Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a small commission if you make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. For more information, please visit our Disclaimer Page.
When your SD card is write-protected, saving important data you require cannot be possible. Write protection is a valuable factor in keeping files safer when it’s used the right way. So, can you write-protect an SD card?
An SD card can be write-protected in different ways. You can use an SD card switch lock, mobile device settings, and attrib command for files protected by MS-DOS or Microsoft Windows command line. This can be helpful for industries with applications having crucial and non-removable information.
At times you may get shocked when you receive a write protection message when you try to save your files to an SD card. However, there is an easy and fast way for you to fix it.
There are a lot of things I’ll take you through regarding SD card write protection. You will understand the different ways to enable or disable write protection and if it’s possible to write-protect an SD card. Let’s dig into it!
Table of Contents
Are All SD Cards Write Protected?
A majority of SD cards have a write-protected lock onto the left. To protect the data from any modifications the lock is then slipped down to lock the SD card. Though not all the write protection gets initiated by a switch lock.
At times you’ll get a notification of the card underwriting protection when the switch locks off. There are instances you may think a card is faulty when you want to remove specific files.
You set the SD cards tab to unlock, but after inserting it into the computer you realize it’s write-protected.
The device may have enabled write protection. However, you weren’t aware until you pressed the deletion button, and the essential writing functions like the New folder and Rename are all not available.
You can remove the SD card and check whether the write protection tab is in the off mode.
You may believe the card is faulty not until you try another SD card which led to you suspecting your sd card reader is defective.
Can You Write Protect an SD Card?
An SD card can be write-protected and there are different ways to do it. For Instance, you can use the settings of a mobile device, a switch lock, or the attrib command.
Write protection is a component on the SD card and the other kinds of flash memory.
It prevents the new addition of new information and the deletion of any stored data.
Meaning it ensures you can’t write too critical data on the SD or remove data to create writing space for the new file.
With the activation of write protection, you can read data on the SD. Blocking only occurs to the operations regarding write.
Why Should You Write-Protect an SD card?
As a physical mechanism, write protection prevents the erasure or modification of important information on a device.
Hence, when you use write protection you secure data from accidental erasing or overwriting.
Like If I have an SD card having tons of photos I’m not ready to lose, I can enable the write protection.
And doing this will be of great help as no addition of the new images can take place until I remove the protection.
3 Ways How to Write Protect SD Card
By Using the SD Card Switch Lock
An SD card has a switch lock on it. When it’s used, you cannot delete or modify the content of the SD card. Besides, inserting the card will lead to an error notification from the camera.
It will indicate the card is in a locked mode or it cannot write to the SD.
For instance, you may have been in the company of people who were in fear the moment they realized they cannot take any pictures of a trip.
What’s amazing is, it’s always simple and quick to rectify the problem.
Though it is not often apparent to overlook, an SD card has a small switch on its side.
It is there if you may prefer to prevent deletion of content like images or write data on the SD.
Unlike other kinds used for file protection, It helps in locking the whole card.
Therefore, it doesn’t do it on a single folder or file basis.
Although sometimes you can deliberately not use the switch lock, It is so easy to use it even in the usual handling of the SD card.
It can be when inserting the card in the slot or removing it from the camera. A little nudge or knock can engage the card.
Use the Mobile Device Settings
There are mobile devices that have the feature of locking SD cards. If the SD card is not functioning well and it is on read-only mode on the android, It may be due to the settings.
SD card read-only symbolizes it is write-protected.
Hence this applies to a memory card or an SD card you can read though cannot alter the information It has.
Because the device’s external memory card has changed to read-only so fast, you cannot be able to erase, write or add anything from it.
However, there is a way you can fix this type of SD. You can choose to use software like EaseUs Partition Master Free.
Use Attrib Command
This can protect files in MS-DOS or Microsoft Windows command line.
With Windows, you can check the properties of the file and then enable the read-only attribute.
Moreover, with Unix or Linux variants, the chmod command can be mainly used for enabling and disabling write protection.
How Do You Remove Write Protection?
You Can Opt for GPEdit
An SD can be write-protected when there is a restraint in access to the card by the Windows policy for local groups.
Check the Following Steps to Help You Exclude Read-only Limitation;
- In the search box, begin by clicking start. Then type gpedit. msc and press the enter button.
