# External drive write protect error

**URL:** <https://forums.sandisk.com/t/external-drive-write-protect-error/260236>\
**Category:** External SSD for Windows\
**Created:** [March 19, 2021, 11:19pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/external-drive-write-protect-error/260236 "2021-03-19T23:19:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Solus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sandisk/user_avatar/forums.sandisk.com/solus/32/31602_2.png) [@Solus](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/Solus)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2021, 11:19pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/external-drive-write-protect-error/260236/1 "2021-03-19T23:19:57Z")

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My 5Tb MyBook external drive that has suddenly become write protected.  
I would appreciate some assistance getting past this error.  
Thanks

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**Author:** ![GetDataBack](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sandisk/user_avatar/forums.sandisk.com/getdataback/32/41258_2.png) [@GetDataBack](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/GetDataBack)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2021, 3:40pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/external-drive-write-protect-error/260236/2 "2021-03-20T15:40:45Z")

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> [@Solus](#):
>
> My 5Tb MyBook external drive that has suddenly become write protected.

Welcome!

See if anything in this link helps

> **[How to Fix: WD My Book Read Only (Remove Write Protect)](https://www.infopackets.com/news/10388/how-fix-wd-my-book-read-only-remove-write-protect)**
>
> Infopackets Reader Larry O. writes: " Dear Dennis, I don't know what's going on but all my files on my external western digital 'My Book' are marked as 'READ ONLY'. I have tried formatting the My Book drive using File Explorer, but it tells me the...

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**Author:** ![Solus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sandisk/user_avatar/forums.sandisk.com/solus/32/31602_2.png) [@Solus](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/Solus)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2021, 6:14pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/external-drive-write-protect-error/260236/3 "2021-03-20T18:14:06Z")

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You are now my March 2021 Most Favorite Person.  
Your fix worked like a charm.  
Thank you so much for solving my problem.

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**Author:** ![GetDataBack](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sandisk/user_avatar/forums.sandisk.com/getdataback/32/41258_2.png) [@GetDataBack](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/GetDataBack)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2021, 7:03pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/external-drive-write-protect-error/260236/4 "2021-03-20T19:03:46Z")

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You are welcome!