Have you ever tried to format your SD card on your PC only to see its write-protected, which means you can't even access the SD card, can't access your files on the SD card, that can be distressing right? Here's your relief, in this article, I'll teach you easy ways you can remove write protection from your SD card and then format it.
Method 1: Check SD Card Properties
Method 2: Using CMD to Clear Read-Only Attributes from SD Card
Method 3: Disable Write Protection with Registry Editor
- To make the corrupted and inaccessible SD card work again, a guaranteed fix is to format the SD card. Usually, you can format an SD card via Disk Management and File Explorer. But for a corrupted SD card, there are chances that you will fail in those two formatting methods. No need to worry since there are other two methods you can try.
- But before that let us know the causes for SD card won't format issue. Causes For Can't Format SD Card Write Protected. We get several SD card errors, but the solution for all problems is format the card. It says formatting SD card will fix all issues like these. But in such issues, the formatting of the SD card fails.
- With a Canon camera, go to Menu Setup Format Card. Select the card you want to format and then OK. Your camera will take a few moments, and then you'll have a fresh SD card ready to go. With a Nikon camera, go to Menu Setup Format Memory Card. Select the card you want to format and then OK.
You can force format SD card in Windows and Command Prompt to repair SD card not formatting issue as well as format SD card for Android devices. About formatting SD card Formatting of memory card is common operation to users all over the world, and such action is also suggested by many tech experts. Format SD card on Windows 10/8/7. It's easy to format SD under Windows which is able to format.
What Does Write Protection Mean?
Write protection (read-only) is the ability of a storage media such as SD card to prevent new data from being written or changed. This means you can read the information contained in the disk, but cannot delete them or copy files, so you can't format the SD when it's write-protected. When this happens, your SD card becomes useless until you remove the write protection from the SD card.
How to Remove Write Protection from SD Card?
One easy way you can remove write protection from your SD card is to make sure the tiny lock switch on the left side of your SD card is slid up. However, sadly, the SD card could still be write-protected even if it's not locked. In that case, you can use the following ways to remove the write protection.
1Check SD Card Properties
Go to 'This PC', look for your card reader under 'Devices with removable storage', then right-click it and hit 'properties'. There could be an option to remove the write protection, click on the option and try again.
2Using CMD to Clear Read-Only Attributes from SD Card
Generally, Windows comes with CMD tools that allow you to check bad sectors on the target drive or create and delete the partition. You can clear read-only attributes using the following steps: https://download-auctions.medium.com/best-fps-pubg-9bec555501a.
Click on 'Start' and type 'cmd' in the search box, right-click and select 'Run as administrator' to open, then type the following commands and press 'Enter' after each:
diskpart
list disk
select disk #
When Disk attributes cleared successfully appear in the window, you can type 'exit' and click Enter key. After this, you have removed write protection from SD card successfully.
3Disable Write Protection with Registry Editor
If the CMD does not work and your SD card still displays 'write- protected', you can also disable the write protection using registry editor using the following steps:
Step 1: Press 'Windows key +R' to open the run dialogue. Type ' Regedit' and click 'OK' to open the registry editor.
Step 2: Expand the entries on the left-hand pane to navigate to the following path.
ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SYSTEMcurrentcontrolsetcontrolstoragedevicepolicies
Step 3: Right-click 'write protection' and modify the value data from 1 to 0. Then click 'OK'.
Step 4: Close the 'Registry Editor' and restart the PC. Then you have successfully remove the write prtection from SD card.
How to Format SD Card after Removing Write Protection?
Many uses may wonder if they can format a write protected SD card. The answer is Yes. Once you've unlocked the write-protected SD card, you can use it properly. If you want to format SD card after removing write protection, follow the steps below:
Step 1: 3d drawing tool software. Click 'Start', type 'Run' in the search bar and hit 'Enter'.
Step 2: Now in the run box, type 'CMD' and hit 'OK.'
Step 3: This will open command prompt window, type 'diskpart' to run diskpart utility.
Step 4: Next, type 'list disk' to locate the drives on your PC.
Step 5: Next, type 'disk 1' (where 1 should be the number of your SD card).
