Windows ERROR_WRITE_PROTECT: Fixing Write Protection Errors on Windows
The ERROR_WRITE_PROTECT error in Windows occurs when a disk, file, or storage device is write-protected, preventing users from making changes to the data stored on it.
This error is common when trying to copy files to a USB drive, SD card, or external hard drive that has been set to a read-only state.
Write protection can be enabled either physically through a switch on the device or through software settings in the operating system.
The first step to resolving the ERROR_WRITE_PROTECT error is to check for a physical write-protection switch on the device.
Many USB drives and SD cards have a small physical switch that can be toggled between locked (write-protected) and unlocked (write-enabled).
If the device has this switch, ensure that it is set to the unlocked position.
If there is no physical switch or if the error persists, check the device’s properties in Windows Explorer.
Right-click the device, select Properties, and navigate to the Security tab.
Ensure that your user account has full write permissions.
If permissions appear to be correct, check the Registry for any write protection settings that might be enabled.
Open the Registry Editor (regedit) and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies.
If a key named WriteProtect exists, delete it or set its value to 0 to disable write protection.
If the error occurs with a specific file or folder, check whether the file is marked as read-only.
Right-click the file, select Properties, and uncheck the Read-only attribute.
In some cases, the device may be corrupted, or the file system may have errors, causing write protection to be enabled.
Running the built-in Windows Check Disk utility (chkdsk) can help identify and fix file system issues that might be causing the error.
By resolving write protection settings, adjusting permissions, and ensuring the health of the file system, you can resolve the ERROR_WRITE_PROTECT error on your Windows system.
