If you try to do something to a read-only USB, the following can happen: 1. If you try to copy something to that USB, an error notification will appear. 2. If you try to format the drive, a legend will appear saying it is "Write Protected". This means that the USB is read-only. If you need to change it to be able to edit the contents of the USB drive, you can change its state on a Windows system using the "Command Prompt".
Steps
Method 1 of 1: Windows
Step 1. Connect your USB
Step 2. Go to "Search"
Step 3. Type CMD in the search bar and select “Command Prompt”
Step 4. Type DISKPART at the Command Prompt
At the point where the pop-up appears, you will need to click Yes to accept.
Step 5. You can also go back to "Search"
Step 6. There you must write RUN
Step 7. Also, you can press the "Windows" + "R" keys to open the "Run" tool
Then type diskpart and press OK.
Step 8. Type LIST DISK or LIS DIS on the console
This will show all the drives that are connected, including the USB. The USB you just plugged in should be at the bottom of the list. You can also find it by looking at the size of the units.
Step 9. Type SELECT DISK # or SEL DIS # ("#" means the unit number, which in this example is unit number 2)
Step 10. Type ATTRIBUTES DISK or ATTR DIS, which will display all the attributes of the drive
In the example, the "Read Only" attribute says "On", which means that the drive can only be read.
Step 11. Type ATTR DIS CLEAR READONLY
This will remove the "Read Only" attribute from the drive.
Step 12. Type ATTR DIS again
This will show the change.
Step 13. Type EXIT to exit the Command Prompt
Step 14. Now remove the USB and reconnect it
