How to Remove Write Protection on Windows 10

Write protection can be frustrating. You try to copy, delete, or save files to your USB drive or SD card—and Windows hits you with “The disk is write-protected.” Don’t worry. Here’s how you can fix it fast.

What Is Write Protection?

Write protection prevents files from being changed or deleted. It’s useful for keeping important data safe, but if you need to modify your files, it gets in the way.

Common Causes

• Physical switch on the drive or SD card
• Corrupt file system
• Windows security settings
• Registry issues

Let’s get into how to turn it off.

1. Check for a Physical Lock

Some USB drives and SD cards have a small switch on the side. Make sure it’s set to “unlocked.” It’s basic, but a common fix.

2. Use Diskpart Command

If there’s no physical switch, you can use Windows’ built-in tool, Diskpart.

1. Press Windows + S and type “cmd.”
2. Right-click “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator.”
3. In the command window, type these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:
   diskpart
list disk
select disk X
attributes disk clear readonly
exit
   Replace X with your drive’s number (you’ll see it in the list).

3. Edit the Registry

Warning: The Windows Registry is powerful—be careful. If you’re not comfortable editing it, skip this step.

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies
3. On the right, look for “WriteProtect.” Double-click it.
4. Set the value to 0.
5. Restart your computer.

If you don’t see the StorageDevicePolicies folder:

• Right-click “Control,” select “New > Key,” and name it StorageDevicePolicies.
• Inside that key, right-click, select “New > DWORD (32-bit) Value,” and name it WriteProtect. Set the value to 0.

4. Check Drive Properties

1. Open File Explorer and right-click your drive.
2. Select “Properties.”
3. Go to the “Security” tab.
4. Make sure you have full control over the drive. If not, click “Edit” and adjust permissions.

5. Scan for Malware

Sometimes malware locks drives. Run a full scan with Windows Defender or your antivirus software.

6. Format the Drive (Last Resort)

If nothing else works, you may need to format the drive. This will erase all data, so back up what you can.

1. Right-click the drive in File Explorer.
2. Select “Format.”
3. Follow the prompts.

Related: Want to Enable Write Protection Instead?

If you want to keep your USB drives safe from being overwritten or deleted, check out this guide:
How to enable write protection for USB devices on Windows 10

Final Thoughts

Write protection is annoying, but in most cases, it’s easy to fix. Start simple, and work through these steps. If your drive still won’t cooperate, it might be failing—and it’s time to replace it.

Have questions? Drop them in the comments below!

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!