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This guide will show you how to resolve write protection issues on files or storage devices, allowing you to modify file contents or data stored on the device. Administrative privileges are required to perform these steps. Note that some storage media, like CD-R discs, have write protection enabled by default and cannot be altered.
Steps
Basic Troubleshooting Methods
Check the lock on the storage device. Most SD cards and some USB drives feature a small switch or slider on the casing to control write or read-only modes. Locate this switch or slider and adjust it if necessary.
- For SD cards, the lock mechanism often prevents writing data until it is properly adjusted.
- If the lock is damaged, it can still be repaired. Search online for detailed instructions on how to fix it.
Ensure you are using the correct file system. Windows and Mac computers use different file systems by default (Windows uses NTFS, which is not supported on Mac). Many USB drives, external hard drives, and SD cards come pre-formatted for Windows. If you encounter issues using external storage on a Mac after using it on a Windows PC, you can reformat the external storage as follows:
- Connect the external drive to your Mac.
- Change the external storage format to "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)".
Tip: Remember to back up the data from the external storage to your Windows computer, as reformatting will erase all stored data.
Check if the external storage is full. Write protection errors can occur when the storage device you are trying to use has no available space. You can check this by selecting your storage device in This PC (on Windows) or Finder (on Mac) and viewing the available storage space.
Run antivirus software on your computer. Viruses on your computer can alter how your system responds when external storage is connected, or even set all data on the USB to read-only mode. Running antivirus software can resolve virus-related issues you may be experiencing.
Format the USB or CD. Formatting will erase all data on the external storage and change the file system based on the format you choose. Since formatting resets the device's settings, use this method only as a last resort.
Fixing Write Protection for Files on Windows
Navigate to the folder containing the file. Click on the folder where the file is located in the left pane of File Explorer.
- You may need to browse through additional files within the folder to locate the specific file you are looking for.
Select the file. Click on the file you wish to modify to remove write protection.
Click on the Home menu at the top-left corner of the window. A toolbar will appear at the top of the window.
Click on the "Properties" icon. This is the red checkmark in the "Open" section of the toolbar. Clicking it will open the "Properties" window.
Uncheck the "Read-only" box at the bottom of the Properties window.
Tip: If you don’t see this option, ensure you are on the General tab of the Properties window.
Click Apply, then click OK at the bottom of the window. This saves the changes for the file and closes the Properties window. You can now edit the file.
Fixing Write Protection for Files on Mac
Open Finder by clicking the blue face icon in your Mac’s Dock. A new window will appear on the screen.
Navigate to the folder containing the file. Click on the folder where the file is located in the left pane of Finder.
- You may need to open additional folders after this step to locate the file.
Select the file. Click on the file to highlight it.
Click on the File menu at the top-left corner of the screen to open a list of options.
Click Get Info in the displayed File menu. This opens the "Get Info" window for the selected file.
Unlock the Get Info menu. If the lock icon at the bottom-right corner of the window is closed, click it and enter the administrator account password.
Click on the Sharing & Permissions heading near the bottom of the window. The Sharing & Permissions menu will expand to reveal additional options.
Tip: If the Sharing & Permissions heading displays multiple usernames with "Read Only" options below, you can skip this step.
Locate your username. Under the Sharing & Permissions heading, you’ll find the name you use to log in to your computer.
Modify the file’s access permissions. Click the "Read Only" box next to your name until it changes to "Read & Write," then close the Get Info window. You can now edit the file.
Fixing Write Protection for Storage Devices on Windows
Ensure the storage device is connected. Plug the USB, external drive, or SD card into your Windows computer before proceeding.
Type regedit into Start to search for the Registry Editor command on your computer.
Click on regedit with the blue cube icon at the top of the Start window to open it.
Expand the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" folder. Click the downward arrow to the left of the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" folder in the top-left corner of the window.
Note: You may need to scroll up in the left pane of the window to locate this folder.
Expand the "SYSTEM" folder.
Expand the "CurrentControlSet" folder.
Select the "Control" folder. Click on the folder to highlight it.
Click on the Edit tab at the top of the window to open a list of options.
Select New near the top of the displayed Edit menu.
Click on Key at the top of the displayed New menu. A new folder (also called a "Key") will appear within the "Control" folder.
Rename the “key” folder. Type StorageDevicePolicies and press ↵ Enter.
Create a new DWORD file in the “key” folder as follows:
- Select the “key” folder named "StorageDevicePolicies" that you just created.
- Click on Edit
- Select New
- Click on DWORD (32-bit) Value
- Type WriteProtect and press ↵ Enter.
Open the DWORD value by double-clicking it. A new window will appear on the screen.
Change the "Value" number to 0. Select the number in the "Value" field, then type 0 to replace the current value.
Click OK. This will resolve the read-only issue on your storage device.
- If the USB or CD still cannot write data, you may need to take the device to a data recovery service to retrieve your data.
Fixing Write Protection for Storage Devices on Mac
Ensure the storage device is connected. Plug the USB, external drive, or SD card into your Mac before proceeding.
- If you are using a newer Mac model, you may need an adapter to connect to one of the USB-C ports before attaching the storage device.
Click on the Go menu at the top of the screen to open a list of options.
- If you don’t see Go at the top of the screen, click on the desktop or the blue Finder face icon in the Dock to reveal the menu.
Click on Utilities near the bottom of the displayed Go menu.
Open Disk Utility by double-clicking the hard drive icon. A new window will appear on the screen.
Select the storage device by clicking its name in the top-left corner of the Disk Utility window.
Click on the First Aid tab with the stethoscope icon at the top of the Disk Utility window.
Wait for your Mac to complete the scanning process. If the device’s write protection was enabled due to an error, it will be resolved, and you can use the device as usual.
- If the issue is hardware-related, you may need to take the device to a data recovery service to retrieve your stored data.
Tips
- Typically, write protection errors occur due to hardware limitations (such as a read-only switch being enabled or a component being damaged) or an incompatible file system format.
Warning
- If you are not an administrator or attempting to fix write protection on a read-only device (like a CD-R), resolving the write protection issue will not be possible.
