How to remove write protection from a USB stick that is write protected? Step by step guide

One of the most common inconveniences that affects storage drives, either hard drive or USB sticks, also known as pendrive, is protection against writes , making this one of the most tedious mistakes for users since it is impossible to perform any action on the stored content.

In general, most or almost all storage devices have a write-protect button which prevents data stored in memory from being modified on the computer, even prevents being able to copy and cut them.

So, here we are going to explain how you can remove this write protection in order to modify, copy and paste new information within the pendrive. Keep in mind that this can be done in different ways, which we will explain below.

Steps to remove Windows write protection in USB 7 and 8 and be able to format it

It should be noted that this is a tool used in most of the pendrive with the aim of protecting them against viruses and malware. However, on many occasions activating this Memory lock can be very simple, but the opposite happens when we want to remove it.

Due to this, there are many ways to be able to remove this storage unit lock which we will explain.

In order to remove this protection from a pendrive you must follow each of the ways that we will show you below:

Using the Diskpart command

As a first method we have “Using the Diskpart command”, it should be noted that this is one of the most effective ways to remove this information lock from the storage unit. Especially if the goal of all this is to be able to format the USB memory.

In this way, here we explain what are the steps to follow to carry out this process through the command:

• First, we must execute as “Administrator” the command prompt or “PowerShell”.
• Then press the combination of keys “Windows + X” to be able to start the “Start menu” options.
• In this menu we must select “PowerShell (Administrator) ” to start its execution.

• In the new window that appears as a command, we must place the following: “Diskpart” and press the necessarilyEnterleigh.
• Once this command has been written, the tool will start to run.
• Now with the USB drive inserted on the computer write “List disk” and press clearlyEnter†.
• A new window will open with a list of units. There we must identify which is the storage unit that we want to unlock. This will be important to know the storage capacity of memory.

• Once found we select the corresponding disk number to the device and place it in the “Select disk ” command.
• Then we write this command to enable reading and writing in the “Attributes disk clear readonly”.
• Now we create the new partition in the “Table of disk partitions ” for this we use this command:“ Create partition primary ”.

• We select partition number 1, for this we write “Select partition 1”.
• We use the command “Format fs = ” to be able to format said USB drive. In the format we must place “NTFS” if the drive is an external hard drive and “FAT32” or “FAT” if it is a smaller one such as a pendrive.

• Once this is done we must activate the option to assign a letter and ensure its proper functioning. For this we use the “Active” commands and then “Assign letter = “.

• Once this is done, the process will be finished and the pendrive can be used again.

Through Regedit.exe

Another method that we can use to try to solve this type of problem in storage units is the graphical interface of Windows 10. Keep in Note that the problem that is causing the blocking of content in the unit may be due to a bad configuration in the Windows system registry. So, in this case we will use Regedit.exe to try to solve this problem.

To be able to do this it will be necessary to perform the following steps:

• To start we must simultaneously press the “Windows + R” keys to start the “Run”
• A new window will open where we have to write clearlyRegedit†

• Now within the “Registry Editor” we must place the following route to move forward with the process: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINES SYSTEM CurrentControlSet Control StorageDevicePolicies
• In this step two things can happen, the first one will be that the value key does not exist . If so, we must create it ourselves or that indeed does exist. In the case that there is a value called “WriteProtect” and we double click on that value and write a assert0nd.

• Now, if this value does not exist we will have to create it for this it is necessary to right click on the window.
• Then we select “New” and “Password”. There we must place the name of clearlyStorageDevidePolicies•.

• Now inside the new value key created , and in the right part of the window we right click on the white space.
• We choose the option of “New” “Dword (32-bit) Value”

• And we assign the name of “WriteProtect”.
• The following will be to open it and write on it the number “0” as in the previous case.

Once all this is completed, the following will be restart the computer . When the system has been turned on again, you must insert the USB drive into one of the ports. At this time the pendrive should be recognized and the error should have been fixed.

In this case, we are ready to start formatting the write-protected storage unit .

