If the disk is a flash drive, remove and reinsert it, as this will reset it. If you suspect the disk is equipped with a write-protect switch, flip the switch to the opposite position. If you are unable to format a disk due to a write-protection error, it could be caused by a hardware write-protect switch on the disk itself, a feature of certain removable media disks such as flash drives, or even a misconfigured system setting. Can’t format the disk is write-protected? If the disk is a hard drive, then it may be protected either by disk utilities, or a third-party program – in which case you will need to boot into the disk’s operating system and run the programming unlocking the drive. Look for a small switch on the side or bottom of the drive and move it to unlock the drive. If the disk is a USB drive or SD card, it is likely that the write protection is a physical lock on the drive. If the notch is covered by the player’s access lid, open the lid and slide the disk further in until the notch is revealed. If the disk is a CD or DVD, then check for a notch along the edge of the disk.

The switch will typically have a red stripe to indicate that it is on. If it is a floppy disk, then you will need to check the back of the disk for a write protect switch. The first step is to identify what type of disk you are using. Removing the write protection from a disk is usually a fairly straightforward process, depending on the type of disk.

How do you remove write protection from a disk? In this case, the only solution is to replace the disk with a new one that allows you to write to it. Some drives have a physical switch that allows write protection to be enabled or disabled, but if the switch is not available then the disk will remain write-protected. Write protecting a disk prevents the data on the disk from being modified or erased, and this includes the formatting process.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to format a write-protected disk.

Format write protected floppy disk