Somehow I cannot add nor remove any files from my USB drive, and Windows says that it is write-protected. I have no idea why this happened. I can read and copy files from the USB drive, but unable to add anything to it. I have seen this before, and it says to go to StorageDevicePolicies, but it doesn't exist on my computer. Anything helps?
As we know, write protection is often used on removable devices, such as USB drives and SD cards, to prevent accidental deletion or modification of the data. So the data of write-protected USBs can only be read but not changed or written. If you want to disable write protection from a USB drive, we can offer you two reliable ways to remove the write protection. Before starting, you need to check if the lock switch equipped on the USB is on the "OFF." The physical switch is so tiny that usually be ignored. If not, turn off the switch, reconnect it to PC, and test whether it works.
The first solid solution I highly recommend is all-in-one software, Qiling Disk Master Free. It offers a Write Protection Removal tool to help you disable the write protection with a few easy clicks. This tool is easy to operate and can prevent you from wasting time.
Here are the detailed steps:
Step 1. Download and install Qiling Disk Master, and select "Disk management" section.
Step 2. Right-click your write-protected USB, and click "Remove Disk Readonly".
The above method can solve most of the write protection problems. However, if you are a developer or familiar with CMD, you can try the second way: disable the write protection with Dispart.
Follow the steps carefully to remove the write protection by using the command lines:
Step 1. Open "Command Prompt" by typing it into the Windows search box.
Step 2. Type the following command lines and press "Enter" each time.
Step 3. Type "exit" after it is complete.
Step 4. Restart your PC and check if the write-protected USB work now.
Qiling Disk Master can save you a lot of time, and it's user-friendly. Download and install it to help you reuse your USB. If you want to know more information about removing the write protection, click the below link:
Related Article: The Beginner's Guide on How to Remove Write Protection