Have you ever tried to copy, delete, or move a file from your hard drive or SSD only to see an error saying the drive is read-only? Don’t worry — this is a common issue and it’s usually easy to fix using built-in Windows tools. Whether you’re dealing with an internal hard drive, external SSD, or a USB storage device, this step-by-step blog post will help you remove the read-only attribute and regain full access.

So, grab a coffee and let’s walk through the solution together!

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🧐 What Does “Read-Only” Mean for a Drive?

A read-only drive means you can view and copy files from it, but you can’t write, delete, or modify anything on it. This can happen due to:

• Improper shutdowns or disconnections
• File system corruption
• Group policies or permissions
• Disk attribute settings in Windows

In most cases, the issue is due to a simple disk attribute that can be removed using the Command Prompt. But sometimes, the issue goes deeper — permissions or corrupted attributes may also be to blame. Don’t worry, we’ll cover both solutions in this guide.

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🔧 Solution 1: Remove Read-Only Using DiskPart

We’ll be using the DiskPart tool — a powerful command-line utility built into Windows that lets you manage storage devices.

Let’s begin!

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✅ Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator

First, we need administrative access to change disk attributes.

1. Press Windows + S
2. Type cmd
3. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as Administrator

This will launch a black command window with elevated privileges.

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✅ Step 2: Launch Disk Management (Optional Visual Check)

Before changing anything, it’s helpful to see the visual layout of your disks.

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type: diskmgmt.msc
3. Press Enter

Here, you’ll be able to identify which disk is affected by the read-only issue (e.g., Disk 0, Disk 1, Disk 2). Look for the drive letter or capacity that matches your problem device.

Once you identify the right disk, let’s move to the command part.

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✅ Step 3: Open DiskPart and List All Disks

Now back to the command window. Type:

diskpart

This will enter the DiskPart mode, and your command prompt will change accordingly.

Next, type:

list disk

You’ll now see a list of all disks connected to your system, like:

Disk 0    Online    500 GB  
Disk 1    Online    1 TB  

Now you need to select the disk that has the read-only issue.

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✅ Step 4: Select the Target Disk

For example, if you identified Disk 0 as the problematic one, type:

select disk 0

Replace 0 with the correct disk number for your case.

Once selected, you’ll see a message like:

Disk 0 is now the selected disk.

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✅ Step 5: Remove the Read-Only Attribute

Now it’s time to clear the read-only flag.

Type the following command:

attributes disk clear readonly

Then press Enter.

✅ If everything went well, you should see:

Disk attributes cleared successfully.

This means the disk is no longer read-only!

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🔄 Step 6: Check If the Issue Is Resolved

Let’s verify it now:

• Open File Explorer
• Navigate to the drive
• Try to create a folder, delete a file, or paste something

If you’re now able to do these actions — congratulations! Your drive is back to normal.

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🛠 Solution 2: Fix Folder Permissions and Stubborn Read-Only Attributes

Sometimes, even after using DiskPart, you’ll notice that all folders show a black box in the “Read-only” property, and some files (like videos) refuse to open. This is because the problem isn’t always the drive attribute — it could be file/folder permissions or corrupted attributes.

Here’s how to tackle this:

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✅ Step 1: Check and Fix NTFS Permissions

1. Right-click on the drive → Properties → Security tab.
2. Click Advanced.
3. Make sure your current user (and SYSTEM) has Full Control.
4. If not:
   • Click Change Owner → enter your username → check Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.
   • Apply changes and give yourself Full Control.

This ensures you have full access to files and folders.

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✅ Step 2: Reset Attributes via Command Prompt

If permissions look fine but folders still appear stuck, try resetting attributes in bulk.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

attrib -r -s D:\*.* /s /d

• -r removes Read-only.
• -s removes System attribute.
• /s /d applies to all files and subfolders.
  (Replace D: with your drive letter.)

This clears unwanted flags across the entire drive.

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✅ Step 3: Check File System Integrity

Corrupted sectors or metadata may also cause this. Run:

chkdsk D: /f /r

• /f fixes file system errors.
• /r scans and repairs bad sectors.

⚠️ On large drives (like 8TB), this may take hours, but it’s worth doing once.

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✅ Step 4: If Nothing Works — Backup and Reformat

If after all this, folders remain unchangeable, the NTFS permission table may be corrupted. The cleanest solution is:

1. Backup important files (copy works fine).
2. Reformat the drive to NTFS (or exFAT if you need Mac compatibility).
3. Copy the files back.

This resets everything and guarantees a fresh start.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What if the command doesn’t work?

• Make sure you’re running Command Prompt as Administrator.
• Check if your device has a physical write-protection switch (common in SD cards/USBs).
• Ensure the drive isn’t encrypted with BitLocker or third-party tools.

Q2: Can I apply this to USB flash drives?
Yes! Both solutions (DiskPart + Permissions reset) work for USBs, SD cards, and external SSDs.

Q3: Does this delete my data?

• No, clearing attributes or fixing permissions won’t delete files.
• But running chkdsk /r or reformatting will take time and may reorganize sectors, so always keep backups.

Q4: Why do folders still show a black Read-only box?
That’s normal in Windows. A black box means “indeterminate,” not that the folder is actually locked. The real problem is usually permissions, not that box.

Q5: My files play after copying to internal drive but not on external. Why?
That’s because copying rewrites file metadata and permissions. The external drive likely has corrupted attributes or permissions, which Solution 2 fixes.

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🎯 Final Thoughts

You did it! If you followed both solutions, you’ve covered all common causes of the “read-only” issue.

• Solution 1 (DiskPart) works when the drive attribute itself is locked.
• Solution 2 (Permissions + attrib reset + chkdsk) handles the cases where files and folders remain stubborn even after DiskPart.

So far, we’ve done a good job identifying the problem, removing restrictions, and ensuring data integrity. If your drive still misbehaves, a clean reformat is the ultimate reset.

Keep this guide bookmarked — next time Windows throws a “read-only” tantrum, you’ll know exactly what to do.

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🧷 Tags:

read-only fix, diskpart windows, external hard drive access, SSD not writable, fix USB read-only, windows disk error, cmd disk command, remove write protection, file access error, NTFS permissions, attrib command, chkdsk repair

🔖 Hashtags:

#DiskPart #ReadOnlyFix #Windows11 #HardDriveIssue #SSDProblem #CommandPrompt #TechTips #WindowsTroubleshooting #ExternalStorage #DataAccess #NTFS

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Disclaimer:
This article provides safe methods to remove read-only restrictions using Windows’ built-in tools. However, if your drive is hardware write-protected or encrypted, these methods may not work. Always back up important data before running disk-level commands like diskpart, attrib, or chkdsk.

Emily Carter

Emily is a Windows power user and technical writer from the UK. She has spent 7+ years in IT consulting, helping businesses migrate to new Windows versions, optimize performance, and solve common errors. Emily’s articles combine professional experience with step-by-step clarity, making even registry hacks accessible to everyday users.

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