How to Remove Write Protection from USB Drive on Windows 11/10

“How do I remove the write protection from a USB drive to make it usable?” is a common user query. While the write protection feature protects data integrity, it makes the drive read-only, preventing you from editing, adding, or deleting files. However, you can disable this feature through the USB lock switch, Windows Registry, Diskpart, Command Prompt, by disabling BitLocker, or, as a last resort, by formatting the USB drive. 

The Windows Registry is a database where Windows stores configuration settings and options. Diskpart is a command-line tool that enables disk partitioning operations. BitLocker is a disk encryption program that can lock data on a drive for security.

In this article, we explain these methods in detail, along with when to use a particular method. However, let’s begin by clearing the basics around write protection to ensure better understanding. 

What Is Write Protection on a USB Drive

Imagine a vault you lock to keep your valuables safe. Similarly, since the disk drives contain important data, the write protection feature serves as a lock that prevents people from editing, adding, or deleting the disk content to maintain data integrity. 

Hence, in simple terms, write protection is a Windows feature that prevents data from being written or modified on the drive, meaning you cannot add, change, or delete files from your USB or hard drive if write protection is enabled. Generally, system administrators, IT professionals, digital forensics experts, and cybersecurity enthusiasts use this feature to ensure complete protection. 

While the write-protection feature makes storage devices read-only, this feature is of two main types. One is the hardware-based write protection, and the other is the software-based write protection. 

The hardware-based write protection involves a physical lock switch on the drive to control data writing. 

On the other hand, the software-based write protection is applied through operating system settings, registry entries, or security policy to prevent data changes. 

However, in addition to IT administrators, especially in enterprise settings, intentionally enabling write protection through registry settings, there can be several other reasons for the “This disk is write-protected” message you get when trying to save, edit, or delete a file. 

Why does a USB Drive Have Write Protection

In addition to USB restrictions enforced through registry settings, the following are the most common reasons for USB write protection. 

• The physical switch on your flash drive that enables or disables the write protection feature is toggled on.
• Your device is virus-infected, making the drive read-only, so you cannot remove it.
• Windows has enabled write protection to block more data writing, as the storage capacity on your device is full.
• BitLocker is active on your device, activating the write protection.

Hence, while you can unlock a write-protected USB drive, it is also wise to learn when not to do so to prevent putting your data at risk. 

When Not Remove Write Protection from a USB Drive

Since write protection is often an intentional act, especially in corporate settings, or may be enforced by Windows to prevent data corruption, it may not be wise to remove write protection from a USB or hard drive. 

• The drive consistently shows “This drive is read-only” on multiple devices. Removing write protection in this case may cause complete data failure.
• In a managed environment, such as a corporate setting, disabling write protection can invite malware infections, unless you have the best anti-malware installed, or unauthorized changes to the files.
• The drive is old and dying. Write protection removal for a drive when it wears out does not fix it. Hence, in this case, copy the data if you can and then retire the drive.

With that in mind, let’s proceed to remove write protection from the USB drive and fix a write-protected hard drive, as the methods for both these actions are significantly similar. 

How to Disable Write Protection on a USB Drive

You can execute write protection removal for your drives through the lock switch, Windows Registry, Diskpart, system file repair, disabling BitLocker, or drive formatting. Below are all these methods explained in detail. 

Method 1: Perform write protection removal with the USB lock switch

Some USB flash drives have a physical write protection switch on the bottom or side. This switch keeps your drive protected from malware on public computers. If your drive has this switch, move it to the unlock position. 

Also know: How to Fix Power Surge on USB Port Error on Windows 10, 11

Method 2: Remove write protection from the USB with the Windows Registry

Another way to perform write protection removal for USB drives is through the Windows Registry. However, follow this method carefully, as the Registry has advanced device controls and configurations. Before proceeding, we highly recommend creating a backup of the Registry to safeguard against accidental errors. To create a Registry backup, access the Registry Editor, click on ‘File’, select ‘Export’, choose a save location, and provide a name for the backup file. 

Note: While Registry modifications only affect USB drives, they may also solve the problems if a hard drive is write-protected. 

