It can be frustrating when you are unable to delete files or folders from a USB flash drive. The most common reasons that files seem to be undeletable on a USB drive include:
- The drive is write-protected
- The files have restricted permissions
- The drive is corrupted
- The drive is formatted with a file system that does not allow deletion
- Antivirus software is interfering
Often the issue is easily resolvable by tweaking settings, using disk utilities, or trying the drive on another computer. However, in rare cases the drive hardware itself can fail, requiring advanced data recovery techniques.
This article provides an overview of the most common reasons you may be unable to delete files from a USB flash drive and potential solutions for restoring the ability to delete data.
Common Causes
One of the most common reasons you may be unable to delete files from a USB drive is that write protection or the read-only setting is enabled on the drive. Write protection prevents any changes from being made to the drive, including deleting files. This is usually enabled by sliding a small switch on the USB drive casing to the “Lock” position. To disable write protection, simply slide the switch back to the unlocked position. This will allow you to delete and modify files again. Some USB drives may also have write protection enabled in software, which can typically be disabled by right-clicking the drive in File Explorer, selecting Properties, going to the Security tab, and unchecking the box next to “Read-only.”
Some sources:
Fix Can’t Delete Files from Flash Drive (4DDiG),
Can’t Delete Files from Flash Drive? (USBMemoryDirect)
Checking Write Protection
Before attempting to delete files from a USB drive, you should check if write protection is enabled. Write protection prevents files from being modified, deleted, or added to the drive. There are a couple ways to check for write protection on a USB drive:
First, look for a tiny switch on the body of your drive. This is a write protection switch that puts your drive into write protect mode, and it is usually labeled “LOCK.” If the switch is slid to the lock position, move it to unlock to disable write protection (Source: https://www.usbmemorydirect.com/blog/remove-write-protection-usb-drive/).
You can also check for software-based write protection in Windows. Open the Start menu and search for “regedit.” Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies. If there is a key named WriteProtect, check its value. A value of 1 means write protection is enabled. A value of 0 means it is disabled (Source: https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001617.htm).
If write protection is enabled through either method, you’ll need to disable it before you can delete files from the USB drive.
Disabling Write Protection
Write protection is enabled on some USB drives to prevent files from being deleted or modified. If you cannot add, delete or modify files on your USB drive, it likely has write protection enabled.
There are a few methods to disable write protection on a USB drive in Windows:
Use the physical switch – Many USB drives have a small slider switch on the housing. Slide the switch to the opposite position to disable write protection.
Edit the registry – You can create a registry key called StorageDevicePolicies and set the value to disable write protection according to Microsoft. This overrides the physical switch on some drives.
Use diskpart – Open the Command Prompt and type “diskpart”. Then type “list disk” to find your USB drive. Select it with “select disk x” and type “attributes disk clear readonly” to remove read-only status as explained on USBMemoryDirect.
Format the drive – You can often remove write protection by reformatting the USB drive. This will erase all data, so backup first.
If none of these options work, the USB controller may be damaged, requiring drive replacement.
File Permissions
Sometimes the issue is that you don’t have the proper file permissions to delete items from the USB drive. When you plug the USB drive into a Windows computer, the operating system sets permissions that control who can access, modify, and delete files and folders on the drive.
By default, the Windows user who plugged in the drive has full control permissions. Other users may have Read & Execute permissions, which allows them to view and open files but not edit or delete them. The specific permissions depend on the type of Windows user account.
If you are getting errors about not having permission to delete files, it means the permissions are restricting your access. To fix this:
- Open File Explorer and right-click on the USB drive
- Select Properties > Security tab > Advanced
- Change the permissions for your user account to allow Full Control
Now you should be able to delete any file or folder on the USB drive without permission issues. Just be careful, as this also allows you to modify or delete important system files.
Sources:
Prevent file from deleted in usb drive yet keep the drive remaining space writable
Corrupted Drive
A corrupted USB drive can prevent you from deleting files. Signs of a corrupted drive include getting error messages when trying to access files, inability to open files, or the operating system not recognizing the drive. Corruption can be caused by improper ejection of the drive, malware infection, or physical damage to the drive.
