How to turn a “write-protected USB drive” back into a useful tool.

Last update: 04/10/2024
We are going to discuss and solve a problem, which may not be related to any operating system. Windows, but it can also cause frustration for all of them.

This article is about how to convert a "drive back" USB "write protected" into a useful tool.

Copy files from a USB stick to write a password-protected message? Here are some possible solutions

Although many of us may share files with a USB flash drive and get errors sometimes, it is not uncommon to get an error message Make sure you are protected We can't copy files.

Along with the bugs, users have reported the following issues related to this error message.

  • Windows 10: Cannot copy files to Pen Drive You can copy the files from the USB flash drives to your computer if you are unable to do so.
  • USB write protected Delete cmd Sometimes your disk may be in read-only mode. You can fix it by running some commands inside of the Symbol of the system.
  • USB write protection disabled Write protection is an important feature that can sometimes cause problems. Try these solutions if you are having problems with your USB flash drives.
  • Your USB is write protected. You can solve this problem by simply uninstalling the USB flash drive. You can also forma tear the unit if that fails.
  • Cannot format USB flash drive This may cause your drive to not format. Try formatting it from the Safe Mode.

Solution 1: Resolve the problem with Registry Editor

To transfer your files and folders from the USB drive to another computer, the registry editor may need some adjustments.

This will fix the registry error.

  1. For more information, click here Windows KeYo your name y R At the same time, he writes regedit Press the Run button in the dialog box Email To open the Registry Editor .
  2. You can navigate to this page by clicking the link on the left panel
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControl

       

  3. Click on the left panel of the site, on the right The Control key Choose NEW> Key . Next, assign the name of your newly created subkey to this StorageDevicePolicies .

  4. Navigate to the newly created StorageDevicePolicies switch Right click on the switch to select it New > 32-bit DWORD Value .

  5. DWORD word name WORD-WORD Newly created WriteProtect Sometimes it is possible to do so in some cases WORD-WORD The subkey is already present and can be used KEYWORD Having a The value Set to 0
  6. double click on WriteProtect WORD-WORD To open your properties.
  7. Set the value to 1 and then click OK . Check if the problem with Registry Editor still exists.

Windows Registry Editor not your favorite? Here you can find a wide variety of registry editing programs

Solution 2: Troubleshooting with Command Prompt

You can also try Command Prompt if the Registry Editor option doesn't work.

  1. Click Search and type cmd, Open Command Prompt Similar to Administrator .

  2. To Command prompt Press the “Enter” button to continue Email After entering each line:
    • Diskpart
    • list of disks
    • Select disk # (# indicates the number of the USB drive you want to fix)
    • Clear disk attributes to read-only
  3. Restore the command prompt and then try to copy the files to the USB drive.

Solution 3: Check your antivirus software

Antivirus software is essential for protecting your computer. However, it can sometimes prevent you from copying files.

This will solve the problem. Open the antivirus settings menu and look for the USB protection option. If available, disable it.

You can also add your USB flash drive to the exclusion and see if that works.

You can disable your antivirus completely if the problem persists. If this happens, uninstall your antivirus to see if the problem goes away.

This issue may be caused by your antivirus. You might consider switching to a new antivirus software.

Antivirus software is currently the most popular on the market Bitdefender , BullGuard Your Name Panda Antivirus Feel free to check out these programs if you're having trouble copying files.

Don't let antivirus be a nuisance! Choose the most effective tools to protect your PC.

Solution 4 – Reinstall your USB flash drive

This message may be the reason why you cannot copy files to your USB flash drive Make sure you are protected The problem may be with your drivers if you have problems. This problem can sometimes be caused by a USB flash drive that has not been installed correctly.

It is recommended to reinstall the flash drive to fix this problem. It is easy and you can do it by following the steps below:

  1. Check that the USB flash drive is not connected.
  2. Open Device administrator . This can be done quickly by pressing the “Enter” button Windows key + X Choose wisely Device administrator You can find the full list here.