• To do this it will be necessary to go to “My computer”.
• Now we look for the device and right click on it to select the option “Format”.
• The following will be to select the parameters that appear on the screen “NFTS or FAT” and click on “Start”.

• Once all this is completed, the pendrive will have been formatted and ready to use.

With the command «prompt»

In the event that the error continues despite having done all the previous method we will have to use the command “Prompt”, in this case it will be necessary to perform the instructions that we will explain below:

• The first thing will be connect the memory to the computer through one of the USB ports.
• Then we access the registry editor of the computer, for this we must select “Start”> “Run”> “We type the CMD command” and press “Enter” this in case you are working on a team of Windows 7 or lower .
• In the case that Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 is handled, you can press the “Windows + R” keys and enter the “CDM” command and press clearlyEnterrd.

• Once this is done a new black window will open, very similar to the MS-DOS where we have to write the command: “diskpart” and press “Enter”, will automatically display a new window on the screen .

• In the new window that appears on the screen, very similar to the previous one, we have to type the following command: “List Disk” and press the “Enter” key.

• Now some settings will be shown on the screen, here we select the USB memory using the “Select disk x” note that the “X” should be replaced by the number that this unit represents.
• Once the unit is selected, enter the command “attributes disk clear readonly” and press the “ Enter” key.
• This way you can remove write protection from memory .

With gpedit.msc

If you want to be able to remove the write protection of your pendrive, another of the ways that exist is through the gpedit.msc command, for this you will need to follow these instructions:

• The first thing will be to press the “Windows + R” combinations to open the “Run”.
• There we must write “msc” and press the clearlyEnterleigh.

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• Now we will have to go to the following path: Computer configuration> Administrative template> System> Removable storage access

• three group policies should now be located: the first one is “Removable disks deny access to execution”, the second “Removable disks deny access to write”, and finally “Removable disk deny access to read”.

• The next thing will be to click on each of them and select the option of permittedDisable.

• Once this is done, the process will be almost finished, only to format the storage device, for this it will be necessary to perform the same formatting steps explained in the previous methods.

Format the USB drive before Windows starts

There is another method to remove the write lock of the storage units, this time it is about formatting the USB memory before the Windows operating system boots.

In order to perform this procedure simply follow the steps that we will teach you below:

• The first thing will be to turn off the computer, to do this, close all running programs, go to “Start” and “Shut down.”
• When the computer is completely turned off we connect the USB memory to one of the ports of the equipment.
• Now we proceed to turn on the computer again . While the device is turning on, we must press the f8 key continuously so that the computer can start the “Advanced startup”.
• Note that NO you must select the safe mode through the keyboard, to do so, we have to go to the USB drive as soon as the file is loaded. >

• At the beginning of the process the following will appear: C:Windowssystem32>
• Now you must write the unit to which the pendrive is connected .
• An example of this is, if the USB drive is connected as drive A you must type the letter “A” and press “Enter.”
• The following will be to enter A: format A and press the “Y” key to continue the process.
• This way the pendrive will be formatted before the Windows operating system starts , a very simple way to eliminate write protection on USB storage drives .

Modifying the options in the local group policy

There are other options available to be able to unlock writing on the pen drive . In this case it is the local group policy editor where you can configure the “Read / Write” options for both large and small size storage units (Hard Disk, pendrive).

Therefore, in order to eliminate write protection on USB drives you must modify the individual settings, this is changed from “Not configured” to “Disabled.” For this, you have to perform the following steps:

• The first thing you will have to do is connect the device to the computer through one of the USB ports.
• Then you will access the “Registry Editor” from the computer through the “Start” menu. There you look for “Run” and type the “gpedit.msc” command and press the key “Enter.” Note that if you have a Windows operating system greater than 8, you can press the “Windows + R” to expedite this action.

• After doing this a new window will open on the computer. In this case we have to go to the “Computer configuration”.
• Next to “Administrative templates” and finally to “Access removable storage. ”