# Disk write protected

**URL:** <https://forums.sandisk.com/t/disk-write-protected/415447>\
**Category:** Phone Drive\
**Created:** [March 20, 2025, 12:04pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/disk-write-protected/415447 "2025-03-20T12:04:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jorj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e47c2d/32.png) [@jorj](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/jorj)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 12:04pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/disk-write-protected/415447/1 "2025-03-20T12:04:26Z")

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My recently purchased SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 Flash Drive - 128GB (Model Number: SDCZ48-128G-U46) keeps showing it is write-protected. I am not able to find a place to unlock it. Please suggest it.

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**Author:** ![SBrown](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sandisk/user_avatar/forums.sandisk.com/sbrown/32/69334_2.png) [@SBrown](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/SBrown)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 1:06pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/disk-write-protected/415447/2 "2025-03-20T13:06:39Z")

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@jorj  
Did you purchase the drive from SanDisk Store or authorized reseller?

Have you checked our knowledge base articles?  
([Get Support for Your SSDs and Flash Products | SanDisk](https://shop.sandisk.com/support))

Try this one.

- [Steps to Solve a Read-Only Disk is Write Protected Message on a USB Flash, Memory Card, and External Drive | SanDisk](https://support-en.sandisk.com/app/answers/detailweb/a_id/39716)

Have you opened a Support Case?  
If not, contact SanDisk Technical Support for assistance.  
([Contact Support | SanDisk](https://shop.sandisk.com/support/contact-us))

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**Author:** ![jorj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e47c2d/32.png) [@jorj](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/jorj)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/disk-write-protected/415447/3 "2025-03-20T19:02:04Z")

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I purchased it from BestBuy, an authorized dealer.

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**Author:** ![helly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@helly](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/helly)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2025, 5:06am UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/disk-write-protected/415447/4 "2025-03-28T05:06:07Z")

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Since you purchased it from BestBuy (an authorized dealer), you should still be covered under warranty. If the drive remains write-protected after trying the troubleshooting steps from SanDisk’s support articles, consider the following:

1. **Confirm if Diskpart can remove write protection** (`attributes disk clear readonly`).
2. **Try formatting the drive** (backup data first).
3. **Check with BestBuy** – If the drive is defective, they may offer a replacement.
4. **Contact SanDisk Support** for warranty assistance if needed.

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**Author:** ![Bookii86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bookii86](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/Bookii86)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 1:59am UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/disk-write-protected/415447/5 "2025-09-15T01:59:55Z")

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> [@jorj](#):
>
> My recently purchased SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 Flash Drive - 128GB (Model Number: SDCZ48-128G-U46) keeps showing it is write-protected. I am not able to find a place to unlock it. Please suggest it.

A lot of SanDisk users have run into the same “write-protected” issue, and there’s a detailed guide that helped many of them fix it. It walks through [how to remove write protection from USB drives](https://4ddig.tenorshare.com/usb-recovery/remove-write-protection-from-usb-windows-10.html) on Windows 10. Might be worth checking out.

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**Author:** ![H-Gary](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sandisk/user_avatar/forums.sandisk.com/h-gary/32/69281_2.png) [@H-Gary](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/H-Gary)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2025, 10:03am UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/disk-write-protected/415447/6 "2025-09-28T10:03:02Z")

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You can remove write protection from the flash drive by following steps such as running third‑party utilities, clearing read‑only attributes, or editing the Windows Registry.(This detailed tutorial might be helpful: [How to Remove Write Protection from an SD Card](https://iboysoft.com/howto/sd-card-write-protected.html)).