What to Do When an SD Card Is Write-Protected

When SD cards are write-protected, you will not be able to save the data on it that you need. Many people are surprised when they get a write-protected message when trying to save files to their SD cards, but fortunately, the fix is simple and fast to complete. Write-protection is an important feature that keeps your files safe when it is used appropriately, and it offers another level of data protection that can be especially valuable for industrial applications with mission-critical information that cannot be deleted. Here is what you need to know about using SD cards that are write-protected and what to do when write-protection errors are interfering with your storage needs.

What is write-protection?

Write-protection is a feature on SD cards and other forms of flash memory that prevents data stored on the card from being deleted and new data from being added. It exists to ensure that you cannot inadvertently write over critical data on your SD card or delete data to make space to write new files. When write-protection is activated, you will be able to read data on the card—only write operations are blocked.

For some applications that use SD cards that are only used for read operations after an initial data loading, such as those used in gaming, write-protection can be a helpful feature to have, since it prevents any data changes that could interfere with the way the game operates. For other SD card users, however, write-protection prevents normal data saving procedures from occurring.

What should I do when a write-protected error occurs?

When you try to save data to an SD card with write-protection, you will likely receive an error message. If this occurs and you can remove the memory card, look at the left side of the card where the lock switch is located. This switch should be in the top position. In some cases, the lock may be too loose, allowing it to move back into the locked position when you reinsert it into the host device; if this happens, then you may need a replacement SD card to prevent the issue in the future.

If the SD card is embedded and cannot be removed, you can turn off write-protection using a variety of different command actions. The exact procedure you need to use will depend on your operating system and host device.

If you are experiencing SD card write-protected errors, let us know. Our customer support team can help you find the best way to get the functionality you need from your industrial SD cards.

For more information on Industrial SD and microSD cards, please check out our in-depth blog here: https://www.delkin.com/blog/what-is-an-industrial-sd-microsd-card/