Step 6: Next, type 'Clean', this will erase all data on your SD card.
Step 7: Then, you have to create a new partition. Type 'create partition primary'.
Vocal pitch correction. Step 8: Now type 'select partition 1' (where 1 stands for the newly created partition).
Step 9: After this, type 'Active' to make the partition active.
Step 10: Finally, type 'format fs=ntfs (or format fs=fat32)' to format the partition to the desired file system.
The above method only works for Windows. You can learn how to format SD card on Mac as well. https://ameblo.jp/conccarecru2e/entry-12652317769.html.
Bonus: How to Recover Data from Accidentally Formatted SD Card?
What if you accidentally formatted your SD card? Here's a great software you can use to recover all your data. This Formatted SD Card Recovery Software - AnyRecover can help you recover any lost data from any storage device quickly. The best part is, you can use it easily even without any special tech knowledge.
Features of iMyFone AnyRecover:
A professional formatted card recovery software which can unformat the card and get your files back easily. How to play garageband.
Retrieve data lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, virus attack, etc.
Recovers over 1000 file types including photos, videos, audio files, Microsoft files, Adobe files, etc.
It is very secure; ensures only you can access recovered files plus it recovers files without overwriting original data.
Restore all lost/deleted files from the formatted SD card or other memory card types.
Steps to Recover Data from Formatted SD Card with Software:
Step 1. Launch AnyRecover. Connect your SD card to your computer. Choose the SD card where your data is missing under 'External Removable Devices' tab.
Step 2. After selecting the location, hit 'Start' button to start scanning. AnyRecover will begin all-round scanning
Step 3. Once the scanning is complete, AnyRecover will display all data based on the file type or folder to which the file belongs. You can filter the files you want and select them to preview. Then hit 'Recover' to recover your lost data.
Conclusion
By now, you should be able to access or format the write-protected SD card using the above-stated methods. Moreover, if you've accidentally formatted your SD card, then you can recover all your data using AnyRecover as I mentioned above. So that's it guys, I hope you find this information helpful.
Well, if you have come to this page then you must be looking for a solution on how to format write protected micro SD card.
Here you'll learn the common causes for SD card won't format issue and apply the quick solutions to fix cannot format SD card write protected. Just follow the step-by-step instruction mentioned below.
But, before I proceed towards its fixes to repair can't format micro SD card write protected issue, I would like to share a practical scenario with you. And after I read this scenario, I have actually decided to write a blog on this topic.
So, below find out the few troubleshoot and learn how to get rid of SD card write protection. But before that let us know the causes for SD card won't format issue.
Causes For Can't Format SD Card Write Protected
We get several SD card errors, but the solution for all problems is format the card. It says formatting SD card will fix all issues like these. But in such issues, the formatting of the SD card fails.
So, what are those reasons that create the problem of cannot format micro SD card write protected?
Below find out the causes by yourself:
- The already mentioned cause is SD card is write protected and hence Windows PC does not allow to format it.
- May be your SD card contains a bad sector and got corrupted.
- Using the same card on several multiple devices and hence it might get infected with a virus.
How To Remove Write Protection From SD Card
It is actually a little difficult task to erase a write-protected SD card and make it usable again. Once an SD memory card is write-protected, it means that you will not be able to use it with full control – you will not be able to write data or rename files and folders. Any operation performed on it will get rejected such as you will not be able to delete files on it or format it.
In such situation, your SD card becomes useless. Hence, you have to first remove write protection from card only then you can format it.
Below, I have mentioned a few solutions and I hope this will help to fix cannot remove write protection from SD card and thereafter you can easily format it and use it again. How to download fortnite on a pc.
Solution #1: Check If There Is Any Kind of Lock Switch
Is there any kind of small lock switch on one side? Check your SD card exterior and if you see any type of switch that has locked the card, then change the position (unlock position) of the lock switch. This will allow you to unlock write protection from SD memory card and thereby you can use it with full control.
Solution #2: Connect The Card With PC & Check Its Properties
After connecting the card to PC with the help of a card reader, go to 'My Computer' and right-click on your removable SD card and select Properties. A new window will get open – in which you can sometimes see the option to remove write-protection.
