What does it mean the memory card is locked on the camera. How to remove write protection from microsd

Hello dear photographers! Today we will talk about memory cards.
More and more digital cameras are starting to come with built-in memory, but almost all photographers use memory cards to store their pictures. The memory card is slightly larger than Postage Stamp, but can store hundreds and thousands of photos. Therefore, any problem with it can be a disaster for a photographer, because no one wants to lose their shots. Most users sooner or later encounter several basic memory card errors in cameras:

"Memory card is locked",
"Memory card error",
"Error reading memory card"
"No memory card"

These errors are easy to correct in most cases, and even the most novice amateur photographer is able to cope with them on their own, knowing the cause of their occurrence. This article will help those who saw similar errors on the screen of their camera.


1. How to unlock a memory card.
Have you met the error "Memory card is locked" on the camera? You do not know how to unlock a memory card? Everything is quite simple.

SD memory cards (and their variants - SDHC, SDXC) have a special lock mode to protect the memory from writing data to it as long as the special key on the memory card case is in the "LOCK" position. If the memory card is in a locked state, and the user tries to write to it (for example, to take a picture), then he will see the memory card error on the camera indicated above.
Fixing this error is quite simple. If you put the memory card with the contacts down, then on the left side you will see a blocking switch. If it is in the down position, slide it up to unlock the memory card. There are times when this switch "sticks".

If the card is still blocked and the error appears, try sliding the switch up and down a few times. If that doesn't work, leave the card in the locked position for 30 seconds, then slide the switch to the open position and try again to take a few shots. If the camera still reports that the card is locked or write-protected, format it (see formatting below).

If the tips above didn't work for you, or you find that you've broken the lock switch, don't despair. Before sending the card to the trash, try the last, "folk" way.
Cut off a small strip of tape and stick the card lock switch in position "3" (see picture). Now try inserting the card into the camera. If you feel resistance in the process, stop, the strip of tape is probably too big or too thick. Otherwise, the tape may become "wrinkled" in the camera's memory card slot, and it can be a difficult task to remove it from there.

If formatting the memory card did not help, then it is quite possible that your camera was released relatively long ago. Old cameras and other digital devices cannot work with maps SDHC memory over 4 GB. An SDHC card looks exactly the same as a standard SD card, but there is a big difference between the two in how they work. Unfortunately, in this case, you will have to look in the store for a smaller SD memory card. They are relatively inexpensive.

The difference between SDHC and SD memory cards.
If you only occasionally get an error that the SD memory card is not being read, it is possible that there is another reason for this error related to the speed of writing data to the memory card. The thing is that today's new cameras create frames in a very high resolution. These files can be very large in size, and some of the older SD cards are simply unable to provide the write speed needed to store these files. As a result, some frames may be corrupted, while others may be read without errors. To understand that you are experiencing this problem, take a close look at your SD card to determine the "class" or in other words its write speed. On the front side of the memory card there should be an inscription "class" with the number of the speed class (for example, "class 6") or a "C" icon with a number inside. Take a look at the picture below. The SDHC card on the left is Speed ​​Class 6. If you do not see such an inscription on your memory card, then most likely it has a class 2 or lower. Refer to your camera's instruction manual to determine the minimum required SD card speed class for your camera.

The way out of this situation is to buy a new SD card of the required (or higher) speed class. For modern cameras, SD cards of class 6 or higher are recommended. You can wait a few seconds (until the record lamp on your camera turns off) before pressing the shutter and taking a new shot. Also, don't use continuous shooting in this case. But this solution to the problem will begin to annoy you after a while.

3. Formatting the memory card.
Formatting a memory card is useful for two reasons. Firstly, it allows you to avoid errors when using the SD card, and secondly, it can help eliminate some of the errors that occur during its operation. Formatting also restores the file system, which helps you avoid losing some of your photos or videos.

It is recommended that you format the memory card each time you copy pictures and movies to your computer. It is highly desirable that formatting be done directly by the camera in which this card is used. This ensures that the memory card is formatted in a format that is as compatible as possible with the camera being used, allowing it to operate error-free and at the highest possible speed. Digital cameras usually have an option in their menu to format the memory card that is in the slot. Refer to your camera's instruction manual to find the required menu option.

But remember that formatting the card will erase all data on it (photos, videos), so before doing this, make sure that you have copied everything you need to your computer.

Based on site materials

Winnie, my memory card is blocked in my camera! What to do? I formatted it, but it didn't help.

Piglet, you shouldn't have rushed to format the card. The first thing to do was to look closely at her. See the little slider on the side of it?

I see Vinnie! Such a grey!

So, Piglet, it is necessary that he be shifted, as in the photo. Clearly, to the end. You've probably moved it to a different position. You insert and pull out a card a hundred times.

Hooray, Vinnie, it worked! I moved it and it worked!

