Q&A for How to Remove Write Protection on an SD Card

Return to Full Article

Coming soon

Add New Question

Question

Why does my SD card tell me it is write protected if it is set to unlocked?

Community Answer

Your SD card must have been encrypted using a password on a mobile device or software.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 118 Helpful 125
Question

I tried method two and the SD card wasn't showing up on my computer management screen. There's no physical lock, so without an adapter, I can't use method one either. What else can I try?

Community Answer

Try the following: 1. Click Start > type “regedit” and open “Registry Editor”. 2. Now follow the below path after opening registry editor :- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/StorageDevicePolicies. 3. Now you will see “Write Protection” option. Double click on that and set the value data to ‘0’. After setting the value data to ‘0’ again try copying or formatting your sd card. After performing the above step you are still not able to format your sd card then continue to next step. Open Command Prompt and type diskpart and press Enter key. After opening diskpart type “list disk” and again press Enter button. Now type “select disk 1”.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 577 Helpful 381
Question

How can you tell if it is working?

Community Answer

Try to recycle a photo. If it works, write protection is off. If you can't delete a picture, write protection is on. After write protection is off, take the photo from the recycle bin and put it back in the SD card. Keep in mind this was only tested on Windows.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 36 Helpful 33
Question

I have an HP laptop, will it work on that?

R2_d2000

Top Answerer

Yes, the steps for Windows computers should work on an HP laptop, or any other laptop running Windows.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 16 Helpful 20
Question

What do I do if my camera still sees my SD card as locked even though I have unlocked it?

Community Answer

Try formatting the card in your camera device.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 37 Helpful 26
Question

Are all SD cards the same, regardless of brand?

Community Answer

They are all compatible for the same types of uses, as long as the physical size matches the device you're trying to use it on. However, there are differences in speed and quality. The speed affects the performance of your device when it goes to read and write to the SD card.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 36 Helpful 22
Question

I got to the sixth step for a Mac, and when I go to the Erase tab it is blurred out so that I can't click on anything. What should I try next?

Community Answer

If you are using OS X Yosemite or Later, the Erase button is on the top tab of the window under the Application Name (Disk Utility). Be sure you have selected something like "APPLE SD Card Reader Media", anything with the appended name SD Reader Media. Also be sure that your SD Card is actually inserted, or the SD Reader Media will not show up. The erase option should show up.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 54 Helpful 25
Question

I am using a Monster Digital SD card for my camera. I'm on vacation and have taken about 50 or so pictures, and now it says it's "write protected". I don't want to lose the pictures...What should I do?

Community Answer

Buy a new card so you can keep taking pictures, then deal with the old card when you get home.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 97 Helpful 33
Question

My Android phone tells me my card is damaged and that I should try reformatting it, but when I try, it can't be formatted! What can I do?

R2_d2000

Top Answerer

Try to follow the steps on How to Repair a Corrupted Memory Card . You will need a computer to fix the SD card.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 7
Question

My adapter is missing and I want to remove the write - protection on my memory. What can I do?

Community Answer

Buy a new adapter and then take off the lock. Then mount it in your PC.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 49 Helpful 13
Question

How do I format my SD card?

Community Answer

Try the following: 1. Insert SD Card. 2. Go to, "This PC" (Windows 8, 8.1, 10) or to "Computer" (Windows 7). 3. Select the SD Card and right-click it. 4. Find the "Format" option and click it. A window will open. 5. Check the "Quick Format" option. (This step is not necessary, but it will format faster). 6. Click the "Start" button. Wait until it finishes.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 92 Helpful 21
Question

How do I format an SD card?

Community Answer

Try the following steps: Insert SD Card. Go to, "This PC" (Windows 8, 8.1, 10) or to "Computer" (Windows 7). Select the SD Card and right-click it. Find the "Format" option and click it. A window will open. Check the "Quick Format" option. (This step is not necessary, but it will format faster). Click the "Start" button, and wait until it finishes.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 52 Helpful 9
Question

What should I do if I can't format my SD card?

Community Answer

You can use command prompt (CMD). Enter "cmd" in the start menu, and then "diskpart" in the window that will pop up.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 2
Question

What happens if the switch to unlock it came off?

Community Answer

If the switch to unlock it came off, you can get a new adapter then and try it again. You can get one when you buy a new SD card, or ask around -- your friend may have one idling around.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1
Question

What do I do if my SD card is stuck on "write protected"? I tried method 2, and it said "read only" was removed, but when I try to add a file it still says "write protected".

bryne gaexy

Community Answer

I had this problem too. I had to use a card reader (USB type) rather than the adapter, and it works. The problem might be the adapter.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1
Question

How do I remove write protection from my SD card if these methods didn't work?

Community Answer

Try the methods in Fix a Broken Lock on SD Cards .

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0