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How to Unlock An SD Card?

Matt Thompson
SD card is used to store data files. This is inserted in mobile devices, laptops, digital cameras, and gaming consoles. This is used by every person to store photos, videos, music folders, and other extremely important documents. When you are exchanging the memory card from one device to another, there are high chances of losing valuable data.
Therefore, every user will lock the memory data to protect the data. Moreover, locking the card will not let you or someone to accidentally delete the data from the card. In addition, the locked cards are less prone to malware and viruses.
However, with the locked card, you cannot store more data in it. Though try to reinsert the card multiple times, you can write the data to the card.
When the SD card is locked, you cannot write new data or modify the existing data on the card. Here are a few proven ways that you can follow to unlock the SD card without any hassle and without any expert technicians’ help. Here is a detailed tutorial on how to unlock an SD card.

Unlock the SD Card Manually

This is the most effective and widely used method to unlock the SD card. In this method, you have to manually remove the write protection given to the card. You can find a lock switch to the left-hand side of the SD card.
You need to ensure that the position of the switch is slid up, i.e. in the unlock position. When the card is locked, you won’t be able to modify or add new files to the card. If the switch is too loose and has higher chances of it to slid down and lock the memory card, then you have to replace this card with the new one.

Safely Remove the Write Protection Given to the Card in Windows

This is another powerful method that is used to unlock the SD card. The write protection on the card is safely removed with the help of the CMD. This is used to safely unlock the SD card. If you are not aware of CMD, you can use the other option.
To remove the write protection, you need to log into the system as an administrator and connect the SD card to the system. If you are using an SD card reader, you would need to insert the SD card in the direction that it has to slide the label up and connectors to the readers initially. If you do not hold a reader, you need to use the SD adapter.
  1. Search for the command prompt to run as an administrator
  2. You need to specify the commands one after the other by pressing the Enter key on the keyboard. The commands, you must specifically include:
  • diskpart
  • list part
  • select disk
# - indicates the number that is on the SD card which is actually throwing up a write protection error. Once this is done, you can see a success message which clearly states that the SD card is no longer protected.

Use Write-Protection Removal Tool

If you are not a technical savvy and do not have an idea on the commands, then you can remove the write protection to the SD card, hard drive, USD cards, etc using the best write protection removal tool. With just a few clicks of the mouse, you can remove the write-protection to the SD card. The best write protection removal tool.

Unlock the SD Card Using the Password

If your memory card has been locked by the password, you can easily unlock it. In case, if you have used a third-party encryption tool to encrypt the data that is on the card, it is pretty easy for you to decrypt the data with the help of the tool using a password.
For this, you first have to insert the SD card and then go to the settings and tap Lock screen and security. You have to scroll down to tap the Decrypt SD card and then enter the password. You need to wait until the decryption process to complete.

Format the SD Card

This is the most effective and easiest method to unlock the SD card. This is the quick and fast method which is why many will embrace this method. The steps you have to follow to remove write-protected on SD card are discussed here.
  1. Connect the SD card to the system.
  2. Open the system and click PC option
  3. Right-click on the SD card and then click Format and click on Restore device defaults.
  4. Once this is done, click Start and click 'OK'.
It takes some time to format the SD card. However, once the formatting process is done successfully, you will be able to use the card without any write protection.

Scan the SD Card to Unlock

There are high chances for the memory card to not support the transfer of data or formatting when there is the presence of harmful viruses. You need to scan the SD card thoroughly. If you have a strong anti-virus, then it helps the memory card to remove the write-protection and let you perform all the necessary actions on the card.

Permanently Unlock

If you are unable to modify the files that are stored on the memory card, it means that the card is still locked. The lock switches are not actually made using the high-grade plastic. The switch and plastic beneath will not let the switch to move smoothly. When the plastic material is degraded, the switch will slide down quickly.
This results in the switch going from unlocked to the lock position. In this case, you have to permanently unlock the card by putting a little pressure on it. You need to apply glue to the switch and this glue has to be applied below the switch so that the switch will remain in that position. This will permanently unlock the card.