Oh, where have you been before? I bought two new memory cards! And these, it turns out, are working.

Donkey, you didn't ask Winnie how I was, did you? Next time not a partisan, ask on this site. There are also experts - Rabbit and Owl ...

Wait a minute though. Moved your slider back and forth. One helped, and the other not so much. Either it works or it doesn't.
Check it in another camera, if it works there, then you need to deal with your camera. Master or yourself, if you know how to fix something.
It is necessary to disassemble the camera and get to the contacts in the card reader. They should be closed, but over time they wear out and remain open, which for the brains of the camera means blocking the memory card. In general, these contacts must be carefully bent and closed.
If the card is either blocked or unlocked, then the wear of the contacts is some kind of intermediate, average. They may close, or they may not. Well, the card is therefore blocked or not.

When working with devices, it is not uncommon for a situation to arise that makes us panic. It's about about a memory card containing important information that suddenly stops working. What to do if the SD card is locked?

As a rule, information that the media is blocked appears as a result of damage to it. When using such a card in a camera or smartphone, a memory card error message appears, and when you connect it to a Windows-based device, a system prompt tells you to format the device. Obviously, this is not suitable for everyone: if you need to save information, this can not be discussed (formatting the SD card will result in the loss of all saved files).

Luckily, there are a number of software that can scan your damaged drive and recover lost files. Although the programs themselves are rarely highly functional, they can be of great help. In fact, it's very rare that anything is actually deleted or permanently lost, except if you somehow drop the SD card into a vat of acid.

Why is this happening?

Media such as SD cards are quite large in size, but they are also fragile and do not like to be mistreated. They can make your smartphone or camcorder much more functional and versatile. But when the media stops working, you risk losing too much. Both a budget gadget and an SD card, the price of which is much higher than the average, can give out such an error. Below is an instruction focused on recovering files, including pictures and photos, video and text data. As a rule, it is these data that are irreplaceable. You can reinstall lost applications, and music files can be redownloaded from another media. Interestingly, the principles are the same for all file types.

So, what to do if the SD card is blocked? Do not try to format the drive if you intend to save information from it.

What to do first?

First, you need to try to find another card reader. If you have inserted an SD card into your laptop or PC's built-in slot and nothing happens, try another computer or USB card reader. Sometimes a port is to blame for a malfunction, not a gadget. Today you can buy a USB reader for a small amount that will accept both MicroSD and standard cards SD.

Special programs

When using such software, there is no guarantee that you will be able to get the files back intact - usually the original filenames are lost, which can be a problem for some people. However, most users will be able to rename recovered files very quickly.

Some of these programs have restrictions on the number of files or the amount of data they can restore, so pay attention and carefully read the description of the application before installing it. Also, avoid unwanted extra applications that may be downloaded with free software: never check the "Recommended installation option" box. In all cases, select Manual and read each message carefully, disabling additional downloads of plugins and other software.

ZAR as an example of such software

A well-known free SD card program that guarantees data recovery is ZAR (Zero Assumption Recovery). Almost all similar products work similarly, but this one will give you an idea of ​​how to use such software.

Install ZAR and then insert the corrupted SD card into your computer's card reader. Run installed program. You will probably have to disable the security software on your device, in which case it is recommended to disable your internet connection.

When prompted, click on the option to restore the image (Free). It will help you get back your lost data from SD card.

The ZAR service will search for all devices that are installed on the computer, and you must specify the SD card. Select the desired disk, and then click the "Next" button. ZAR will now analyze your map. This will take several minutes.

Once the process is complete, you will see a list of files that have been recovered. In the case of most SD cards, there is a chance that by clicking the Root checkbox you can return all the pictures. Select "Next", then you can find the folder where the recovered files will be placed.

Keep in mind one important circumstance: you will need to choose a folder to save the recovered files. Check that you have selected a location on the device's hard drive and not on a corrupted SD card. The last option won't help you! Leave the question of how to transfer memory to an SD card for later - first you need to recover lost files.

This will take a few minutes while the files are copied to the designated location. Once the process is complete, navigate to the folder you chose. You will be able to detect most, if not all, of the files you have tried to recover. Thus, it is one of the best solutions when the SD card is damaged.

What other programs can help?

One more good app for SD cards that allows you to recover data - CardRecovery. When you insert your media into a slot on your computer and get a message that it needs to be formatted, don't do it. Download the above program from any thematic site, run it, and then select the drive letter corresponding to the memory card to scan. In the CardRecovery application, this process takes less than 20 minutes, then the screen will display a list of all the photos and other files on the SD card.

However, for some badly damaged media, CardRecovery may not be able to display all of the data and the recovery may fail. For SD cards that have been severely physically damaged or broken, this program will be useless.

But if the damage to the card is minor, CardRecovery is able to recover lost photos even after reformatting the media (in more than 85% of cases).

