09/11/2014 3 Ways to Remove Write Protection on an SD Card - wikiHow

How to Remove Write Protection on an

SD Card
218,557 views Edited 17 days ago

Three Methods: Unlocking an SD Card Formatting an SD Card using Windows

Formatting an SD Card using Mac OS X

When trying to use an SD card, you may sometimes receive an error that
informs you that the disk is write-protected. Disks that are write-protected will
prevent you from copying, deleting, or writing new data to the disk. To remove
the write protection on an SD card, you may need to physically unlock the card
or format the card using a Windows or Mac computer.

Method 1 of 3: Unlocking an SD Card

1 Place the SD card in the palm of your hand or on a flat surface with the label
facing up.

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2 Look for the lock switch on the upper-left side of the SD card. The lock switch
may be a tiny white or silver tab that juts out from the left side of the SD card.
If you are using a micro- or mini-SD card, there will be no lock switch on the
actual SD card. Instead, you will be required to insert the SD card into an SD
card adapter, which will contain a lock switch.

3 Slide the lock all the way up. The write-protection status will now be removed
from your SD card.[1]

Method 2 of 3: Formatting an SD Card using Windows

1 Insert your SD card into your Windows computer using an SD card reader or
adapter.

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2 Click on Start and right-click on Computer.

3 Select Manage from the list of options displayed. The Computer

Management window will display.

4 Click on Disk Management below Storage in the left pane of Computer

Management. All the storage devices you are currently using will display in the
middle pane.

5 Right-click on the storage device you want formatted and select Format.

6 Click on OK. Your computer will then format your SD card and remove the
write-protection status from the disk. [2]

Method 3 of 3: Formatting an SD Card using Mac OS X

1 Insert the SD card into your computer using an SD card reader or adapter.

2 Open the Applications folder on your Mac.

3 Scroll to the bottom of the Applications folder and open Utilities.

4 Click on Disk Utility. The Disk Utility window will display.

5 Click on the name of your SD card in the left pane of Disk Utility.

6 Click on the tab labeled Erase near the top of the Disk Utility window.

Select MS-DOS file system or exFAT from the dropdown menu next to Volume

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7 Format.

8 C lick on the button labeled Erase near the bottom of Disk Utility. Your Mac
will then format and erase all the contents on your SD card, and remove the write-
protection status.[3]
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Warnings

In some cases, the lock switch on your SD card may become

excessively loose and slide into the lock position by accident when you
insert the card into a computer or device. If this occurs, you may need
to completely replace your SD card.
Try nudging the protection tab. Be sure the protection tab is in the
unlocked position. Nudge it 0.5mm toward the locked position. Insert
and test. This will often produce positive results.
Formatting your SD card will completely erase all its contents. If you
want to avoid losing any data you have saved on the card, attempt to
toggle the lock switch on the SD card to its unlock position before
formatting the disk.

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Sources and Citations

1. http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1102
2.
http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/107/session/L2F2LzEvd
GltZS8xMzg3MzE1NTcxL3NpZC9WMlJ0MjRJbA%3D%3D
3. http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/203/related/1

Article Info

Categories: External Storage Devices

Recent edits by: Flickety, Tom, CJ_Blardony

In other languages:

Deutsch: Den Schreibschutz einer SD Karte entfernen, Espaol: Cmo quitar la

proteccin contra escritura de una tarjeta SD, Italiano: Come Rimuovere la Protezione
da una Scheda SD, : SD , Portugus: Como
Remover a Proteo de um Carto SD, Nederlands: De schrijfbeveiliging van een SD
kaart verwijderen

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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 218,557 times.

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