Question

SD card: Remove write protection

Answer 1

Remove the physical write protection on the SD card
U nder Windows cancel the digital read-only
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
4th step:
5th step:
6th step:
quick start Guide

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A write-protected SD card cannot be formatted. We will show you how you can remove the physical or digital write protection..

Image: <span> Pavel Veber / Shutterstock.com </span>

If your SD card is write-protected, you can read files and content on the card, but you cannot format or remove them. Many SD cards have a physical lock that can be activated accidentally. However, digital write protection can also prevent the card from being formatted. We explain to you how both protective mechanisms can be removed.

• Remove the physical write protection on the SD card
• U nder Windows cancel the digital read-only

Remove the physical write protection on the SD card

One of the reasons why you cannot remove files from the card is if you accidentally press the lock switch. This is located on the side of the SD card or the card adapter for microSD cards.

If you now want to format your SD card or write new data to it, the physical write protection can be bypassed quickly. Look for the switch on the SD card - it is usually at the top right (see picture).

Slide the lock switch to the right to remove the physical write protection.

The switch must now be moved from the lock position to the unlock position. To do this, slide the lock towards the gold connectors on the bottom of the SD card. After that, connect the SD card to the PC again and try again whether formatting or writing on the card works..

U nder Windows cancel the digital read-only

An SD card can also be digitally write-protected. This protection can be removed with a few commands from the Windows command prompt. Follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the brief instructions .

Note: To carry out these instructions, you need admin rights on your PC..

1st step:

Connect the SD card to the PC. Either via an integrated or external SD card reader. Then open the Explorer via [Windows] + [E] to check whether the SD card has been recognized.

2nd step:

Now open the command prompt. To do this, use the Windows search and enter " Command Prompt ". Then click on "Run as administrator ". Confirm that you are admin.

3rd step:

Open DiskPart by entering the command diskpart and confirming with [Enter] . You have to confirm every further command with [Enter] .

4th step:

Now enter list disk to list all disks. Then identify the data carrier number of your SD card . In our example, it is data carrier 1. This can be easily determined by the size of the card - we are using a 64 GB SD card here.

5th step:

Then enter sel disk X - replace X with the disk number. So we enter " sel disk 1 ".

6th step:

In the next step the "read only" attribute can be removed. To do this, enter the command attributes disk clear readonly . "The data carrier attributes were deleted successfully" confirms the removal of the write protection.

quick start Guide

1. First connect the SD card to the PC.
2. Now open the command prompt with administrator rights .
3. Next, enter diskpart .
4. Identify the SD card's volume number by list disk typing.
5. Then enter the command sel disk X . Replace X with the number accordingly.
6. Remove the attribute that prevents the card from being written with attributes disk clear readonly . Done - your SD card can now either be formatted or you can write new data to it.

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