How to format a usb drive that is write protected​？

Formatting a USB drive that is write protected can be a frustrating experience, as the write protection prevents any changes to the drive, including file deletion, modification, or formatting. However, there are several methods to bypass the write protection and format the drive successfully. 

Write Protection on a USB Drive

Write protection on a USB drive is a mechanism that prevents data from being written to or deleted from the drive. There are a few common reasons why a USB drive might become write-protected:

Physical Write Protection Switch: Some USB drives come with a physical switch that can lock the drive in write-protected mode. This switch, typically located on the side of the USB drive, prevents the system from making any changes to the drive.

Software Write Protection: In some cases, the USB drive may have software settings that enable write protection. These settings are typically stored in the drive’s firmware or configuration files.

Registry Settings in Windows: Windows operating system has a registry setting that can enforce write protection on storage devices, including USB drives. If this setting is enabled, it can prevent the drive from being formatted or modified.

Corruption or Errors on the USB Drive: Sometimes, the drive may become write-protected due to corruption or errors. This could be the result of improper ejection, virus infection, or other issues that cause the drive to become unstable.

Malware or Viruses: Malicious software can sometimes make changes to your USB drive’s settings, including enabling write protection to prevent removal or modification of infected files.

Now that we understand the reasons behind write protection, let’s explore how to remove the write protection and format the USB drive.

Step 1: Check for a Physical Write Protection Switch

The first thing to check is whether your USB drive has a physical write protection switch. Some USB drives, particularly those designed for secure data storage, come with a switch that can toggle between read-only and read-write modes.

How to check for and use the write protection switch:

Examine the USB Drive: Look for a small switch on the side of the USB drive. It is typically located near the USB connector.

Toggle the Switch: If the switch is in the “Lock” or “Write Protection” position, toggle it to the “Unlock” or “Write Enabled” position.

Insert the USB Drive: After toggling the switch, insert the USB drive back into your computer and check if the issue persists. Try formatting it again.

If there is no physical write protection switch or the issue persists even after switching it, proceed to the next methods.

Step 2: Use Windows Disk Management to Format the USB Drive

Windows includes a built-in tool called Disk Management that can help you manage storage devices, including USB drives. Disk Management may allow you to remove write protection and format the drive if the write protection is enforced through software.

How to use Disk Management:

Open Disk Management: Press Win + X and select “Disk Management” from the menu.

Locate the USB Drive: In the Disk Management window, look for your USB drive in the lower section, where all the connected drives are listed.

Check the Drive Status: Right-click on your USB drive and see if there is an option to “Format” or if any messages about write protection are displayed.

Format the Drive: If the drive is not write-protected, you should be able to select “Format” from the context menu. Choose the desired file system (usually NTFS or FAT32) and proceed with the format process.

If the USB drive remains write-protected in Disk Management and you cannot format it, proceed to the next solution.

Step 3: Remove Write Protection Using Diskpart

Diskpart is a powerful command-line tool in Windows that allows you to manage disks, partitions, and volumes. You can use Diskpart to remove write protection from the USB drive and attempt to format it.

How to use Diskpart to remove write protection:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Press Win + S, type “cmd,” right-click on “Command Prompt,” and select “Run as administrator.”

Launch Diskpart: In the Command Prompt window, type diskpart and press Enter.

List All Disks: Type list disk and press Enter. This will display a list of all connected storage devices.

Select Your USB Drive: Identify your USB drive by its size and type select disk X, replacing X with the number corresponding to your USB drive.

Check the Disk Attributes: Type attributes disk and press Enter. This command will display the current attributes of the selected disk.

Remove Write Protection: If the disk is write-protected, type attributes disk clear readonly and press Enter. This command will remove the write protection from the drive.

Format the Drive: After clearing the write protection, you should be able to format the USB drive. Type the following commands:

create partition primary

select partition 1

format fs=ntfs quick (or replace ntfs with exfat or fat32 depending on your preference).

Exit Diskpart: Once the format is complete, type exit to close Diskpart.

After performing these steps, check if the USB drive can now be used normally.

Step 4: Modify the Windows Registry

Windows stores certain device settings in the system registry, and it is possible that the write protection is enforced through a registry setting. Editing the registry can be risky, so it’s important to back up your registry before making any changes.

How to modify the Windows registry to remove write protection:

Open the Registry Editor: Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

Navigate to the Write Protection Key: Go to the following location in the registry:

mathematica

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies

If the StorageDevicePolicies key does not exist, you can create it:

Right-click on Control and select New > Key.

Name the new key StorageDevicePolicies.

Modify the Write Protection Value: In the StorageDevicePolicies key, check for a value named WriteProtect. If it exists, double-click it and set the value to 0 to disable write protection.

Create a New WriteProtect Key (if necessary): If the WriteProtect value does not exist, right-click on StorageDevicePolicies and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name the new value WriteProtect, and set its value to 0.

Restart Your Computer: After making changes, close the Registry Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

After restarting, try to format the USB drive again using Windows Disk Management or Diskpart.

Step 5: Use Third-Party Tools to Remove Write Protection

If none of the above methods work, you can try using third-party tools designed specifically to remove write protection from USB drives. These tools can help fix write protection issues caused by corruption, software bugs, or other factors.

Some popular tools that may help include:

EaseUS Partition Master

AOMEI Partition Assistant

MiniTool Partition Wizard

Most of these tools offer user-friendly interfaces that guide you through the process of formatting and removing write protection. Simply download the tool of your choice, install it, and follow the on-screen instructions to remove write protection and format the USB drive.

Step 6: Check for Malware or Virus Infections

In some cases, malware or viruses can cause write protection on a USB drive. These infections may be designed to prevent files from being deleted or altered. Running a virus scan is a good idea if you suspect that your USB drive is infected.

How to scan for malware:

Update Your Antivirus Software: Make sure your antivirus software is up to date with the latest definitions.

Perform a Full System Scan: Run a complete scan of your USB drive to check for any potential threats.

Remove Detected Malware: If the antivirus software detects any malware, follow the prompts to remove it.

Reattempt Formatting: After the malware is removed, try formatting the USB drive again.

Step 7: Replace the USB Drive (If All Else Fails)

If you’ve tried all of the above methods and your USB drive is still write-protected, it could be due to hardware failure or permanent damage. In this case, replacing the USB drive may be the best solution.

A write protected USB drive can be a challenging issue to overcome, but with the right tools and techniques, you can often remove the write protection and restore the drive to a usable state. This guide has covered several methods for removing write protection, including checking for a physical write protection switch, using Windows Disk Management and Diskpart, modifying the Windows registry, and using third-party tools. Additionally, it’s important to ensure that your USB drive is not infected with malware that could be causing the write protection.