How to Remove Write Protection on Pen Drives: Easy Methods (2023)
If you have attempted to copy or transfer a file to your pen drive, and you received a write protection error message, then it means your pen drive is write-protected. It could be caused by a virus, a hardware malfunction, or software error. Regardless of the cause, it can be frustrating to have your pen drive become unusable. However, the good news is that it is often possible to remove write protection on pen drives and recover your data. Here’s how you can go about removing write protection on your pen drive:
Method 1: Using Regedit Command
Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Type regedit in the text box and press Enter. This will open the Registry Editor.
Step 3: Navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStorageDevicePolicies
Step 4: Locate the WriteProtect key and double-click on it to edit its value.
Step 5: Change the value data from 1 to 0 and click OK.
Step 6: Exit the Registry Editor and remove the pen drive from your computer.
Method 2: Using diskpart
Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Type cmd in the text box and press Enter. This will open the Command Prompt.
Step 3: Type diskpart and press Enter.
Step 4: Type list disk and press Enter. This will display a list of all the storage devices connected to your computer.
Step 5: Find the disk number that corresponds to your pen drive and type select disk # (replace # with the correct disk number).
Step 6: Type attributes disk clear readonly and press Enter.
Step 7: Type exit and press Enter to close diskpart.
Method 3: Using Command Prompt
Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Type cmd in the text box and press Enter. This will open the Command Prompt.
Step 3: Type diskpart and press Enter.
Step 4: Type list disk and press Enter. This will display a list of all the storage devices connected to your computer.
Step 5: Find the disk number that corresponds to your pen drive and type select disk # (replace # with the correct disk number).
Step 6: Type attributes disk clear readonly and press Enter.
Step 7: Type exit and press Enter to close the Command Prompt.
Method 4: Using Easus Partition Master
Step 1: Download and install Easus Partition Master on your computer.
Step 2: Launch the software and connect your write-protected pen drive.
Step 3: Select the pen drive from the list of available drives.
Step 4: Right-click on the pen drive and select the “Format partition” option.
Step 5: In the new window, select the file system that you want to use.
Step 6: Uncheck the box that says “Quick Format” and click OK.
Step 7: Wait for the complete formatting process to finish.
Step 8: Once the process is complete, close Easus Partition Master and eject your pen drive.
This method is effective in removing write protection on pen drives. However, formatting your pen drive will erase all data on it, so make sure to back up your files before formatting.
In conclusion, removing write protection on pen drives is a simple task that can be done using different methods. The methods outlined above should help you resolve the issue and allow you to access your files on the pen drive. Remember to always eject your pen drive safely after use to avoid write protection errors.