Alternatives

What to do if the SD card is blocked, and the listed applications do not like or are not suitable? In addition to the ZAR and CardRecovery described above, there are a number of other free apps available on thematic sites. The most famous and easy to use among them are Disk Digger and EASEUS Data Recovery Free. These programs do not require user experience and are intuitive.

It is also worth noting that all software of this type is also suitable for recovering accidentally deleted photos on SD cards or MicroSD cards (used in most modern smartphones and tablets). However, if other files were subsequently written to the same media, the recovery of the lost data will be impossible.

Mechanical damage and protection of the SD card

The standard size of an SD card is achieved by its thin plastic shells, which are easily damaged if you carry it in your pocket or bag among other items.

Sometimes the small write-protect switch can fall out, causing the SD card to stop working in a camera or any other device that requires continuous write capability. Regardless of the reason why the SD card is write-locked, you will not be able to delete and save files on it in this state. In this case, there is only one way out of the situation - to transfer the information to another medium. If the SD card is damaged in this way, you will only be able to open it for reading, nothing more.

Using Windows Tools

What to do if the SD card is blocked and there is no way to use various programs? If your card is not physically damaged and the switch (if present) is in the writeable position, you can use one of the preinstalled basic Windows tools to recover your data.

The scenarios will depend on whether the media is displayed in Windows Explorer or not. If it does, right-click on it, select Properties, then the Tools tab. Click the Check button and Windows will scan the card for errors and try to fix them.

If the SD card does not appear in File Explorer, search the Start menu for Disk Management. In this tool, you can see which drives Windows can "see" and installing an SD card will not go unnoticed. In addition, this list may include drives that do not have drive letters. If you can't identify your SD card in the list of drives, it means that it is either very badly damaged or the reader is not working properly (probably due to a driver problem).

When formatting an SD card is the only way out

If the SD card is shown but without a drive letter, you must right-click on it and use the options provided to give it a drive letter or format it with the Windows file system. The data in the second option will not be saved, but the card will be available for re-writing.

However, as mentioned above, some applications are able to recover information even from formatted media. Of course, not all files can be retrieved this way, but there are chances of success.

Memory cards are electronic mobile data carriers that contain a huge amount of digital information. Despite their prevalence, not all users know how to properly and carefully handle them.

Question about unlocking the camera's memory card. People, without realizing it and not noticing it, block the cards, and then ask themselves the question: "How to unlock the camera's memory card?". All SD memory cards have a small button on the left side of the card. By turning on this button with a random movement of the hand, the memory card is completely blocked from writing information to it. To unlock the memory card of the camera or phone, you need to move it up, and then carefully insert the memory card into the camera. Often, it is during the movement of the memory card into the device that a careless movement of the hand can turn on the lock.

For everyone who is interested in how to remove the password of a memory card without damaging or deleting the information on it. This requires another memory card. You need to put any password on it (preferably easy), insert it and enter the "Menu", then the "Gallery", hover over the flash drive, then "functions" and "format", then the device will ask you to enter the forgotten code, but enter nothing no need. You need to get a flash drive with a password, insert a new flash drive and enter the password. After formatting, you need to put a memory card with a password. A flash drive with a password will be found with all the information on it. It remains to copy this information and save. Yes, it remains old code, and you need to get rid of it. After saving the files on another storage medium, you can format the flash drive.

For users not those who know How to write information to a memory card, the following will help. Select the required files, click on right button mouse, after that a window will appear in which you need to select the "Copy" function. Then go to the section where you want to save the copied information. Press the right button and select the "Insert" function.

Many users do not know how to remove the memory card from the card reader. To do this, you need to slightly press on it, after which the memory card, as it were, will “jump” out of the card reader by itself. The user will only have to remove it. In the presence of a virus or unnecessary information, you need to know how to clear a memory card without damage. It is necessary to press the right mouse button, after which the "Menu" window will open, from the listed options, select the "Format" function. After formatting a memory card, all information on it will be deleted and it will be impossible to restore it.

The instruction will help you fix errors with the lens, camera memory, power supply or system failure. If an error message appears on the camera screen, use one of the suggested methods to resolve it.

How to fix camera error

Deleting photos on the camera

Step 1: Use a data recovery program

As a result of improper use of the camera or memory card, or other unintended actions, the photos on the memory card may be damaged or lost.

Recover lost or damaged files with file recovery software. Scan the memory card with Hetman Partition Recovery and restore the detected files (photos or videos) in the form in which they will be displayed in the preview.

Memory card error

If the message is related to a camera memory card error, do the following:

Step 1:

In digital and SLR cameras, photo and video files are stored mainly on a memory card. If the memory card is not connected to the camera, it may give an error.

In this case, connect the memory card to the camera or, if it is connected, make sure it is connected correctly.

