This wikiHow teaches you how to remove write protection from an SD card so that you can delete or modify the files it contains or add new ones. In practice, almost all SD cards are equipped with a small physical switch on one side that enables or disables the writing of data on the memory medium. If the data contained in the SD is "logically" protected from overwriting (ie the "read only" attribute is enabled), you can remove this limitation using a Windows or Mac computer.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Disable Physical Write Protection
Step 1. Examine the SD card
Place it on a flat surface so the label faces up. This will make it easier to locate the switch that protects the card from data overwriting.
If you are using a micro-SD or mini-SD card, insert it into an SD adapter and place the adapter on a flat surface with the label side facing up
Step 2. Locate the circuit breaker
It should be prominently displayed in the upper left of the tab.
Normally, an SD card's security switch has a small white or silver tab located at the top of the left side of the holder
Step 3. Unlock the security switch
Make it slide from bottom to top so that it moves away from the part of the board where the metal contacts are. In this way the write protection of the SD card will be disabled and you will be able to delete or modify the data on the media or add new ones.
Method 2 of 3: Remove Logical Write Protection on Windows
Step 1. Make sure you are logged into your computer using a system administrator account
In order to use the "diskpart" command of the Windows "Command Prompt", you must have an administrator account on your computer. This is the command with which you will remove the write protection from the SD card.
Step 2. Insert the SD card into your computer
If your system has a built-in SD card reader, insert the card into the SD card with the label side facing up.
If your computer does not have such a reader, you will need to purchase an external USB one
Step 3. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
Step 4. Launch the "Command Prompt"
Type command prompt keywords into the "Start" menu, then click the icon Command Prompt
appeared at the top of the results list.
Step 5. Run the "Disk Partition" command
Type the command diskpart into the "Command Prompt" window and press the Enter key.
Step 6. Press the Yes button when prompted
This will confirm that you want to start the "Disk Partition" program. It will launch directly within the "Command Prompt" window.
Step 7. View the list of all storage media present in your computer
Type the command list disk and press the Enter key.
Step 8. Determine the identification number of the SD card
You can identify the SD card entry by referring to the number of megabytes or gigabytes displayed in the "Size" column by looking for the one that corresponds to the storage capacity of the media. The identification number of each disc is shown on the left of the table, in the "Disc No." column.
- For example, if the dimensions of the media named "Disk 3" correspond to those of the SD card, it means that the identification number of the media in question is "3".
- The disk identified with the name "Disk 0" and displayed in the first position in the list is always the hard disk installed in the computer.
Step 9. Select the SD card
Type the command select disk [number], where the parameter "[number]" represents the identification number of the SD card you identified in the previous step, then press the Enter key. This will indicate to the "Disk Partition" program that the next command entered must be executed using only the SD card.
For example, if the SD card name is "Disk 3", you will need to execute the select disk 3 command
Step 10. Remove the "read only" security attribute from the card
Type the command attributes disk clear readonly and press the Enter key. The text message "Erasing disk attributes complete" should appear on the screen, indicating that the SD card is no longer protected from data overwriting.
Method 3 of 3: Remove Logical Write Protection on Mac
Step 1. Connect the SD card to the Mac
In this case you will need to purchase a USB or USB-C SD card reader and connect it to your Mac, after which you can insert the SD card into the adapter.
If you are using an older Mac, check the right side as it may be a model that integrates an SD card reader. If so, just insert the card into the reader, making sure that the side where the label is visible is facing upwards
Step 2. Locate any read-only files
In some cases, if there is a read-only file on the SD card, the entire media may be considered "read-only" until read and write access to the file is restored. To check the status of each file on the card, access the menu File, choose the option Get information and check the "Sharing and permissions" section.
If the file under consideration is read-only, modify the access attributes to see if this was the cause of the problem
Step 3. Enter the Spotlight search field by clicking the icon
It features a magnifying glass and is located in the upper right corner of the screen. A small search bar will appear.
Step 4. Launch the "Disk Utility" app
Type the keywords disk utility into the search bar, then double-click the entry Disk Utility appeared in the hit list.
Step 5. Select the SD card
Click the name of the media in question visible in the left pane of the "Disk Utility" window.
Step 6. Access the S. O. S
It is located at the top of the "Disk Utility" window. The program will automatically start scanning the support for errors or problems.
If prompted, follow the on-screen instructions for scanning the SD card
Step 7. Wait for the SD card analysis to complete
If the media is read-only due to an error, the error will be automatically corrected by the "Disk Utility" program.
