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Enable USB write protection in Windows 10

In Windows 10, it is possible to enable write protection on USB mass storage devices. Once enabled, it will restrict write access to external USB drives. This can be useful as an additional security option in some environments. Let's see how it can be done.

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You can enable USB write protection in Windows 10 with a simple Registry tweak. Do it as follows.

Enable USB write protection in Windows 10

  1. Open the Registry Editor app.
  2. Go to the following Registry key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control

    Tip: You can access any desired Registry key with one click.open-registry-key

  3. Create a new subkey here named StorageDevicePolicies as shown below:create-new-subkey-1create-new-subkey-2
  4. Under the StorageDevicePolicies subkey, create a new 32-bit DWORD value named WriteProtect. Set its value data to 1. Note: even if you are running a 64-bit Windows 10 version, you still need to create the 32-bit DWORD value.
    See the following screenshot:create-32-bit-dwordwindows-10-enable-usb-write-protection
  5. Reconnect all USB drives if you have connected them to your PC.reconnect-drives

Once you set the WriteProtect value to 1 and reconnect USB drives, the restriction takes effect immediately. All newly connected USB drives will become read-only. Even "New" and "Delete" context menu commands will disappear:

new-delete-commands-are-missingwrite-protectionWatch the following video to see this trick in action:

Tip: you can subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more useful and interesting videos.

To disable the restriction and restore the default behavior, you need to remove the WriteProtect value.

To save your time, I prepared the following ready-to-use Registry files:

Download Registry Files

The undo file is included.

Alternatively, you can use Winaero Tweaker. It has the appropriate option under the Behavior category:

winaero-tweaker-usb-write-protectionYou can get the app here: Download Winaero Tweaker.

This trick works on Windows XP Service Pack, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 as well.

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Author: Sergey Tkachenko

Sergey Tkachenko is a software developer who started Winaero back in 2011. On this blog, Sergey is writing about everything connected to Microsoft, Windows and popular software. Follow him on Telegram, Twitter, and YouTube.

3 thoughts on “Enable USB write protection in Windows 10”

  1. does this write protect USB also protect USB CF cards too?
    i have CF card reader (4in1, SD, CF ,etc) new.
    and spare CF cards
    w10 wrecks CF cards with system volume information and more.damage. (indexing)
    Not using bitlocker or encrypted anything at all.
    the CF card is FAT 32 and has a full win CE OS running on it.
    I just want to copy the CF card or image it and not have w10 wreck it before the act.
    I may have to do this in linux with DD . but just wondered if you ever considered add adding
    CF/SD protect too.
    happy new year !

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