How to Enable Write Protection for USB Devices on Windows 10

In this guide, I will walk you through the steps to edit the registry to enable the write protection feature in the Windows 10 operating system to prevent users from copying data onto an USB drive. This adds an extra layer of security to your Windows 10 machine.

Enabling USB Write Protection Using the Registry

Step 1: Use Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the RUN  command.

Step 2: Type regedit and click OK.

Step 3: Go to the following path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control

Step 4: Right-click the Control (folder) key, select New, and click Key.

Step 5: Name the new key StorageDevicePolicies and press Enter.

Step 6: Select this new key, right-click on the right side, select New and click DWORD (32-bit) value.

Step 7: Name the new word as WriteProtect and press Enter.

Step 8: Double click the newly created DWORD and change its value from 0 to 1.

Step 9: Click OK and close the registry.

Write protect USB drives

Now anyone who connects a USB drive to your computer and tries to copy the data from your machine will be denied.

Unable to copy data to USB drive

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