  3. Si Device Manager opens opens, goes to Look! View Show hidden devices .

  4. Go to this section Disk drives Locate your USB flash drive and right click to choose Uninstall the device .

  5. A confirmation dialog box will now appear. Simply click on the dialog box uninstall Remove the driver.

  6. Once the driver is removed, you can plug in the USB flash drive and the program will install automatically.

Try reinstalling the disk and copying it again to see if you still have the problem.

Solution 5 – Check your files

Sometimes, you may receive the message Make sure you are protected When you copy files, they will be in read-only mode.

This tool is recommended for PC problems of all kinds

  • Fix common mistakes
  • protection against file loss
  • El malware can have devastating consequences
  • Reparation of corrupt files
  • Overwriting files
  • Failures of hardware
  • Performance optimization

Automatically detect and fix Windows problems

▼ FIX NOW

Very well rated

This can be fixed by simply changing the file properties. These steps will help you do that:

  1. Connect your flash drive to your computer.
  2. Locate the files you cannot copy. Select any file by right-clicking on it Properties On the menu

  3. Find the Attributes section. Make sure that Hidden and Read-only are not checked. Then click “Next” Email Your Name You accept To save the changes.

  4. Reconnect your USB flash drive.

Once you've made your changes, copy the file. You can also skip this step if these boxes are not checked.

Are all your files still read-only? Here's how to fix it!

Solution 6: Enable sharing of your USB flash drive

The message will tell you why it is not possible to transfer files to your USB flash drive. Write Protected There may be issues with your sharing settings. You can resolve the issue by enabling sharing in this way:

  1. Your USB flash drive may be connected to your computer.
  2. Click here This computer Find your flash drive by right-clicking and choosing Properties .

  3. The window will open Properties Go to the tab Share and spread our voice together . Then click the button Advanced Sharing .

  4. Check out This folder can be shared Click here Permissions button.

  5. Check out Full Control en Permitted Click here Email Your Name You accept To save the changes.

Save your changes and check if the problem is resolved. It has been proven to work for many people, so feel free to try again.

Solution 7 – Check if your USB drives are locked

Some USB flash drives may have a physical switch that prevents you from copying or deleting files. You should not ignore the error message. Protect your data The lock position of the write protect switch can cause it to be in the unlock position.

You can fix the problem by checking your flash drive. Make sure you have the lock switch in the correct position.

Not all USB flash drives have the lock button. But almost all SD cards include this button.

Choose SD card readers USB-C suitable for your digital files.

Solution 8 – Format the disk

An error may prevent you from copying files to your USB flash drive Make sure you are protected You may not have any problems if it is possible to format the disk.

Formatting will erase all files on the flash drive. Make sure to back up your important files before formatting.

This is how to format the flash drive:

  1. Make sure the flash drive is connected to your PC.
  2. Navigate to This computer . Find your USB flash drive and right click to select Format On the menu

  3. Choose the option you prefer and click Starts .

  4. Don't wait while your device is being formatted.

Once the format is done, copy the files to your USB flash drive. Many people have reported problems formatting their drives due to this error message. Make sure you are protected .

Next, you need to enter if this happens You may be safe From there you can format it.

You can format your USB flash drives in many different ways Mini Partition Wizard Tool o Paragon partition manager .

These applications can be used to format and manage your drives.

These formatting tools are available in our article.

We would be happy to receive any comments or suggestions.

Editor's note This article was first published in March 2015. It has been completely updated and rewritten to be accurate, comprehensive and refreshing.

READ ALSO

  • Correct: When a USB device is connected, the computer shuts down
  • Fix: Windows 43 error code 10 for USB devices
  • Windows 8.1 and 10: Fix for USB drives that can't be ejected
  • USB Error: “The specified module cannot be found”[Fix]
  • Windows 10 USB Headphones Issue Solved
  Repair: iTunes is Unable to Course of Purchases at This Time Error

Leave a comment