How to Remove Write Protection From USB Drives and SD Cards on Windows 11?

Removing write protection from USB drives and SD cards on Windows 11 can be a tricky task. It is important to understand the process and follow the right steps to ensure that the write protection is successfully removed.

1. Disable Write Protection Through Registry Editor:

The first step to remove write protection from USB drives and SD cards on Windows 11 is to disable it through the registry editor. To do this, open the Run application by pressing the Windows key + R. Type ‘regedit’ in the Run window. This will open the registry editor. Navigate to the ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control’ and look for the ‘StorageDevicePolicies’ key. If it is not present, right click on the Control folder and create a new key. Name the key ‘StorageDevicePolicies’. Double click on the key and set the value of ‘WriteProtect’ to ‘0’.

2. Format the USB Drive or SD Card:

The second step to remove write protection is to format the USB drive or SD card. This can be done by connecting the USB drive or SD card to the computer and then opening the File Explorer. Right click on the drive and select ‘Format’. This will open the Format window. Select the file system and click on ‘Start’. This will start the formatting process and remove the write protection.

3. Update the USB Drive or SD Card’s Firmware:

The third step is to update the USB drive or SD card’s firmware. This can be done by downloading the latest firmware from the manufacturer’s website and then connecting the USB drive or SD card to the computer. Open the File Explorer and select the drive. Run the firmware update program and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.

In order to remove write protection from USB drives and SD cards on Windows 11, it is important to disable it through the registry editor, format the drive, and update the firmware. Following these steps will ensure that the write protection is successfully removed.