To fix a corrupted drive, first try plugging it into a different USB port or computer. You can also scan for errors using Windows’ CHKDSK utility. If the drive is still not working properly, you may need data recovery software to salvage files before reformatting the drive. As a last resort, reformatting will wipe the drive and resolve corruption issues.
To avoid corruption in the future, always safely eject the USB drive before unplugging it. Install antivirus software, handle the drive carefully, and avoid exposing it to liquids or extreme temperatures. Regularly backing up important files provides protection in case a drive does become corrupted.
Drive Format
One common reason you may not be able to delete files from a USB drive is compatibility issues with the drive’s format (source). For example, if the USB drive is formatted with a Linux file system like EXT4 or exFAT, it may not work properly on Windows. Similarly, a drive formatted in NTFS may have issues on Mac or Linux systems.
Trying to format the USB drive to a more compatible file system like FAT32 or exFAT can often resolve delete issues. Just be aware that formatting will erase all data on the drive. So first try to back up any files you need from the USB before formatting. If you can’t access the files to back up, formatting may be your only option to fix the delete problems.
In some cases, the drive may also be formatted as read-only or have a special partition setup that prevents deleting. reformatting the drive to remove any special partitions and enabling full read/write access can allow deleting files again.
Antivirus Interference
Antivirus software can sometimes block deletions from USB drives as a protective measure against malware. The antivirus may mistakenly identify files you want to delete as malicious and quarantine or remove them automatically. This is especially common with Windows Defender on Windows PCs.
To fix this, you may need to add exclusions or turn off real-time protection in your antivirus software to stop it from deleting files on your USB drive. Just be careful, as disabling antivirus protection can leave your system vulnerable. It’s best to only disable it temporarily while deleting files from your USB drive.
You can also try rebooting your computer, as a fresh boot may clear any quarantined files and reset the antivirus. Finally, use the antivirus interface to restore any quarantined files that you actually wanted to keep.
Sources:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/defender-removes-my-paperwork-from-my-usb/a3abfbd6-f696-4527-98ca-036c815a4785
Trying Another Computer
If you are unable to delete files from a USB drive on one computer, try plugging the USB into a different computer and attempt to delete the files there. Sometimes issues with permissions, software conflicts, or drive errors can prevent deleting files on one machine but not another.
For example, if the USB drive is write-protected on Computer A, plugging it into Computer B may allow you to delete files normally. Or if Computer A has an antivirus program or other software that is interfering with deleting files, Computer B may not have the same conflict. Additionally, if there is file system corruption or other drive errors on the USB when plugged into Computer A, trying a separate computer can bypass these problems.
Deleting from a different computer is an easy troubleshooting step to try before exploring more complicated solutions. If you are able to delete files from the USB drive on another computer, it points to an issue with the original computer rather than a problem with the drive itself. This can help narrow down the cause and direct you to solutions on a per-computer basis.
When to Seek Help
If you’ve tried the troubleshooting steps mentioned above and are still unable to delete files from your USB drive, it may be time to seek professional help. Here are some signs that indicate your USB drive needs servicing by a data recovery specialist:
You’ve tried the drive on multiple computers and operating systems but still can’t delete files. This likely points to a hardware issue with the drive itself.
After reformatting, the drive seems to work fine but old files mysteriously reappear later. This suggests there is corrupted data embedded deep within the drive.
The drive makes unusual noises or smells during operation. Clicking, beeping noises or smoke/burning odors signify physical damage.
You deleted confidential/sensitive files and need them securely wiped to prevent data leaks. Professionals have tools to thoroughly overwrite deleted files.
There are critical personal or work files on the drive you cannot afford to lose. A specialist can attempt to recover these files from a damaged drive.
In these cases, it’s best to stop trying DIY fixes and give the drive to a reputable data recovery service. They have specialized tools and techniques to repair drives and permanently erase stubborn files when all else fails.