USB memory sticks and similar transferable data storage devices are convenient if you want to have your photos, truyền thông media, or work files ready to go. It’s been quite some time since these storage devices have become the most prevalent method of storing digital data. However, sometimes it might happen that you can’t transfer your files onkhổng lồ a USB because write protection is activated.

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Failed write attempts can be quite an inconvenience on a USB stiông chồng. Luckily, there are quichồng & easy methods to lớn solve the write protection issue, whether you’re on a Windows PC or a Mac. There’s even a solution if you’re working on a Chromebook.

A Universal Solution

Before we go into lớn details about write protection removal in different operating systems, there’s one thing khổng lồ check first. Some data storage units have sầu a physical switch for toggling write protection on or off.

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Launch “Commvà Prompt.” You can vị this either by pressing “Windows key+R” and typing “CMD” or searching for Command Prompt from the “Start Menu.” If you see the “Access is denied” message, right-clichồng on Commvà Prompt và choose “Run as Administrator.”
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You’ll see a danh sách of all memory storage disks, named Disk 0, Disk 1, and so on. This scenario is when you’ll need the capađô thị information khổng lồ identify your USB device. Compare it lớn the “Size” column, và you’ll find out the disk number.
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Type “Attributes disk clear readonly” và press “enter.” Yes, that word is spelled as “readonly.”
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Restart your PC và try writing on the USB again after the system has rebooted.
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Cliông xã on the “right-facing chevron” (angle bracket) symbol next to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE” in the left sidebar lớn expvà the directory structure of that thư mục.

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Repeat “Step 1” procedures again to lớn expand the “Control” folder, then confirm if “StorageDevicePolicies” is present. If not, continue lớn “Step 5” to create it yourself. Otherwise, skip lớn “Step 7.”
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Rename the newly created folder khổng lồ “StorageDevicePolicies.”
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Double-cliông chồng on “WriteProtect” và change “Value Data” to lớn “0” and “Base” khổng lồ “Hexadecimal.”
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After the reboot, check if the USB is now operating as it should. This method disables write protection on all your drives, so it should make your USB writable again. Beware that editing the Windows Registry on your own can mess up your computer, so after you’ve sầu followed our instructions, it’s best not lớn revisit it.

Removing Write Protection on a Mac

There’s much less flexibility when resolving the write protection issue on Mac versus on Windows. You only have sầu two options available—one is for storage units that can’t be written lớn due lớn a fault with the device, while the other involves formatting the drive sầu.

Option 1: Repair the Permissions

The permissions for your USB drive sầu might be faulty, causing it khổng lồ become write-protected. If that’s the case, you should try fixing the error using “Disk Utility.” To vày so, follow these simple steps:


After plugging in the USB device, open “Utilities” & select “Disk Utility.”
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Cliông xã on the “First Aid” tab, wait for any scans khổng lồ finish, and then select “Repair Disk Permissions.”Right-clichồng on the drive và choose “Format Device.”

Unfortunately, this is the only reliable method to remove write protection from a USB on Chromebook. As previously stated, formatting the drive will erase all data on it, so be sure to bachồng it up beforeh&.

Remove sầu Write Protection From a USB on Linux

For those inclined khổng lồ use Linux, this section might interest you.

First, launch the “Applications Menu (
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Next, type “lsblk” và press “enter” lớn get a danh mục of all attached devices.
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In closing, write protection can be a nuisance, especially when you don’t know how it happened on your storage device. Luckily, you’ve learned how lớn remove write protection from a USB on Windows, Mac, Linux, và Chromebook computers. The issue should no longer catch you off-guard, but there are no guarantees. With all the methods explained here, at least one should allow you lớn edit, copy, move sầu, or delete files on your USB or SD thẻ in no time!