What To Know
- If the USB ports are protected with write protection, you won’t be able to copy or move files to and from the USB storage.
- Identify your USB disk from the list and type select disk 1 (replace 1 with the number of your USB disk).
- Insert the USB disk into the computer and right-click on “This PC” on the desktop.
If you’re trying to format a USB write protected on Windows 10, there’s an easy solution. We’ll discuss how to unlock a write-protected USB in Windows 10 in this article.
How To Format Usb Write Protected On Windows 10
If the USB ports are protected with write protection, you won’t be able to copy or move files to and from the USB storage. But, there’s a way out. You can format the USB on Windows 10 by following the instructions below.
1. Connect the USB to your PC.
2. In the Start menu search bar, type command prompt. Right-click on the Command Prompt icon and select Run as administrator.
3. In the Command Prompt window, type diskpart and hit enter.
4. Type list disk and hit enter.
5. From the list, identify your USB storage disk.
6. Type select disk 1 (replace 1 with the number of your USB disk).
7. Type attributes disk clear readonly.
8. Type clean.
9. Type create partition primary.
10. Type active.
11. Type format fs=ntfs quick (replace ntfs with fat32 as per your requirement).
If still facing issues with the write protected USB, you can use another PC to format the USB.
Alternatively, you can check for write protection on the USB using a command prompt. Open the command prompt as an administrator and type diskpart. Then, type list disk. Identify your USB disk from the list and type select disk 1 (replace 1 with the number of your USB disk). Now, type attributes disk clear readonly. If it returns ‘Disk attributes cleared successfully’, it means the USB was write protected, and the issue is resolved.
If the above steps don’t work, you can try formatting the USB using Disk Management. Press Windows + R, type diskmgmt.msc in the Run dialog box, and press Enter. Right click on your USB disk, select Format, and format it.
If none of the above steps work, it could be a hardware issue with your USB drive. Try connecting the USB to another computer and see if it works.
How Do I Remove Write Protection From A Usb Drive In Windows 10?
- 1. Right-click on the USB drive in File Explorer and select “Properties.”
- 2. Click on the “Tools” tab.
- 3. Click the “Check” button in the Error-checking section.
- 4. Select the “Scan and fix” option and then click on the “Start” button.
- 5. After the scan is complete, click on the “Close” button and then restart your computer.
What Are The Steps To Write A Protected Usb On Windows 10?
To create a bootable USB on Windows 10, you’ll need to:
1. Insert a USB into your computer.
2. Open a command prompt.
3. Run the following command:
“`
DISKPART
4. Use the list disk command to display your USB drives.
5. Run the following command to select the USB drive:
SELECT DISK 0
Replace 0 with the number of your USB drive.
6. Run the following command to initialize the USB drive:
CLEAN
7. Run the following command to create the bootable USB:
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
8. Run the following command to select the bootable USB:
SELECT PARTITION 1
Replace 1 with the number of your USB drive.
9. Run the following command to assign a letter to the bootable USB:
FORMAT FS=NTFS QUICK
10. Run the following command to copy the Windows installation files to the bootable USB:
ASSIGN LETTER=X
COPY X:sourcesboot.wim X:sourcesinstall.wim /F
EXIT
Replace X with the letter of your bootable USB.
How Can I Format A Write-protected Usb In Windows 10?
To format a write-protected USB in Windows 10, you can try the following steps:
1. Insert the USB disk into the computer and right-click on “This PC” on the desktop.
2. Choose “Manage” and then “Disk Management“.
3. Locate the write-protected USB disk and right-click on it.
4. Choose “Format”.
5. Set the volume label and file system (NTFS, FAT32, exFAT).
6. Confirm the format operation.
7. Wait for the process to complete.
8. After the format is done, the disk should now be writable.
Note: If the disk is still write-protected after formatting, you can try the following steps:
1. Right-click on “This PC” on the desktop.
2. Choose “Manage” and then “Storage Spaces”.
3. Locate the USB disk and right-click on it.
4. Choose “Online” to remove it from the storage space.
5. Format the disk again as mentioned in step 5.
How Can I Remove Write Protection From A Usb Drive In Windows 10?
To remove the write protection from a USB drive in Windows 10, follow these steps:
1. Insert the USB drive into your computer.
2. Right-click the USB drive in File Explorer and select “Properties” from the context menu.
3. In the Properties window, select the “Security” tab.
4. Click the “Edit” button in the “Permissions for USB Drive” section.
5. Check the box next to “Full Control” in the “Permissions for User” section.
6. Click the “Apply” button to apply the changes.
7. Click the “OK” button to close the Properties window.
This should remove the write protection from the USB drive and allow you to access it. If the problem persists, you may need to format the USB drive. To do this, right-click the USB drive in File Explorer and select “Format” from the context menu. Select the desired file system (e.g. NTFS) and format the USB drive.
Note: Formatting the drive will delete all data on the drive, so make sure you have a backup of any important files before formatting the drive.
What Are The Steps To Write A Protected Usb In Windows 10?
Writing a protected USB in Windows 10 involves the following steps:
1. Insert a USB drive into an available USB port on your computer.
2. Open File Explorer (press “Windows key + E”).
3. Locate and right-click on the USB drive’s icon in the “This PC” or “Devices and Drives” section.
4. Select “Properties” from the context menu.
5. Go to the “Tools” tab.
6. Click on the “Create a password reset disk” option.
7. Enter your current password (twice) if prompted.
8. Choose the “USB flash drive” option.
9. Follow the on-screen instructions to create the password reset disk.
10. Once the process is complete, the USB will be protected and ready to use.
Note: The password protection feature is only available on Windows 10 devices with UEFI firmware.
Summary
Now that you have learned how to format a write-protected USB on Windows 10, it’s time to put those skills to good use. Whether you’re looking to erase sensitive data or repurpose an old USB drive, knowing how to overcome this common obstacle can be incredibly useful. Just remember to exercise caution and back up any important files before proceeding with the formatting process. Happy computing!