Simply change the status of this option and then try again, after doing so, you can easily able to fixSD card is write protected cannot format issue. How picsart works.
Solution #3: Use Command Line
Below you will get the solution on how to format write protected SD card using cmd. So, just try the below-given steps to resolvewrite protected SD card format cmd.
- Click Start, type Run in the search bar and hit Enter.
- Now in the Run box, type regedit and press OK, on confirmation click on Yes.
- This will open a new window.
- Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStorageDevicePolicies
- If there are no StorageDevicePolicies, then you have to create this folder. To create this folder, right-click on the Control and click on New>Key, name this StorageDevicePolicies, right-click on the new folder that you have created now named as StorageDevicePolicies and click New> DWORD Value.
- Name this WriteProtect.
- Double click on Write Protect and set the Value Data to 0 and click OK.
Now close the Registry Editor and connect the SD memory card into your PC.
How To Format SD Card After Removing The Write Protection
Once, you remove write protection, if you are unable to format SD card write protected then you can use it properly as you were using it earlier. You can now write data, delete files and rename files and folders stored within it.
However, if you want to format the SD card then you can follow the steps mentioned here: How to Format Memory Card on Windows?
If the above method of formatting the SD card does not work, then follow the below method.
But before formatting the write protected SD card, it is important that you must back up and restore files from it. Because formatting the card will erase entire data from the SD memory card.
Run DISKPART To Format SD Card That Won't Format or Write Protected
- Click Start, type Run in the search bar and hit Enter.
- Now in Run box, type cmd and hit OK.
- This will open Command Prompt Window, type diskpart to run Diskpart Utility.
- Next type list disk, in order to locate the list of drives on the PC.
- Next type select disk 1 (where 1 should be the number of your SD card).
- Now type clean to run the clean utility. This will erase all data from the card.
- Next you have to create a new partition – simply type create partition primary.
- Now type select partition 1 (where 1 stand for the newly created partition)
- After this type active to make the partition active.
- Finally, type format fs=ntfs （or format fs=fat32）to format the partition to a desired file system.
Below, find out how to recover files from formatted SD card.
How To Recover Files From Formatted SD Card
After removing the write protection and SD card format, if you want to restore digital media files such as images, videos and audio files (in case if you do not have a backup) then you can use SD Card Recovery Tool.
This tool is capable enough to retrieve digital media files from write protected SD card format software as well as from corrupted, virus infected & locked memory cards.
With the help of this tool, you can:
- Restore digital media files such as photos, videos and audio files from write-protected and formatted SD cards.
- Also recover media files from virus-infected, encrypted, locked, unreadable, corrupted SD card.
- Retrieve media files from formatted USB drive, pen drive, memory stick, hard drive & external hard drive.
- 100% risk-free. Safe, secure and easy to use.
* Free version of the program only scans and previews recoverable objects.
Steps To Recover Digital Media Files From Formatted SD Card
Step 1: Select Desired Location
Firstly, select the drive, external media or volume from which you want to recover deleted media files. After selecting, click on 'Scan'.
Step 2: Preview Recovered Media Files
Next, you can preview the recoverable media files after the scanning process is completed.
Step 3: Recover Media Files
Lastly, you can select the images, audio, video files you want to restore and click on 'Recover' option to save them at the location you want.
Final Words
Well, I have already mentioned above the most common reasons that create a problem of can't format SD card write protected. But, from the above solutions and steps, I hope you were able to remove write protection from SD card. After using the given fixes you will also be able to format SD memory card and get rid of cannot format write protected card problem.
Apart from this, if you have noticed that after fixing the issue of micro SD card write protected cannot format, all your essential data have been deleted unintentionally from SD card, then stop using your storage device right there.
This is because you can easily perform the recovery process using SD Card Recovery Tool.
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Alex is an expert technical writer with 7+ years of experience. His in-depth knowledge about data recovery and fascination to explore new DIY tools & technologies have helped many. Alex has a great interest in photography and loves to share photography tips and tricks with others.
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