- Proceed to the computer’s configuration and the administrative template. Then go to the system followed by the removable storage access.
- Disable the parameter known as the deny all access in the removable disks.
Do a Reformatting of the Micro SD Card
Back up all the required data and then reformat the card with an SD formatter. If there is a loss of some crucial content due to the corruption of the SD card, you can try Fix 6. This enables the recovery of the card’s data.
Examine how you can perform an SD card formatting with the MiniTool Partition Manager.
It’s a free disk partition manager for Windows users. Proceed to downloading and installing the MiniTool Partition Manager.
- Connect the card to the windows computer. Follow by launching the MiniTool Partition Manager.
- Right-click the partition on the card and choose a format in the menu.
- Choose a format for the file system. It can be NTFS or the FAT32 to keep on formatting the card.
Check the Physical Switch
You can perform some tricks with the SD card switch to cancel write protection. Almost all the SD cards have the lock switch. This is the slip on the left section.
It works as a locking mechanism. Examine the SD card and you will see a switch at the lowermost point. If you see it, this implies the SD card is write-protected and locked.
This prevents you from making any changes to the card.
Thus, you need to eject the SD card from the system and then drag the slider to the other side and it’s at the top.
Thus it may remove write protection from the SD and you will access everything you wanted to see.
Use an Anti-Virus Software
There are times when hidden malware or viruses can encrypt a device.
This adds the write protection on it and limits access to the saved contents.
Running antivirus software is one of the most worthwhile solutions to wipe out the write protection viruses in the sd card.
Here Are the Steps to Using an Anti-virus;
- Download anti-virus software on the computer and then run it. There are several types of anti-viruses you can choose from. They include AVG, Avast, Avira, ESET NOD32, McAfee, Norton Antivirus, and many more.
- Allow the Installation of the antivirus software
- Ensure there is a connection between the SD card and the computer
- Run the anti-virus software. This scans the card, cleans it up, and then removes the write protection virus.
Run the CHKDSK Command to Resolve the Disk Faults
This is an incredible way to embark on fixing the write protection of an SD card. It can function with the command prompt’s support.
And it is the one for the command prompt. Though for this It’s a different technique for fixing it up.
And it’s because there are times the card gets decrypted because of some of the internal omissions and seems to be write-protected.
If you are an expert you’ll comprehend this command and even run it as required.
Eliminate Write Protection from the Card Using Diskpart
You can effortlessly discard write protection from the micro SD card by using the CMD on windows 10. Check out the following steps;
Unlock the Command Prompt
Go on to press buttons for Windows and R.
You can type the word “cmd” in the Run dialog and then press the Ctrl, Shift and Enter.
In the UAC window that pops up click yes.
This opens an elevated command prompt and it is on Windows 10.
Open the Diskpart Tool
You can go on to type the word “diskpart” in the command prompt window. Press the enter button to unlock the Diskpart utility. This is a built-in Windows tool allowing you to manage the disk.
Type Command Lines and Press Enter After Every Line
This allows clearing of the write protection on the SD card. You may have to connect the card to the computer in advance.
A list disk command displays all the disks detected in the computer while the select disk * can replace the star with the number of the SD card disk.
The attribute disk removes the read-only.
With this, the card isn’t supposed to be write-protected anymore. Still, if you cannot write the information on the card, you can opt for some other methods.
Use the EaseUS Utility
This is among the most common computer utilities found on the Internet.
EaseUS allows maintenance of a computer in a decent condition. This is through assessing and removing a majority of internal problems.
Thus it’s easily used to remove write protection on the SD card. The software has an inbuilt function. You can try using it if there is a camera stuck. It is very easy and safe to use.
Download it from the authorized website and it will function well depending on how you expect it.
Study the Following Process;
- Download the EaseUs Tool
- Run it after the card connects to the computer.
- Select write protection
- Choose a write-protected device
- Click disable to exclude the protection
- Close the software and then confirm whether the SD card is functioning as required.
Conclusion
You now understand everything about SD card write protection, right? As noted, there are many ways you can use to create write protection.
I hope you can choose a method that works best for you. And if you need to disable the protection from your SD card, then you can also opt for one from the list.
