Unlock write protected micro sd card​

A micro SD card is a crucial storage device for a wide range of electronic devices, including smartphones, tablets, cameras, and portable game consoles. However, encountering a write – protected micro SD card can be a frustrating experience. 

What is Write Protection?

Write – protection is a feature designed to prevent data from being written, modified, or deleted from a storage device. In the case of a micro SD card, this can be either a hardware – based or software – based mechanism. Hardware – based write – protection is often a physical switch on the SD card adapter (if used), while software – based write – protection can be due to various factors such as file system errors, operating system settings, or malware interference.

Why is Write Protection Useful?

Data Integrity: It ensures that important data stored on the micro SD card remains intact. For example, in a security camera system, the micro SD card used for recording footage may be write protected to prevent accidental deletion or modification of the evidence.

Preventing Malware Spread: By restricting write access, it can stop malware from infecting the card and spreading to other devices. If a device with a write protected micro SD card is connected to an infected computer, the malware cannot write malicious files to the card.

Reasons for a Write Protected Micro SD Card

Hardware – Related Reasons

Physical Write – Protect Switch: Many SD card adapters come with a small physical switch that can be toggled to enable or disable write – protection. If this switch is accidentally set to the write – protected position, the micro SD card will not allow any data writing operations. This is a common cause, especially when using the micro SD card with an adapter in a computer’s SD card slot.

Faulty Card Reader or Adapter: A damaged or malfunctioning card reader or adapter can sometimes falsely report the micro SD card as write – protected. The internal components of the reader or adapter may be worn out, causing issues with the electrical connection and the proper detection of the card’s status.

Software – Related Reasons

File System Errors: Corrupted file systems on the micro SD card can lead to write – protection. For example, if the file system becomes damaged due to improper ejection of the card from a device, the operating system may mark the card as write – protected to prevent further data corruption. FAT32. exFAT, and NTFS are common file systems used on micro SD cards, and each can encounter errors that trigger write – protection.

Operating System Settings: Some operating systems may have specific settings that can cause a micro SD card to be write – protected. In Windows, for instance, group policies or security settings can restrict access to storage devices. Similarly, in Linux, file permissions and mount options can be misconfigured, resulting in write – protection.

Malware or Viruses: Malicious software can target the micro SD card and set it to a write – protected state. This can be part of a larger strategy by the malware to prevent the user from removing or modifying its files on the card. The malware may also modify system settings related to the card’s access rights.

Methods to Unlock a Write – Protected Micro SD Card

Check the Physical Write – Protect Switch

Inspect the SD Card Adapter: If you are using a micro SD card with an adapter, carefully examine the adapter. Look for a small switch on the side of the adapter. This switch is usually labeled as “Lock” or has a lock – like icon. If the switch is in the locked position, move it to the unlocked position. This simple step can often resolve the write – protection issue immediately.

Test the Card: After toggling the switch, insert the micro SD card back into the device (such as a computer or a camera). Try to perform a write operation, such as creating a new folder or copying a file to the card. If the write – protection was due to the physical switch, the operation should now be successful.

Check and Replace the Card Reader or Adapter

Test with a Different Reader/Adapter: If the physical write – protect switch is not the cause, try using a different card reader or adapter. Connect the micro SD card to a different USB card reader or use a different type of adapter (if available). This can help determine if the problem lies with the original reader or adapter.

Inspect for Physical Damage: Examine the card reader or adapter for any signs of physical damage, such as bent pins, cracks, or loose connections. If damage is detected, it is advisable to replace the reader or adapter. A damaged reader or adapter may not be making proper electrical contact with the micro SD card, leading to the write – protection issue.

Fix File System Errors

Using CHKDSK in Windows:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator: In Windows, search for “Command Prompt” in the Start menu. Right – click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator”.

Identify the Drive Letter: Insert the micro SD card into the computer. Open “This PC” (or “My Computer” in older Windows versions) to find the drive letter assigned to the micro SD card.

Run CHKDSK: In the Command Prompt, type “chkdsk [drive letter]: /f /r” (replace [drive letter] with the actual drive letter of the micro SD card). For example, if the micro SD card is assigned the drive letter “F:”, the command would be “chkdsk F: /f /r”. The “/f” option fixes errors on the disk, and the “/r” option locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.

Wait for the Process to Complete: CHKDSK will scan the micro SD card for errors and attempt to fix them. This process may take some time, depending on the size of the card and the number of errors. Once completed, check if the write – protection has been removed.

Using fsck in Linux:

Identify the Device Name: Insert the micro SD card into the Linux system. Open a terminal and run the command “sudo fdisk -l” to list all the disk devices. Identify the device name of the micro SD card, which is usually something like “/dev/sdb” (the letter may vary depending on the system).

