed in case the StorageDevicePolicies folder is not available.

Removing write protection by setting turn off BitLocker

Manage BitLocker

Select the disk/USB disk from which you want to remove write protection. RIGHT-CLICK on the disk and select Manage BitLocker.

Turn OFF BitLocker

Select the locked device and Click on TURN OFF BitLocker.

BitLocker Decryption

Then wait for the decryption of BitLocker and then close the control panel.

Removing write protection by formatting USB

If all of the above methods fail then it means that your USB is completely corrupted and the last option is to format the USB as shown in the image. You can also use another software for formatting your USB. After formatting the USB you can recover your data by using some software like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, NAS data recovery, Tenorshare 4DDiG, etc.

CONCLUSION:

This page offers you several helpful methods for removing the write protection from the USBs.  Method 01 is optional because some USBs don’t have a protected lock switch. For method 04 you must have to remember your password or the recovery key which you set/save while turning on the BitLocker. If you have the StorageDevicePolicies folder then ok otherwise you have to create it for method 03.

References

AOMEI Partition Assistant
EaseUS

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