How remove write protection from micro sd card​?

Micro SD cards are small yet powerful storage devices used in everything from smartphones and cameras to gaming consoles and tablets. However, a common issue users face is a write protection error on these cards. Write protection essentially prevents the user from modifying or deleting files on the card, which can be frustrating when you need to store new data, update files, or delete unwanted ones.

There are several possible causes of write protection on a micro SD card, and consequently, various methods for removing it. In this guide, we will explore these methods in great detail, ensuring that you have a thorough understanding of how to tackle this problem. We’ll cover hardware-based solutions, software tools, and troubleshooting steps that can be applied depending on the nature of the issue. 

1. Write Protection on a Micro SD Card

Write protection is a safety feature that prevents data from being written to a storage device. This feature is typically found in SD cards, including micro SD cards, and is meant to protect the data from being accidentally overwritten or deleted. When a micro SD card is in write-protected mode, you will encounter issues when trying to add, modify, or delete files from it. Understanding the causes of write protection can help you troubleshoot the problem more effectively.

The causes of write protection can be categorized into:

Physical Lock Switch: Some micro SD cards, especially older models or full-sized SD cards with adapters, come with a physical switch that toggles between read-only and read/write modes. When the switch is in the locked position, it enforces write protection.

Software Write Protection: Some devices or operating systems can apply write protection at the software level. This might be due to settings, such as a corrupted file system or partition table, or the card being flagged as write-protected due to errors or viruses.

File System Issues: Corruption in the file system of the micro SD card can cause write protection. If the file system is damaged, the operating system may automatically lock the card to prevent further data loss.

Security Features: In some cases, the micro SD card itself has built-in security mechanisms that apply write protection as a form of protection against potential threats. Some advanced micro SD cards include features like encryption that may trigger write protection under certain conditions.

2. Checking for a Physical Lock Switch

Before diving into more complex troubleshooting steps, it’s important to check if the micro SD card has a physical lock switch (common in SD cards, though less so in micro SD cards). If you’re using a full-sized SD card with an adapter, there may be a small switch on the side of the adapter. This switch toggles the write protection mode.

To check:

Remove the micro SD card from the device or adapter.

Examine the SD card adapter for a small slider switch.

If the switch is in the “Lock” position, slide it to the “Unlock” position.

Once you’ve ensured that the physical switch is in the unlocked position, insert the card back into the device and check if the write protection has been removed. If the card doesn’t have a physical switch, you can proceed to the next steps.

3. Using Diskpart on Windows

If your micro SD card doesn’t have a physical lock switch, the next step is to remove write protection using software. Windows provides a built-in tool called Diskpart that allows users to manage disks and partitions, including removing write protection.

Follow these steps to remove write protection using Diskpart:

Insert the micro SD card into your computer using a card reader.

Open the Command Prompt in Administrator mode by searching for “cmd” in the Start menu, right-clicking, and selecting “Run as administrator.”

Type diskpart and press Enter to launch the Diskpart utility.

In the Diskpart prompt, type list disk and press Enter. This command will show all the drives connected to your computer.

Identify your micro SD card by its size (usually around 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, etc.). Once identified, type select disk X, replacing X with the corresponding number of your micro SD card, and press Enter.

Type attributes disk and press Enter to check if write protection is enabled.

If you see “Write Protection: Yes,” you can disable it by typing attributes disk clear readonly and pressing Enter.

Once the process is complete, type exit to close Diskpart, and restart your computer.

Now, try to access or modify the contents of your micro SD card. If the write protection has been removed, you should be able to perform operations like adding or deleting files.

4. Using Registry Editor on Windows

If Diskpart doesn’t work, you can attempt to remove write protection via the Windows Registry. The Windows Registry is a database that stores configuration settings and options for both hardware and software.

Here’s how to remove write protection using the Registry Editor:

Open the Registry Editor by pressing Windows + R to open the Run dialog, typing regedit, and pressing Enter.

Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies (If the StorageDevicePolicies key doesn’t exist, right-click the Control folder, select New > Key, and name it StorageDevicePolicies).

On the right pane, look for a value named WriteProtect. If it exists, double-click on it.

Set the Value data to 0 (which disables write protection) and click OK.

Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

After restarting, check if you can write to your micro SD card. If the issue persists, try the next method.

5. Checking for Corruption or Errors on the Micro SD Card

Corruption or errors in the file system could also cause write protection. If your micro SD card has corrupted files or an unstable partition, Windows may automatically place the card in a read-only state to prevent further damage.

To check and repair errors on the micro SD card:

Insert the micro SD card into your computer.

Open File Explorer and locate your micro SD card.

Right-click on the micro SD card and select Properties.

Go to the Tools tab and click on Check under the Error Checking section.

If errors are found, you can allow Windows to attempt a repair.

Alternatively, you can use chkdsk in the Command Prompt:

Open Command Prompt in Administrator mode.

Type chkdsk X: /f (replace X with the drive letter of your micro SD card) and press Enter.

Let Windows scan and fix any errors on the card.

Once the scan is complete, try accessing the card again to see if the write protection has been removed.

6. Using Third-Party Software to Fix Write Protection

Several third-party utilities can help fix write protection on a micro SD card. Some popular tools include:

SD Formatter: This tool is designed specifically for SD and micro SD cards and can be used to format and remove write protection issues. It’s available from the SD Association’s official website.

EaseUS Partition Master: This software can manage disk partitions and fix errors, including write protection.

MiniTool Partition Wizard: This is another reliable partition management tool that can help fix write protection.

To use these tools:

Download and install the software of your choice.

Launch the application and select your micro SD card from the list of devices.

Look for options like “Fix Write Protection,” “Format,” or “Clear Read-Only” and follow the on-screen instructions.

7. Formatting the Micro SD Card

If all else fails and you don’t mind losing the data on the micro SD card, you can format the card. Formatting will remove all data, including the write protection, and restore the card to its default state.

To format the card:

Insert the micro SD card into your computer.

Open File Explorer and locate the micro SD card.

Right-click on the card and select Format.

Choose the file system (e.g., exFAT or FAT32) and ensure the Quick Format option is checked.

Click Start to begin the formatting process.

Once the card is formatted, it should no longer be write-protected.

Write protection on a micro SD card can be a frustrating issue, but with the right approach, it is often easy to fix. From checking for a physical lock switch to using software tools like Diskpart and Registry Editor, you can remove write protection and regain full control of your storage device. In cases where software fixes don’t work, formatting the micro SD card can also resolve the issue.