How to remove write protection from SD card?

It's apparent most people don't have a clue how to get around the "Disk Write Protect" error.

I can help. What is not the problem, is the position of the switch entirely. With the SD card Face up and the tiny white plastic switch on the left side, should be slid toward the card edge connector (the shortest side). I know you may have done this and it still doesn't work. Here's why, On the opposite side of the SD card from the switch, there is a tiny "Notch" cut out.

Place a piece of tape, masking, electrical, sometimes transparent will work. Be very precise in placing the tape over the notch, but not over the brass connector on the opposite side. Then place it in your card reader, format it, read and write files to your desire.

This is a little known issue with the design of all SD cards. The notch forces them to work in camera's, MP3 Players, PDA's, etc. that are portable devices, but not in USB card readers or computers with SD reader slots.

The card reader with the SD card has this extra built in feature to protect copyrights (for some reason on blank cards), and makes it useless for custom applications. Once you have "Unprotected" the SD card, installed your files, then remove the tape.

If you get the same error again after applying the tape, add a second layer. Double check that you did not cover the connection edge, and the plastic tab is closet to the side you insert in the device you are using.

Sometimes it takes several tries, but it will work with patience. If you have existing files on the SD card, insert it, right click, select properties. Then remove the "Read Only" check by the box and try to delete or add files then. If it says Disk Write Protected, then check the tape again.

It's annoying, but it will work with patience to bypass this design flaw.

2

The tape totally worked! I made sure the lock switch was set to UNLOCK and placed 2 thin pieces of scotch tape over that notch opposite the switch and it worked perfectly! (TIP: 1 layer of electrical tape only got gunked up and munched on the SC card; the fit was really tight in the reader and still ended up being write-protected, so I tried 2 layers of scotch tape)

My SD Sandisk does not have little switch to slide! So card still not allowing me access

Had the same problem, tried taping over the notch with no success. Was able to write onto the card using an external cardreader attached via USB.

It did not work for me at all.

I remove the xd card from the holder and put it in my telephone, then I transfer from the computer

to the xd card. But it took a lot more time to transfer a video file this way.

I've always used a card reader/usb to overcome the problem. I honestly never understood why the 'work-around' worked until your explanation. I tried your idea using a small piece of masking tape and it worked perfectly. Thank you.

Tried all of the suggestions and still does not work. Also it says it is locked when out of the facing case. So just going to buy a new one.

I tried with one layer of scotch tape that only wrapped around one way and it didnt work then I tried with two wrapped around both ways and it worked Thank You

Thank you for posting this. One layer of scotch tape didn't work, second layer did the trick.

I just did it, put a tape around it to close the sides edgs, but don't cover the gold teeth