USB flash drives are handy tools for storing and transferring data. However, there may be times when you encounter an "Access Denied" error while opening them. This can be a frustrating experience but don't worry. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to fix the USB access denied issue in Windows 10/11.
The USB drive access is denied error is a common problem that can occur due to several reasons:
In addition to the above reasons, many situations can cause the thumb drive to be locked. But there are also many solutions. So, follow the ways below to fix the flash drive access denied without data loss in Windows 10 and 11.
Denying access means you lose access to the data stored in the USB drive. However, hastily fixing this error may cause important files to disappear forever. To be safe, use a free data recovery software to retrieve the files inside before you start.
Recover files from your drive for free even if access is denied, corrupted, or the file system shows as RAW.
If you've encountered the dreaded "USB disk access denied" message, then you know how frustrating it can be to try and access your important files. Unfortunately, infecting your computer with a virus or downloading malicious programs can lead to this scenario. But fear not, as there is a solution! The first step in getting your USB drive back in working order is to use a security tool to scan your computer and clear any threats that may be lingering.
Securing our data is more critical than ever in today's digital age. That's why many USB drives now come equipped with physical write-protect switches to keep our information safe. While this is a great feature, it can sometimes be easy to enable it accidentally. If you cannot access your USB drive because of write protection, don't panic! The solution is as simple as flipping the switch back to its original position, and you'll be back to using your drive in no time.
In addition to the physical write protection switch being turned on, the drive itself is write protected, so when you try to open it, the "USB drive access is denied" prompt will also appear. Therefore, follow the steps below to unblock the USB flash drive.
Clearing USB write protection via Diskpart is a process that involves using the command prompt. Here are the steps to do it:
Type "CMD" in the search bar, choose "Command Prompt" and click "Run as administrator."
Type "attributes disk clear readonly" and press Enter.
Sometimes, you may need to modify the Windows registry to disable write protection. Go to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > StorageDevicePolicies." If the "WriteProtect" value is set to 1, change it to 0.
You often see "access denied flash drive" errors when you use an account with restricted permissions to access the drive or accidentally modify the access permissions of a removable device. Therefore, you can check the permissions and fix it by following the steps below:
In the "Group or user names" option, click the user name you used to log in to the computer and check whether "Full Control and Modify" is checked under the "Permissions for Authenticated Users" option.
It's a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that allows you to configure items such as system services, software/hardware settings, and more. You may be denied access to the USB drive if your settings are incorrect. So, follow the wizard below to check them out:
Press the "Windows + R" key to open the Run dialog box, then type "gpedit.msc" and press Enter.
Click the "Computer Configuration" option in the left panel of the Local Group Policy Editor window.
Find the following three options:
Double-click each one and check if they are enabled. If yes, please disable them to help fix the "access denied USB" issue.
Another common cause of the "USB stick access denied" error is issues with the flash device's drivers. Here's how you can do it:
In Device Manager, expand the "Universal Serial Bus Controllers" category. You'll see a list of USB-related drivers.
Right-click on each USB driver listed (like "USB Root Hub," "Generic USB Hub," etc.) and select "Uninstall device." Confirm any prompts that appear.
If Windows doesn't automatically reinstall the drivers, you can manually update them:
Tip: by this method, you can fix the USB not showing up in Windows 11 and 10.
Running error checking on Windows PC can help identify and fix issues with your USB is not accessible access is denied. Here are the steps to do it:
Under "Error checking," click the "Check" button. If errors are found, you'll be prompted to restart your computer.
If you're experiencing a "USB Access Denied" issue, one of the methods you can use is the CHKDSK via Command Prompt to check for any errors and attempt to fix them. Here's how you can do it:
In an open window, type "chkdsk [drive letter]: /f /r" and press Enter. Replace [drive letter] with your USB drive.
It is a built-in tool in the Windows operating system designed to identify and resolve hardware and device issues. To fix the USB Access Denied issue using the Troubleshooter, follow these steps:
Click "Windows PowerShell (Admin)."
Typing in "msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic" to open Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter.
If the above method of fixing USB not accessible access denied fails, then you can also format the drive to solve the problem completely. However, this will erase all data it holds. So before starting formatting, please recover all files by iBeesoft Free Data Recovery. To do this, you can follow this guide to fix access denied USB without data loss:
After launching it, select your flash drive and click on the "Scan" button that appears.
After completing the scan, select all the found data and click the "Recover" button to save them to a safe location.
If none of the above solutions work, it might be an issue with the USB drive. Try using it on another computer to see if the problem persists.
To avoid encountering "USB Access Denied" issues, you can follow these tips to reduce the chances of it happening:
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the "USB Access Denied" issue:
The error itself does not delete data, but it prevents access. If not resolved correctly, there's a risk of data loss. If you encounter such an issue, you can first use data recovery software to extract the files and then try fixing the error. This will ensure that essential data is never lost.
While this is a standard error on Windows, similar issues can occur on other operating systems like macOS or Linux, although the error messages and solutions might vary.
This will likely resolve the issue but will also erase all data stored on the drive. Try other solutions first, or use a data recovery software for Mac or Windows to get files before formatting.
Even with administrative rights, specific security settings or corruption within the file system can lead to a USB drive access is denied error. You may need to adjust your permissions or check the drive for errors.
Have you ever encountered the frustrating error message that says "USB drive access denied"? This problem can cause quite a headache, especially when you desperately need to access essential files stored on your flash drive. To this end, this blog provides comprehensive solutions to unlock a USB flash drive so that you can quickly fix this issue with the proper steps to get back to accessing your important files in no time.