Unmount the Device: Before running fsck, the micro SD card must be unmounted. Run the command “sudo umount /dev/sd[device letter]” (replace [device letter] with the actual letter of the micro SD card device). For example, if the device is “/dev/sdb”, the command would be “sudo umount /dev/sdb”.

Run fsck: Depending on the file system of the micro SD card, run the appropriate fsck command. For a FAT32 file system, use “sudo fsck.vfat /dev/sd[device letter]”. For an ext4 file system, use “sudo fsck.ext4 /dev/sd[device letter]”. The fsck utility will check the file system for errors and attempt to repair them.

Remount and Test: After fsck has completed, remount the micro SD card using the command “sudo mount /dev/sd[device letter] /mount/point” (replace /mount/point with the actual mount point where you want to mount the card). Then, try to perform a write operation to check if the write – protection has been resolved.

Adjust Operating System Settings

Windows Group Policy:

Open Group Policy Editor: In Windows, search for “gpedit.msc” in the Start menu and open the “Local Group Policy Editor”.

Navigate to Removable Storage Access: In the Group Policy Editor, go to “Computer Configuration” > “Administrative Templates” > “System” > “Removable Storage Access”.

Check and Modify Policies: Look for policies related to write access to removable storage devices, such as “Removable Disks: Deny write access”. If this policy is enabled, it may be causing the write – protection. Double – click on the policy and select “Disabled” to allow write access.

Apply Changes: Close the Group Policy Editor. The changes should take effect immediately. Try to write to the micro SD card again.

Linux File Permissions and Mount Options:

Check File Permissions: If the micro SD card is already mounted, run the command “ls -l /mount/point” (replace /mount/point with the actual mount point of the micro SD card) to view the file permissions. The owner and group of the files and directories on the card should have write permissions. If not, you can change the permissions using the “chmod” command. For example, to give write permissions to the owner, run “sudo chmod u+w /mount/point/*”.

Modify Mount Options: If the micro SD card is mounted with read – only options, you need to remount it with the correct options. First, unmount the card using “sudo umount /dev/sd[device letter]”. Then, mount it with write – enabled options. For a FAT32 file system, you can use “sudo mount -t vfat -o rw /dev/sd[device letter] /mount/point”. The “-o rw” option enables read – write access.

Scan for Malware

Using Antivirus Software: Install a reliable antivirus program on your computer if you haven’t already. Update the antivirus definitions to ensure it can detect the latest malware threats.

Scan the Micro SD Card: Insert the micro SD card into the computer. Open the antivirus software and select the option to scan a specific drive. Choose the drive letter of the micro SD card and start the scan. The antivirus program will search for any malware present on the card and attempt to remove or quarantine it.

Check for Malware – Induced Settings Changes: Some malware may modify system settings to keep the micro SD card write – protected. After the scan is complete, check the operating system settings related to the micro SD card’s access rights again. If any settings were changed by the malware, restore them to their normal state.

Reformatting the Micro SD Card as a Last Resort

Backup Data: Before reformatting the micro SD card, it is crucial to backup all the important data on the card. You can copy the files to another storage device, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage.

Formatting in Windows:

Open Disk Management: In Windows, search for “Disk Management” in the Start menu and open it.

Locate the Micro SD Card: In Disk Management, find the micro SD card. It will be listed under “Disk” with its capacity and type.

Right – Click and Select Format: Right – click on the partition of the micro SD card and select “Format”. In the format dialog box, choose the file system you want to use (such as FAT32 for compatibility with most devices). You can also choose to perform a quick format or a full format. A full format takes longer but provides a more thorough cleaning of the card.

Start the Formatting Process: Click “OK” to start the formatting process. Once the formatting is complete, the micro SD card should no longer be write – protected.

Formatting in Linux:

Unmount the Micro SD Card: Run the command “sudo umount /dev/sd[device letter]” to unmount the micro SD card.

Format the Card: Use the “mkfs” command to format the card. For example, to format the card as a FAT32 file system, run “sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sd[device letter]”. To format it as an ext4 file system, use “sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sd[device letter]”.

Remount and Test: After formatting, remount the micro SD card and check if it is now writable.

Unlocking a write – protected micro SD card requires a systematic approach. By understanding the possible causes, whether they are hardware – or software – related, and applying the appropriate solutions, you can often resolve the issue without losing your data. Starting with simple checks like the physical write – protect switch and gradually moving on to more complex methods such as fixing file system errors, adjusting operating system settings, and scanning for malware, you can regain full access to your micro SD card. If all else fails, reformatting the card should be considered as a last resort, always ensuring that you have backed up your important data first.