To be able to store data, certain media (CD-ROM, SD card, etc.) and even files are write-protected. This protection can be temporarily lifted in order to modify a file or edit the content of a medium. To remove write protection, you must have full administrator rights. Some removable media, such as recordable CD-ROMs, have their own write protection system that is almost impossible to bypass.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Troubleshoot a simple write-protect problem
Step 1. See if your recording medium has a lock
Some SD cards and flash disks for plugging into a USB port have a small mechanism (lever or tab) which in a certain position blocks write access to the media, but not read. See if your support has one. Move it and you can access the content.
- On some SD cards, the lock switch is very difficult, if not impossible, to move, often due to its small size.
- If the locking mechanism is broken, you may be able to get by by reading this article.
Step 2. Make sure you are using the correct file system
Windows and Mac computers each have their own. The NTFS system, developed by Microsoft, does not work on Mac. Notoriety requires, many flash drives, external hard drives and SD cards are preformatted for Windows. If you are experiencing issues on your Mac with media that worked on Windows, reformat it like this:
- back up the contents of the media from a Windows PC (formatting irretrievably deletes all data from a media),
- reconnect the support to a USB port on your Mac,
- change the media format to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format.
Step 3. Check the space occupied on the media
If you save a file to full media, you will get an error message. Go to the folder This PC (Windows) or Finder (Mac), locate the media in question and see how much space is still free.
Step 4. Scan your computer for viruses
Some viruses are capable of disrupting the proper functioning of removable media, in particular blocking them in read-only mode. If you detect such a virus, all you have to do is start your antivirus to get rid of it.
Step 5. Format your flash drive or your CD-ROM.
Formatting erases all content from removable media and installs a new file system that you choose in advance. If you don't see any other reason why you can't remove protection, formatting is the ultimate solution.
Method 2 of 5: Unprotect a file in Windows
Step 1. Open the Start menu (
).
Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Open File Explorer (
).
Click on the folder icon in the lower left corner of the menu.
Step 3. Find your file
On the left side of the window, click the folder where the file is located.
If your file is in a subfolder, you will have to navigate through the tree structure until you finally find it
Step 4. Select the file
Click on the file for which you want to remove write protection.
Step 5. Click the Home tab
It's in the upper left corner of the File Explorer window. A toolbar appears at the top of the window.
Step 6. Click Properties
The icon is in the toolbar, in the section To open: it is a blank page marked with a red check mark.
Step 7. Uncheck the Read only option
It is located at the bottom of the properties window.
- If you don't see this option, make sure you are in the game General of the properties window.
Step 8. Click Apply
Then click on OK. The changes to the file have been saved, the properties window closes automatically. You can then modify your file.
Method 3 of 5: Unprotect a file in Mac OS X
Step 1. Open Finder
In the Dock, click the blue icon with two nested faces. A window opens.
Step 2. Find your file
Click on the left side of the window on the folder that contains your file.
If your file is in a subfolder, navigate through the directory tree to be able to locate it
Step 3. Select the file
For that, you just have to click on the file.
Step 4. Click File
This menu is located in the general menu bar at the top of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 5. Click Get Info
This option is in the second menu item File. A detailed information window then appears on the left.
Step 6. Unlock the Get Info menu
You have at the bottom and on the right a small orange padlock. If it is in the closed position, click on it and you will then be asked to enter the administrator password.
Step 7. Click on the Sharing and Permissions heading
This part is located practically at the bottom of the window. A detailed framework then appears with the various permissions active.
- If, in the game Sharing and permissions, you see usernames with on the same line the mention Read only, Go to the next stage.
Step 8. Locate your username
In the box that appeared, you should find the name of your user account, the one with which you log into your computer.
Step 9. Change the permissions of the file
Click on the double arrow of the frame Privileges, the one on the same line as the file to unlock. Choose option Reading and writing. Close the information window (top red button). The file is unlocked, you can edit it.
Method 4 of 5: Unprotect removable media in Windows
Step 1. Make sure the removable media is securely plugged in
First of all, see if your medium (flash disk, external drive or SD card) is properly plugged into a USB port of your Windows PC.
Step 2. Open the Start menu (
).
Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 3. Type regedit in the Start menu
In doing so, your computer will search for the location of this registry editor.
Step 4. Click on regedit
Its logo, at the top of the window, is a sort of exploded blue Rubik's Cube. The Registry Editor window opens.
Step 5. Expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder
Click on the arrow on the left. This folder is at the top left of the Registry Editor window.
You may have to navigate in the pane on the left to find this famous folder
Step 6. Expand the SYSTEM folder
Step 7. Expand the CurrentControlSet folder
Step 8. Select the Control folder
To do so, simply click on that folder.
Step 9. Click Edit
The menu is in the menu bar of the registry editor. Clicking on it will open a drop-down menu.
Step 10. Select New
This is the first option at the top of the menu Editing.
Step 11. Click Key
It is the first option of the context menu of the option New. A new folder, called a key, is created in the folder Control.
Step 12. Edit the name of the key
Type StorageDevicePolicies, then validate with the Enter key.
Step 13. Create a new DWORD value inside the key
For that:
- select the StorageDevicePolicies key you just created,
- click on To modify,
- select New,
- click on 32-bit DWORD value,
- type WriteProtect, then validate with the Enter key.
Step 14. Open the DWORD value
You just need to double-click on this value. A new window will then open.
Step 15. Set its value to 0
Double click on the value in the field Value data, then type 0 directly instead.
Step 16. Click OK
By doing this, you should no longer get the error message telling you that you are only in read mode for that media.
If your medium (flash disk or CD-ROM) were still protected, you would only have the ultimate solution: take it to a professional who will try to recover the data stored there
Method 5 of 5: Unprotect removable media on Mac
Step 1. Make sure the removable media is securely plugged in
Whatever it is (flash drive, external hard drive or SD card), it must be plugged into your Mac before doing anything.
Depending on the Mac you have and the media you are going to plug in, you may need to plug a USB-C adapter into one of the USB ports
Step 2. Click Go
This option can be found in the general menu bar at the top of the screen. By clicking on it, you will see a drop-down menu appear.
- If the menu Go does not appear at the top of the screen, you are not on the Desktop. To fix this, click on the blue Finder icon (with two recessed faces), which is in the Dock.
Step 3. Click Utilities
This option is, in alphabetical order, practically at the bottom of the menu Go.
Step 4. Open Disk Utility
To do this, double-click on the hard disk icon named Disk Utility. A new window opens.
Step 5. Select your storage medium
In the main Disk Utility window at the top left, click the name of the media in question.
Step 6. Click on S.O.S
This tab that features a stethoscope is located at the top left of the main Disk Utility window.
Step 7. Wait for the inspection to complete
If the write protection of your media is enabled by encryption, then there is a good chance that your problem will be solved: you can access the contents of the media.