Current Read Only State Yes: What It Means and How to Fix It (Complete Guide)

Introduce

Have you ever tried copying files to a USB drive or external hard disk, only to be stopped by Windows like a bouncer at a club? You check DiskPart and see the message "Current Read Only State: Yes".

Annoying? Absolutely.

Permanent? Not usually.

This guide walks you through what "current read only state yes" really means, why it happens, and exact, standardized steps to remove the restriction safely—without guessing or skipping critical details.

What Does "Current Read Only State: Yes" Mean

When Windows shows Current Read Only State: Yes, it means the operating system has flagged the storage device as write-protected. You can still read files, open them, and copy them elsewhere—but you cannot modify, delete, or add new data.

Think of it like switching a notebook to "view only". You can read every page, but you’re not allowed to write anything new.

Where You Usually Encounter This Issue

This problem commonly appears in the following situations:

• While using the DiskPart command-line tool.
• When formatting a USB drive or SD card.
• While copying files to an external hard drive.
• After an unsafe device removal.
• When a disk suddenly turns RAW.

If you’re seeing this error, Windows is usually trying to protect the disk from further damage.

Common Causes of Current Read Only State Yes

This problem doesn’t appear randomly. Windows usually enables read-only mode to prevent damage.

1. Physical Write Protection Switch

Some USB flash drives and SD cards have a physical lock switch. If it’s turned on, the drive becomes read-only instantly.

2. Disk Attributes Set to Read-Only

Windows can mark a disk as read-only after:

• Unsafe removal.
• File system corruption.
• Power interruption during transfers.

3. File System Errors or Bad Sectors

If Windows detects disk errors or failing sectors, it may lock the drive to prevent data loss.

4. Registry or Group Policy Restrictions

On work or shared computers, write access may be disabled intentionally through system settings.

How to Check Current Read Only State in Windows

Before fixing anything, confirm the disk status properly.

Check Using DiskPart (Recommended Method)

1. Press Windows + R. Type cmd.

2. Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.

3. Type diskpart and press Enter.

4. Type list disk. Identify your disk number.

5. Type select disk X (replace X with the correct number), Type attributes disk.

If you see Current Read-only State: Yes, continue with the fixes below.

Top 4 Fixes for Current Read Only State Yes

The following are all feasible ways to solve this error.

1. Fix Current Read Only State Yes Using DiskPart

This method works in most cases and should always be tried first.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

2. Type the following commands one by one:

diskpart

list disk

select disk X

attributes disk clear readonly

exit

3. Safely remove the drive.

4. Reconnect it to your computer.

5. Test writing a file.

This command removes the write-protection flag applied by Windows.

Common DiskPart Errors and Solutions

• Access is denied → Ensure Command Prompt is running as administrator.
• The media is write protected → The issue may be registry-based or hardware-related.

2. Remove Read-Only State Using Registry Editor

If DiskPart fails, the registry may be enforcing write protection.

1. Press Windows + R.

2. Type regedit and press Enter.

3. Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

\SYSTEM

\CurrentControlSet

\Control

\StorageDevicePolicies

4. Look for WriteProtect.

5. Double-click it and set the value to 0. Click OK.

6. Restart your computer

If the key does not exist, you may need to create it manually.

3. Fix Read Only State Using Group Policy Editor

This method applies only to Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions.

Group Policy Steps

1. Press Windows + R.

2. Type gpedit.msc.

3. Navigate to:

Computer Configuration

→ Administrative Templates

→ System

→ Removable Storage Access

4. Disable all policies related to write protection.

5. Restart your system.

4. Formatting the Drive to Remove Read-Only State

Formatting is a last resort—but it often works.

When Formatting Is Safe

• You already backed up your data.
• The drive contains no important files.
• Other fixes failed.

When Formatting Is Risky

• Important files still exist on the disk.
• The drive suddenly turned RAW.
• The disk has hardware issues.

Formatting is effective, but it erases everything—like wiping a whiteboard clean.

What If Data Is Lost While Fixing the Read-Only State

This is where data recovery becomes critical.

Recovering Data with MyRecover

If files disappear during formatting, attribute clearing, or error repairs, a dedicated recovery tool like MyRecover can help. It is a data recovery tool designed to:

• Scan read-only, RAW, or inaccessible drives.
• Recover deleted or lost files after disk errors.
• Support USB drives, external hard disks, and internal storage.

Try it Free
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

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1. Install MyRecover: Download and install MyRecover on your computer (not on the affected drive).

2. Open MyRecover: Launch the program after installation.

3. Choose the Problem Drive: Select the read-only or affected drive and click Scan.

4. Scan for Lost Files: Wait while MyRecover scans the drive.

5. Select Files to Recover: Preview and choose the files you need.

6. Recover Files Click Recover and save files to a different drive.

For best results:

• Stop using the affected drive immediately.
• Run MyRecover before writing new data.
• Save recovered files to a different storage device.

Used early, recovery success rates are significantly higher.

How to Prevent Read-Only Issues in the Future

A few good habits can save you hours of frustration:

• Always safely eject removable drives.
• Avoid unplugging devices during transfers.
• Keep backups of important data.
• Run disk error checks regularly.
• Avoid cheap or low-quality USB drives.

Treat your storage devices gently—they’re not fans of surprises.

Conclusion

The "current read only state yes" error is Windows’ way of protecting your data—not locking you out forever. In most cases, DiskPart, registry tweaks, or policy changes can restore write access quickly. And if files go missing along the way, tools like MyRecover provide a reliable path to data recovery.

Follow the steps carefully, and you’ll regain control without panic.