How to remove write protection from micro sd memory card​?

Here are several methods to remove write protection from a micro SD memory card, along with detailed explanations and considerations:

Method 1: Check the Physical Lock Switch

Locate the Switch: Most micro SD cards come with a small physical switch on the side. This switch is used to enable or disable write protection. If the switch is in the “lock” position, the card will be write-protected.

Unlock the Switch: Gently move the switch to the opposite position to unlock the card. Make sure the switch is firmly in the unlocked position and not in a half-way or loose state, as this could still cause write protection issues.

Method 2: Use DiskPart in Windows

Open Command Prompt as Administrator: In the Windows search bar, type “Command Prompt”. Right-click on the Command Prompt app and select “Run as administrator”.

List Disk Information: In the Command Prompt window, type “diskpart” and press Enter. Then type “list disk” to display a list of all disks connected to the computer. Identify the disk number corresponding to your micro SD card. This can usually be determined by the size of the disk.

Select the SD Card Disk: Type “select disk [disk number]” where [disk number] is the number of the micro SD card. For example, if your micro SD card is disk 2. you would type “select disk 2”.

Clean the Disk (Optional but Sometimes Necessary): This step is more advanced and should be done with caution as it will erase all data on the card. If the above steps don’t work, you can try typing “clean”. This will wipe the entire disk and remove any existing partitions and data.

Create a New Partition: After cleaning (or if you skipped the cleaning step), type “create partition primary” to create a new primary partition on the SD card.

Assign a Drive Letter: Type “assign” to assign a drive letter to the SD card. This will make it accessible in Windows Explorer.

Method 3: Use Terminal Commands in Linux

Check Disk Information: Open a terminal window. Use the command “lsblk” to list all block devices. This will show you the connected storage devices, including your micro SD card. Look for the device name corresponding to your SD card. It will usually be something like “sdb” or “mmcblk0”.

Unmount the SD Card: Before making any changes, it’s important to unmount the SD card to ensure that no processes are accessing it. Use the command “umount /dev/[device name]” where [device name] is the name of your SD card. For example, if your SD card is “sdb”, you would type “umount /dev/sdb”.

Check and Repair File System: You can use tools like “e2fsck” to check and repair the file system on the SD card. For a FAT32 file system, the command would be “e2fsck -f /dev/[device name]”. For other file systems like NTFS, you may need to use different tools.

Remount the SD Card: After checking and repairing (if necessary), remount the SD card using the command “mount /dev/[device name] /[mount point]” where [mount point] is the directory where you want to mount the SD card. For example, you could mount it to “/mnt/sdcard”.

Method 4: Update or Reinstall SD Card Drivers

In Windows:

Open Device Manager: Press the Windows key + X and select “Device Manager” from the menu.

Locate the SD Card Reader: Expand the “Disk drives” or “Universal Serial Bus controllers” section (it may be under either, depending on your system). Look for your SD card reader or the device related to your micro SD card.

Update the Driver: Right-click on the SD card device and select “Update driver”. Follow the on-screen instructions to search for and install the latest driver updates. Windows will try to find the appropriate drivers online and install them.

Reinstall the Driver: If updating the driver doesn’t work, you can try uninstalling the driver and then reinstalling it. Right-click on the SD card device and select “Uninstall device”. After uninstalling, restart your computer. Windows will automatically detect the SD card reader and install the default drivers.

In macOS:

Check for Software Updates: Click on the Apple menu and select “System Preferences”. Then click on “Software Update” to check if there are any available updates for your Mac. Apple may release driver updates as part of system software updates.

Reset the SMC (System Management Controller): This can sometimes help with hardware-related issues. The process to reset the SMC varies depending on your Mac model. For example, on some laptops, you need to shut down the computer, connect the power adapter, then press and hold the left Shift + Control + Option keys and the power button at the same time for 10 seconds. Then release the keys and turn on the computer.

Method 5: Format the SD Card

In Windows:

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

Locate the SD Card: In the Disk Management window, find your micro SD card. It will be labeled with its capacity and may have a drive letter assigned.

Right-click and Select Format: Right-click on the SD card partition and select “Format”. A format dialog box will appear.

Choose File System and Options: Select the file system you want to use, such as FAT32. NTFS, or exFAT. You can also set a volume label and other options.

Start the Formatting Process: Click “OK” to start formatting the SD card. This process will erase all data on the card, so make sure to back up any important files before proceeding.

In macOS:

Open Disk Utility: You can find Disk Utility in the Applications > Utilities folder.

Select the SD Card: In Disk Utility, select your micro SD card from the list of devices on the left side.

Click the Erase Button: Click the “Erase” button at the top of the Disk Utility window.

Configure the Erase Options: Choose the file system format, name the volume, and set other options as needed.

Start the Erase Process: Click “Erase” to begin formatting the SD card.

Method 6: Use Third-Party Software

Panda Assistant is designed to be easy to use, with a straightforward wizard interface that guides you through the recovery process step by step. Users can scan their devices for lost or deleted files, preview recoverable data, and select which files to restore. The software also allows for deep scans, which can help recover data even from formatted or severely damaged storage devices.

The program offers additional functionalities, such as the ability to recover data from formatted partitions, fix corrupted files, and create disk images for backup and future recovery. Its compatibility with both Windows and macOS systems ensures that it can be used across different platforms.

Precautions and Considerations

Data Backup: Before attempting any of the above methods, especially those that involve formatting or cleaning the disk, always back up your data. You can copy the files from the SD card to your computer’s hard drive or to an external storage device.

Physical Damage: If the write protection issue persists after trying all these methods, it’s possible that the micro SD card has physical damage. In this case, it may be necessary to replace the card.

Compatibility Issues: Make sure that your SD card reader and the device you are using (computer, camera, etc.) are compatible with the SD card. Some older devices may not support certain file systems or larger capacity SD cards.

Software Conflicts: Sometimes, security software or other applications on your computer may interfere with the SD card’s operation. Temporarily disabling such software (if possible and safe to do so) and then trying to remove the write protection can help identify if this is the cause of the problem.