How to Remove a Write Protected USB Drive? – Get Manual Method
Sometimes, due to the protection enabled in the USB drives, many of us face the issue that getting stuck with some USB drives. Which cannot be formatted and also, we cannot even copy any of our files. Here are some easy methods which one can try for removing the write protection from a USB drive. Some USB drives have write protection enabled. When it is enabled, it prevents your files from being erased or deleted, or at times, you cannot even write any new files to that device.
Sometimes, this even stops you from formatting the drive. More often than not, you are stuck with a USB drive that refuses to format your Windows OS tells you that this drive is write-protected. Now, typically the problem lies in the situation that you are able to read your files that exist on the USB drive, but cannot really delete them. Also, sometimes, it so happens, that when you try deleting the files, then they seem to be deleted fine, but next time when you check, those files are again seen.
Also read:- USB Ports Not Working in Windows 10
How to Remove a Write Protected USB Drive With Manual Process
For formatting a write-protected USB drive, you first have to remove its write protection, which can only be possible through tweaking commands that are there in Windows Registry. Here is the stepwise guide for remove a write-protected USB drive.
Note:- USB Device Not Recognized
Erasing Write Protected Flash Drive Using Regedit.exe
This is the process that involves removing a write-protected USB drive using Regedit.exe in the Registry.
- In any of the versions of MS Windows (Windows XP onwards), you can run Regedit.exe (when you search for regedit, it will mostly show the program at the top of the list).
- Now, you can navigate to this key: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies
- Then, in the right side pane of Regedit.exe, double-click on the WriteProtect value
- Now, change that Value data from 1 to 0
- After that, click on OK for saving the changes made. and, close Regedit and then, restart your system
- Now again, try connecting your USB drive. It is likely that you find that your USB drive is not write-protected any longer
- In the end, you can easily format your drive by right-clicking on the drive in My Computer and then choosing Format
Erasing Write Protected USB (StorageDevicePolicies)
- If you are unable to find StorageDevicePolicies, then try to create a key in the Control folder by right-clicking over the white space and after that choosing New -> Key;
- And thereafter, vigilantly entering the name then, double-clicking over the new key (folder)
- Now, right-clicking once again. Then, choosing New -> DWORD
- For naming it WriteProtect and then, setting its value to 0
- Finally, click OK then Exiting Regedit and Rebooting the system
Deleting Write Protected USB Drive Using Diskpart
- With the USB drive plugged in, launch command prompt
- For this, got to Start the menu
- Search for the cmd.exe in or Start screen as in Windows 8 OS
- In MS Windows XP however, you can click Start >> Run and then type cmd.exe in that box
- A NOTE: You might need to run Cmd.exe using administrator privileges if in case you are seeing the message stating “access is denied”
- For doing this, you have to
- First, right-click on the shortcut
- Then, choose Run as administrator
- And now, in Windows 8, choose Command prompt (admin) simply
- And now, type the required disk part commands and press Enter after every command
Format the USB Flash Drive
If the above-mentioned method is not able to resolve your issue. Then do one thing visit the pen drive data recovery service center with 100% of data recovery. Make the backup of your important and store it another storage device. After that, perform the below-mentioned steps.
- Go to Window Explorer >> My PC >> USB drive >> Right click on it >> Properties >> Close the Window
- Hit on the pen drive then choose the Format option. When format USB drive failed to complete. It means there are bad sectors on the drive.
Also read:- Fix USB Drive 0 Bytes Error
What We Do Now
There were a couple of manual methods that one can use for formatting the USB drive and for removing its write protection. However, you must bear in mind that as such there is no foolproof guarantee that these methods will work for you in all cases. Sometimes, the USB drive might be corrupted or physically damaged. Therefore, no manual way or manual-level formatting would make it work for you again. Herein, the only solution that rests with you in your case would be to call for some commercial aid in the matter. SysTools pen drive data recovery software to recover deleted, corrupted, and formatted data from USB drive. It also recover deleted partition from USB drive. Users can download and install this software on any version of Windows.
Conclusion
In the write-up, we have a few manual methods and one automated solution to remove a write-protected USB drive. Select the solution wisely according to your knowledge.
