How to Remove Write Protection From USB Drive in Windows 10?

If you are anyone who frequently uses USB drives, you may have encountered the “write protection” error at some point. This error prevents you from making any adjustments or modifications to the files stored on the USB drive. It can be frustrating, specially when you need to transfer important archives or make updates to existing ones.

Fortunately, there are a few ways to remove write safety from a USB drive in Windows 10. In this article, we will walk you through the steps to do so.

Check the USB Drive’s Physical Switch

The first factor you should check is the physical swap on the USB drive. Some USB drives come with a switch that can be used to enable or disable write protection.

If the switch is in the locked position, it will stop you from making any changes to the files on the drive. To remove write protection, virtually move the switch to the unlocked position.

Edit the Registry Key

If the physical swap is not the problem, you can try editing the registry key. This approach involves making changes to the Windows registry, so it’s vital to exercise caution. Here are the steps to do this:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies.
4. Look for the key named “WriteProtect” and double-click on it.
5. Change the value from “1” to “0” and click OK.
6. Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

After finishing these steps, the write protection should be removed from your USB drive.

Format the USB Drive

If the above techniques do not work, you can try formatting the USB drive. Formatting will erase all the data on the drive, so make positive to backup your files before proceeding. To format the USB drive, observe these steps:

1. Insert the USB drive into your computer.
2. Open File Explorer and right-click on the USB drive.
3. Select “Format” from the context menu.
4. Choose the file system and allocation unit size for the drive.
5. Click “Start” to commence the formatting process.

Once the formatting process is complete, the write protection should be eliminated from the USB drive.

Use Command Prompt

Another way to remove write protection from a USB drive is with the aid of using Command Prompt. This method involves the use of the diskpart command to remove the write protection. Here are the steps to do this:

1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu.
2. Type “diskpart” and press Enter.
3. Type “list disk” and press Enter to view a list of all the disks linked to your computer.
4. Type “select disk #” where # is the number of the USB drive.
5. Type “attributes disk clear readonly” and press Enter.
6. Type “exit” and press Enter to exit diskpart.

After completing these steps, the write safety should be removed from your USB drive.

Conclusion

Write protection on a USB power can be a frustrating problem to deal with, but it is now not impossible to remove. By checking the physical switch, editing the registry key, formatting the drive, or the use of Command Prompt, you can remove the write protection and regain access to your files.

However, earlier than trying any of these methods, it is important to backup your files in case something goes wrong during the process. With the right steps and caution, you can effortlessly remove write protection from a USB drive in Windows 10.

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