Why is Your USB Drive Read Only?
USB flash drives are different from U disks, dont confuse them.
Why is your USB drive read only with theUSBcurrent read-only state yeserror?
However, what if you feel like making some changes on this drive?
How to change read-only USB drive to write?
In the following part, we have sorted out some solutions for you.
How to Change Your Read-Only USB Drive to Writable on Windows 10/11?
If yours has this switch, you’re free to attempt to turn it off.
Step 1. look to see if your USB drive has a lock switch.
If there is one, slide the switch to the unlock side.
Reconnect your USB drive to your rig and peek if you could edit the data on it.
Fix 2: Change the Registry Key
Step 1.
Connect your read-only USB drive to the computer.
PressWin+Sto launch thesearch box.
Typeregistry editorand then hitEnter.
Navigate to the following path:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies
Step 5.
Double-hit thewrite Protectionkey to change its value to0and hitOKto save the changes.
Some of you may find that theStorageDevicePoliciesdoesnt exist in Step 4.
If so, follow the steps below:
Step 1.
Right-choose theControlkey > selectNew> hitKey> rename this new key asStorageDevicePolicies.
Right-select theStorageDevicePolicies> selectNew> hitDWORD(32-bit) Value> rename it aswrite Protection.
Double-click onwrite Protectionto change itsvalueto0.
Fix 3: Run DiskPart Command
Step 1.
If prompted byUser Account Control, click onYesto give permissions for your action.
In the DiskPart command window, typelist diskand hitEnterto show a list of all the disks on your system.
Typeselect disk 1and hitEnter.
Remember to replace1with the disk number of your problematic drive.
Typeattributes disk clear readonlyand hitEnterto kill the read-only mode on your USB drive.
What is DiskPart Clean?
What if it stops working?
In this post, we will show you how to make it work properly again.
Heres how to modify these policy prefs:
Step 3.
Navigate toComputer Configuration>Administrative Templates>System>Removable Storage Access.
In the right pane, double-click onRemovable Disks: Deny write access, checkNot Configuredand save the change.
Heres how to do it:
Move 1: Check the File System of USB Drive
Step 1.
Go toThis PCand right-press your USB flash drive underDevices and drivesto chooseProperties.
In theGeneraltab, check theFile systementry to see how the flash drive is formatted.
Move 2: Change the Security Permissions
For FAT file system:
Step 1.
In thePropertieswindow, go to theSharingtab.
InSharing, hitAdvanced Sharing> tickShare this folder> hitPermissions.
HitEveryoneif it is not selected.
UnderPermissions for Everyone, check that theChangeentry is allowed.
Click onOKto save all the changes.
If your USB drive is still read only, repeat all the steps and tick theAllowbox besideFull Control.
For NTFS file system:
Step 1.
In thePropertieswindow, go to theSecuritytab.
Click onEveryoneandEditto change the permissions.
In thePermissionswindow, hitEveryone.
UnderPermissions for Everyone, double-check theModifyentry is allowed.
HitOKto save all the security changes.
In this case, you could use the inbuilt Windows CHKDSK tool to fix these errors.
Typecmdin the search bar to locateCommand Promptand right-punch it to chooseRun as administrator.
Dont forget to replaceg:with the drive letter of the read-only USB flash drive.
Then, you should probably download some antivirus software to scan and kill the malware or virus at once.
In this case, you might consider formatting your USB drive to make it writable or editable.
Download the drive and then follow the installing wizard to install this program.
Launch it and then choose the partition that needs formatting.
Scroll down in the left function panel to look forFormat Partitionand tap on it.
Set the partition label, file system andclustersize for the selected partition and hitOK.
Now, you’re free to preview the formatted partition.
If you are sure to apply the changes, click onApply.
In this case, creating a backup of your important files might be a good option to you.
Here, we recommend you use a third-party backup tool MiniTool ShadowMaker.
Now, lets start to create a file backup with MiniTool ShadowMaker.
Download, install and launch the free trial of MiniTool ShadowMaker.
MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
Step 2.
Click onKeep Trialand then go to theBackuppage.
InDESTINATION, you could select a storage path for your backup image files.
Click onBack Up Nowto start the backup process at once or pressBack Up Laterto delay the task.
MiniTool ShadowMaker also allows you to back up your system to secure your gear.
For more detailed instructions, like go to this guide -How to Back up Windows to Safeguard your setup?
Do you have any queries about the solutions mentioned above or about our products?
Show your ideas in the comment zone or contact us via[email protected].
We will reply to you as soon as possible.
