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0x80070013SystemMedium

Error 0x80070013 — Write Protect (ERROR_WRITE_PROTECT) | Windows System Error Fix

Windows 11Windows 10Windows 8.1

What Does 0x80070013 Mean?

The media is write-protected. The disk or storage device does not allow write operations.

Real-World Causes

  1. 1SD card or USB drive has a physical write-protect switch enabled
  2. 2Disk is set to read-only via diskpart or Group Policy
  3. 3File system corruption causing the drive to mount as read-only
  4. 4Storage device firmware issue

Symptoms

  • ⚠Cannot save, copy, or delete files on the drive
  • ⚠Format operation fails with write protect error
  • ⚠Error message: 'The disk is write-protected'
  • ⚠Cannot create new folders on the drive

DIY Fix

Beginner-friendly steps you can try at home

  1. 1Check for a physical write-protect switch on the SD card or USB drive
  2. 2Remove write protection via diskpart: 'select disk X' then 'attributes disk clear readonly'
  3. 3Check Group Policy: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Removable Storage Access
  4. 4Try the drive in a different computer to rule out port issues

Advanced Fix

For experienced users and IT professionals

  1. 1Check registry key HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies and set WriteProtect to 0
  2. 2If the drive firmware is locked, use the manufacturer's tool to reset it

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the write-protect switch?
On SD cards, look for a small sliding switch on the left side — slide it toward the contacts (up) to unlock. Some USB drives also have a small switch. If there is no switch, the protection is set in software or the drive may be failing.

Related Error Codes

0x80070005Access Denied (ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED)0x80070015Device Not Ready (ERROR_NOT_READY)

About the Author

Windows Troubleshooting Team

Verified against official Microsoft documentation and real-world diagnostic data. Error behavior confirmed across Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server.