How To Resolve Write Protect Errors on Your USB

Write protection errors can be a nuisance, especially when you really NEED to transfer files into your USB drive. Here are seven easy steps you can follow to resolve them.

7 Steps to Resolve USB Write Protection Errors

Write Protection Definition: Write protection is a USB function that prevents users from storing and editing files on a flash drive. Copying files on the drive are allowed, but new data can’t be added in a write-protected USB.

Step 1: Check the USB Body

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The first step to resolving the write protection on your flash drive is to check the USB body. Some flash drives have a physical switch that puts them in write protection mode. This might just be the kind you’re using.

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USB manufacturers usually build these switches on the side of the USB. You’ll know it’s the write protection switch when you see two small printed icons of a padlock (locked and unlocked).

When you do see this switch on your USB, check whether it’s pointing towards the closed padlock. When it’s on that side, your USB is on write protection mode.

To fix this, simply move the switch over to the side of the open padlock. This should resolve the write protection on your USB drive right away.

Step 2: Scan the USB Drive for Viruses

If you already tried unlocking your USB using the write protect switch and it still didn’t work, don’t panic just yet. There could be a virus hiding inside your USB that’s prompting the write protect error.

A surefire way to get rid of a virus infecting your USB is by hitting it with powerful antivirus software installed on your computer or laptop. Here are some popular free antivirus software you can use for your computer:

Avast
AVG
Avira
BitDefender
BullGuard
Kaspersky
McAfee
Norton
TotalAV

If you’re using a computer or laptop running on Windows, follow these steps so you can scan your USB drive for any viruses:

Click the Windows Key on your keyboard
Select the “This PC” folder
Look for the icon of your USB flash drive
Right-click the USB icon and select “Scan with…” from the dropdown menu

For Mac computers or laptops, here’s how you can prompt your antivirus software to scan your USB:

Open the Desktop
Locate the USB flash drive icon (usually on the upper-right side of the Desktop)
Right-click the USB icon and select “Scan with…” from the dropdown menu

From here, your antivirus will start scanning the USB. When it finds a virus or malware, have your software delete it immediately.

Tip: Computer viruses spread very quickly. If you find one infecting your USB, it’s likely to be lurking within your PC or laptop as well. We suggest you scan your entire system the moment your antivirus software detects infections on your USB.

Step 3: Make Sure the USB Drive Isn’t Full

If you eliminated the virus or malware on your USB and it’s still promoting the write protection error, there’s another step you can try out. You may be seeing the write protection prompt because your USB’s storage is maxed out.

To check whether your USB’s storage is full, follow the steps below:

Windows OS

Click the Windows Key on your keyboard
Select the “This PC” folder
Look for the icon of your USB flash drive
Right-click the USB icon and select “Properties” from the dropdown menu

Mac OS

Open the Desktop
Locate the USB flash drive icon (usually on the upper-right side of the Desktop)
Right-click the USB icon and select “Get Info” from the dropdown menu

Your computer will show how much free and used storage your USB drive currently has. To resolve the write protection error, free up some space by deleting files you’re no longer using.

Step 4: Check for Files with Write Protection

Write protection errors can also stem from individual files in your USB. Some “read-only” files may be affecting the way your USB saves files, so it’s best to fix them as soon as you spot them.

Follow the steps below to check whether a file on your USB is write-protected:

Double-click the icon of your USB
Browse through your files and look for one you suspect to have write protection
Right-click the file and select “Properties” (for Windows) or “Get Info” (for Mac) from the dropdown menu
Uncheck or deselect the “Read-only” option

Step 5: Remove Write Protection Using Command Prompt or Terminal

You can also manually remove the write protection on your USB through your computer or laptop’s Command Prompt or Terminal program. To launch these, here’s what you need to do:

Windows OS

Hit the Windows key on your keyboard
Select the “Command Prompt” program

Mac OS

Go to the Desktop
Open the Applications folder
Look for the Utilities folder and double-click on the Terminal program

Once you’ve launched Command Prompt or Terminal, here are the next steps to follow:

Type “diskpart” and hit the Enter (for Windows) or Return (for Mac) key on your keyboard
Type “list disk” and hit the Enter (for Windows) or Return (for Mac) key on your keyboard
Look for the name of your USB on the list and note its disk number
After noting the disk number, type “select disk [disk number]” on the Command Prompt or Terminal window
Finally, type “attributes disk clear readonly” and hit the Enter (for Windows) or Return (for Mac) key on your keyboard

Step 6: Back Up Your USB Files

If the last few steps still haven’t resolved the write protection error on your USB, we offer one last solution — USB formatting.

Because formatting involves deleting all files currently stored in your USB, it’s best to back up all the data inside it. To do this, simply copy all the files inside your USB onto your computer or laptop.

USB Formatting Definition: USB formatting is the process of restoring your flash drive to its full capacity. It’s a way for you to expand your drive’s storage space and even increase its data-transfer efficiency.

Step 7: Format the USB Drive

Formatting a USB using a Windows computer or laptop is easy. You simply right-click on the flash drive’s icon and select the “Format…” option on the dropdown menu.

If you’re using a Mac PC or laptop to format your USB, here’s what you need to do:

Double-click the Applications icon on your Dashboard
Look for and select the Utilities program inside the Applications folder
Locate the name of your USB drive and click on the Disk Utility it
Select the “Erase” button across the top

The write protection function of a USB is definitely useful; however, it can also be downright annoying at times. Following the seven easy steps listed above can help you resolve the write protection error you encounter when you’re transferring files into your USB.

Make sure you back up your files before proceeding with these steps. This way, you don’t lose any of your valuable data.

Do you have any questions about resolving to write protection errors on your USB? Ask them in the comments section below!

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