Remove the write protection on a Micro SD.

When I got my phone I got it for the mp3 player. What I didn't know is that they expected me to buy a $30 connector cable. I tried to be the smart consumer and just bought a Micro SD card with an adapter. I plugged that bad boy into my computer only to find out that it was write protected. I figured out the painfully obvious way to unlock it.

Step 1: Adapter

The adapter is the size of a normal SD. Plug the micro into the bottom.

Comments

[ArtoriosRex]

I had a PNY adapter that simply refused to respect the position of the write-protection switch. However, my Transcend adapter worked fine! So if you're in this situation, try a different adapter!

[Lairikyengbam Michael Roy]

Hi..........

[ktriplej]

Yesssss! it worked thanks a million!

[flemmy123]

hey there im having so much trouble with my sd card , its an 8 gig and it has alot of stuff on it i want to get rid of it all and replace it with new stuff but wen i plug my mini sd into the adapter , i can open and look at what is on the card fine but its not letting me delete anything becoz it says write protected .... SOME1111 PLEASEE HELP ME !! LOL

[theotakupegasus]

There should be a switch on the side of your adapter (normal sized SD card) just switch it to the other side and it should work.

[zmccammon]

Ok all you have to do is get clear tape and put it over the switch be sure the switch is up instead of down see basically what happens is when you insert the sd card in there it locks itself so to prevent that you have to unlock it and make it stay unlocked even when you put it in your computer. Be sure not to cover the gold contacts as you may result in damaging the SD Adapter.

[shakthivel]

I have a 28gb SD Card I insert it on the kingston adapter and then into my computer sd port and then windows show format disk I try one software to format my SD card, when I click on format windows shows " The Memory is write protected. Please release the write protect switch." then I check if there is any problem with my adapter the I insert another card on it and I try to format it works.....that means my Adapter is fine...So, how to release the write protect switch, if there is no problem with SD Card Adapter..windows read the card
please help me....

[vignesh92]

really awesome fellas.... its workin.soooooooooooooooooo happy.......:)))))))))))))

[JimmyJeams]

I have a 2 gb SD Card I insert it on the Samsung adapter and then into my computer sd port and then windows show format disk I try one software to format my SD card, when I click on format windows shows " The Memory is write protected. Please release the write protect switch." then I check if there is any problem with my adapter the I insert another card on it and I try to format it works.....that means my Adapter is fine...So, how to release the write protect switch, if there is no problem with SD Card Adapter..windows read the card

[amitanand57]

sir.
how to remove remove write protection from my micro sd card please give me advice.

[amitanand57]

sir , ihave a problem when i start to copy any folder or image from computer . then a message have come your drive is write protected, remove or use other drive, please advice me to remove this write protection.

[jcargnali]

All You gotta do is take out the adapter look at the side. It should say lock on it. If the little switch is on the arrow then move it up and u should be able to put files onto it now.

[11vishal]

how to download pdf?

[evehwiki]

I broke my lock. :( and it is on write protect.
I'm using Sandisk micro SD. Won't i be able to use it again? please help. thanks :)

[static]

Good grief. Was getting that blasted write protected message, but couldn't find a switch on the micro SD looked for it on the adapter and still could see it. Then I used a finger nail to see if it would snag anything, sure enough there it is. On this sandisk breed both the adapter body and the switch are both black. Good thing I did a web search before I tossed it in frustration. Now I don't know what to think, Windows said formatting complete, file manger shows no files, but my phone tells me the card is full. Next to read the phone manual. Until no I thought the protection in the full sized card was an actual electrical switch, but evidently it's optical like floppy disks

[nikanoo7]

i have a adapter but it does not have a switch (must of been broken off) and the write protection is on it. Is there any other way i can get it off?

[roblan1968]

Hi. why do I have to blow into the adapter? what happens? thanks.
I'm having a problem with my Micro SD 8gb.. cant reformat it, cant delete files. So I guess it is write protected.

[cherry2272]

Wow...it worked. That was awesome!!! Thank you!!!

[mei mei]

well i just bought the same thing by kingston thinking i got a GREAT bargain for an 8gb only cost me malaysian ringgit 66. BUT now i'm stuck with WRITE PROTECTED and can't load anything into it. TRIED above method DOES NOT WORK. HELP! HELP PLEASE...

[ysonwaney]

I had the Samsung's Memory card adapter...n a transcend 8gb card....n ur METHOD IS OSUM MAN!!!..although i think that the lock thing means that wen u lock the ...the card wont get out easily..theres no relation with the writeprtection n that lock...BUT ..ur method worked !!!!!!! ..thats all i want!

[bdudukovich]

thank you this works excellent thanks again

[plinks]

I knew how to do this but had forgotten, this procedure came in handy, thanx

[jsmith-hill]

It did not work,it was like that in the first place and it's still write-protect,got anything else?

[eneild]

Life saver:)

[mrashid3]

THANK YOU..................................

[pgossett]

Wow it actually worked! thanks

[joel1981ia]

all you really have to do is slide the switch into the 'unlock' position, put a piece of tape over it (making sure not to cover the copper connectors on the adapter that slide into the computer) and the lock button doesn't get activated when you push the card into the computer. this will allow you to keep the lock button so if you use the card to store tools for repairing computers the card is still protected from having a virus or malware written to it by the infected computer.

[enr22]

does anyone know how to format a micro sd? everytime i insert it in my computer, it says that it is write protected and i cannot access it also at the same time. thnks alot!

[ecwinslow]

The lock switch doesn't lock the microSD into the adapter;
the lock switch doesn't lock the data on the microSD;
the lock switch by its position (or more exactly its presence at a place) tells the *reader* not to write.
It just says "please don't write me."
I'm sure a reader could (whether broken or intentionally) bypass this.
Now if it could be done in software, thus (farfetched or not) permitting malware/viruses to get onto the chip .... <shrug>
Have fun! (I'd forgotten all this from my punching-out-tabs days with tape cassettes.)
=e

[uberdum05]

I opened up one of those adaptors today and discovered like you say that the lock switch just bridges two contacts...

[mfinch1]

LOLX

[stevo111ish]

u r amazin ecwinslow, i didnt know tht and im a computer geek. well done

[zimmemic25]

in the "reader" is a push-button, which is pressed by the "lock" (the plastic thing) if its writable. if the button isnt pushed, the reader doesnt want to write it. (and tells your OS not to write)

[fhszfsfs]

you are right, the function of the lock does actually seem to do something outside the card rather than inside it. as you said, it must be pushing an button unlock button in the card reader. if the slider is broken or pushed down to the "lock" position, then when you slide the card into the card reader, that "button" inside the card reader does not get pushed.

[fretted]

I wonder if People remember 3 1/2 ' Floppys Ive got loads of old data on those things and haven't had a 3 1/2" reader in years lol

[ecwinslow]

Back to the original post, I don't know why I didn't point this out up front: I've bought micro-USB to USB cables for like $2 or $3 apiece online. A price like that definitely changes one's attitude.

[pchintu]

goddamn you!! where have you guys born?
brilliant!! thanks!!

[vgodbole]

Thanks a ton dude...!! i spent weeks trying to figure out but in vain...then i came across this post n VOILA!! thanks :)

[ccook2]

I was doing everything right, I didn't have it locked. But I blew air inside of the side of the computer (where i put my adapter at) then plugged it back in as you said and it was fine. I don't know why it worked though.

[sagarwal1]

Hey i had this write protection problem since a month !! I was fed up man ...
Until i read ur instruction ! it ws solved in no time!
Thnks a million
Thnk u so much