Step 2:

If the memory card is found to be defective, disconnect it from the camera. Be sure to turn off your camera before doing this. After the memory card is removed from the slot, make sure that its contacts are not damaged or dirty.

Reinsert the memory card into the appropriate slot on the camera.

Step 3:

Make sure the memory card is not blocked. The memory card lock lever (for SD cards) must be in the "Unlocked" position.

Otherwise, if the card is unlocked and an error occurs that indicates its blocking, format the memory card.

Step 4: Format your memory card

If disconnecting and reconnecting the memory card does not work, format it. Before formatting a memory card, make sure that all files from it are copied to another medium, as formatting will delete all files from the memory card.

If formatting is not possible, then the memory card has failed and needs to be replaced.

Step 5: Take photos or videos at a lower resolution

If during shooting the camera stops the recording or saving process and displays an error message, this may indicate insufficient read / write speed of the memory card. The read/write speed of the memory card may be low both as a result of overheating of the camera and the low speed set by the manufacturer.

Step 6:

The camera may display an error if the camera's internal memory or memory card is full. Set the camera's menu to save files to a memory card if the camera's internal memory is set to save. Transfer files from the memory card to your computer or clear it for further work.

Step 7: Test the memory card with another device

If the memory card is not detected by the camera, connect it to another camera or device to make sure it works.

Step 8: Use a memory card compatible with the camera

The camera may display an error if an incompatible memory card is inserted. Replace the memory card with one compatible with this camera according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Lens error

If the message is related to a camera lens error, do the following:

Step 1:

Disconnect the lens from the camera and make sure that its metal contacts are intact and clean, as well as the lens contacts on the camera.

If reconnecting the lens and cleaning the contacts did not remove the error, then the camera may need to be repaired.

Step 2: Make sure your lens and camera are compatible

A lens error may be the result of connecting a lens model that is not compatible with the camera. Make sure that the camera model is compatible with the lens model in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Step 3: Turn the camera off and on again

The camera may give an error due to the lens being blocked or jammed during transportation. For some reason, the blocking may not turn off.

If the camera reports a lens error, turn it off and on again.

Step 4: Update camera firmware

A camera lens error may occur due to the need to update the firmware. Check the camera manufacturer's website for firmware updates and update if available.

File corruption or error

If the message is related to a file integrity corruption error on the camera, do the following:

Step 1: Copy files to computer and format memory card

If the camera cannot read the files, copy them to a computer and try to read or restore them with it. Then format the memory card.

The photos or videos may have been taken with another camera and cannot be read on this camera.

Step 2: Connect another memory card to the camera

If the camera reports an error due to file corruption and formatting the memory card does not bring the desired result, connect another working memory card to the camera.

If the error is no longer displayed, then the memory card has failed or is damaged. If the error repeats, this is a sign of more serious problems, for which it is better to contact the service center.

Step 3: Try to take a picture again

If the camera is unable to complete the process of saving or compressing a picture, while giving an error, try taking the picture again. The photo file format may need to be changed, or one of the processing functions may have failed.

Step 4:

If the camera fails to delete a photo or video file, it may be marked as "Read Only". Go to the file properties and uncheck the "Read Only" attribute using a computer or camera menu (if provided by the manufacturer).

Power error

If the message is related to a power failure of the camera, do the following:

Step 1:

In the event of a camera power-related error, turn off and remove the battery (or rechargeable battery). Make sure the battery has been connected to the camera correctly. Make sure the battery model matches the camera model. Make sure the battery contacts are not damaged or dirty. If the previous steps did not work, the battery may have failed.

Step 2: Charge your battery

Some camera operations are performed with high battery consumption. If it is necessary, for example, to clean the sensor of a digital camera, the battery will need to be fully charged. If the camera detects that there is insufficient battery power for this action, the camera will report an insufficient battery error. In this case, you need to charge the battery.

Step 3: Cool down the battery

If the camera battery overheats, it may stop charging, signaling this by flashing the battery charge lamp. In this case, let the battery cool down to normal temperature and make sure that its contacts are not dirty.

General or System Error

If the message is related to a general camera system error, do the following:

Step 1: Turn the camera off and on again

If the camera reports a general or system error, turn it off and on again.

The camera may overheat during heavy use. Wait until it cools down to normal temperature, then turn it on.

Step 2:

To restart the camera, turn it off, remove the memory card, and disconnect the battery. Wait for 15 minutes and reassemble the camera in reverse order. If the error persists, then the camera may need to be repaired.

Step 3:

General or system error may be the result of the discharge of the internal battery of the camera (responsible, among other things, for setting the time and date of the camera).

In this case, it is necessary to replace or charge the internal power supply (depending on the format of this power supply).

Step 4: Transfer photos to your computer

If the photos on the memory card were taken with another camera, they may not be viewed correctly. This is because this camera cannot display such photos in full size and only displays their thumbnail.