How to Fix Raspberry Pi SD Card 'Write-Protected', Help
I removed the 32GB SD card containing the Pi system to format it. However, once I connected it to my computer, it was write-protected and cannot be cleaned. Has anyone had this problem before? Thank you very much!
Best Answered by
Cici· Answered on Mar 29, 2025
SD card write protection can be either physical or virtual. The main purpose of writing protecting the SD card is to prevent changes from deleting or modifying data. When the SD card is write-protected, you cannot write or format data to the card.
SD cards can be write-protected for several reasons, either due to malware infection or physical damage. If it is write-protected when taken off the Raspberry Pi, you may have touched the switch on the side of the SD card. If so, please unlock the SD card via the physical switch. If not, try the following two methods:
Remove Write-Protection SD Card via Protection Removal Tool
The easiest way is to use EaseUS Partition Master Free, which provides the most straightforward solution. It can remove write protection easily and quickly with just one click:
Step 1. Download EaseUS Partition Master, go to the Toolkit section, and select "Write Protection."
Step 2. Select the target SD card and click "Disable."
Detailed Reading: How to Remove Write Protection from SD Card and Format It Successfully
Remove Write-Protection SD Card via CMD
When an SD card becomes read-only, it may be in a write-protected error state. You can clear the read-only status using the command line. The following is a simple step-by-step guide:
Step 1. Connect the SD card to your computer, press "Windows+R" to open the Run window, and type diskpart.
Step 2. Enter the following command and press Enter.
list disk
select disk #
attributes disk clear readonly
Wait for a while, and you can reaccess your data. These are the two easiest ways to remove write protection. However, it is essential to avoid error parameters when entering the command.