• First, use the Windows+S keyboard shortcut to access Windows search.
• Next, type regedit in the search bar that appears and press Enter.
• Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control to open the Registry Editor.
• Input the following in the Registry address bar.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies

Note: If you do not have the StorageDevicePolicies key, you need to create it. To create this key, right-click the Control key and choose New > Key. Name the new key StorageDevicePolicies and press Enter. Once you have created the key, right-click the StorageDevicePolicies key, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, input WriteProtect as the new value name, and press Enter. 

• In this step, double-click on the WriteProtect value.
• Next, set the WriteProtect value to 0 and click OK to remove write protection from the USB. If you wish to re-enable WriteProtect in the future, change this value to 1.

• Lastly, exit the Registry Editor and restart your PC.

Method 3: Use Diskpart to perform write protection removal from the USB drive

You can remove write protection from a hard drive and a USB drive through Diskpart. Here is how. 

• Begin by typing cmd in Windows search, right-clicking Command Prompt in search results, and selecting Run as administrator from the on-screen menu.
• In the Administrator Command Prompt, type or copy and paste the following commands one by one. First, type ‘diskpart’ and press Enter. Use the ‘list disk’ command to see the list of all available drives on your computer. Identify your USB drive by its size or other known parameters listed. Be careful to choose the correct disk number to avoid selecting the wrong drive. Replace “X” with your disk number and press Enter after each command.

diskpart

list disk

select disk X

attributes disk clear readonly

exit

• Lastly, remove and reconnect your USB drive safely.

Method 4: Repair system files to remove USB drive write protection

File system errors may have activated the write protection feature on your drive. Hence, you can follow the steps below to fix the system files to ensure write protection removal. 

• First, type cmd in Windows search, right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator from the on-screen menu.
• Second, copy and paste the chkdsk X: /f command in the Administrator Command Prompt and press Enter. Remember to replace X: with your drive letter.

Method 5: Deactivate BitLocker protection for write protection removal

BitLocker, if installed and enabled on your computer, may activate the write protection on drives. Hence, you can turn off BitLocker to remove this protection. Below is how to disable write protection on a hard drive or USB drive by disabling BitLocker. 

Note: This method to remove write protection works only if you have the BitLocker password or recovery key. 

• In the first step, right-click the Start button and choose File Explorer from the on-screen menu.
• Once the File Explorer window opens, choose This PC or Computer from the left navigation menu.
• Find your drive in the list of storage devices in or connected to your computer. If the drive has a padlock icon on or next to it, BitLocker is on. If there is no padlock icon, BitLocker is off.
• If BitLocker is on, right-click the drive entry and choose Manage BitLocker from the on-screen menu.
• Next, enter your BitLocker password or BitLocker recovery key, turn off BitLocker, and wait until the drive decryption is complete.

• Lastly, restart your computer after the decryption is complete.

Also know: How to Fix the USB Device Not Recognized Error in Windows PC

Method 6: Format the USB flash drive (the last resort)

If nothing works, formatting the drive is the only way to remove write protection from a USB or hard drive. However, ensure you have a data backup before following the steps below to format the drive, as this process may erase all data. 

If you can’t back up data due to write protection, consider using data recovery software before formatting. These tools sometimes allow you to retrieve data despite write protection. Evaluate the risks and be aware that not all data recovery attempts are successful.

• First, press the Windows key, type My Computer or This PC in the search bar, and press Enter.
• Once the My Computer or This PC window appears, locate and right-click your drive.
• Next, choose Format from the on-screen context menu.

• Review the format settings. You can use them as they are.
• Lastly, click Start to begin the format process and wait until it is complete.

If you experience problems with write protection removal through the methods above, you can fix them with some simple steps. 

How to Troubleshoot USB Write Protection Issues

To fix the write protection problems:

• Ensure the disk is not in use, and no partition is mounted.
• If there is a physical write-protect switch on the disk, turn it off manually.

That’s all for how to remove write protection from the USB and hard drives to make them usable. However, since write protection is a part of a data loss prevention strategy to reduce malware risk and prevent unsanctioned data transfer, make sure your device has an active antivirus, you have scanned all file transfers before use, and you revert changes once the necessary work is completed. 

Reverting changes means re-enabling write protection on your USB or hard drive to ensure that your data remains safe from accidental edits or malware threats. To do this, simply return to the same settings or configurations where you initially disabled the write protection and enable it again. This re-enables the safeguard against unauthorized modifications.