# MicroSD cards are write protected now **URL:** \ **Category:** ADS-B Flight Tracking\ **Created:** [August 22, 2019, 3:16am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999 "2019-08-22T03:16:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dxista](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/dxista/32/136404_2.png) [@Dxista](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/Dxista)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 3:16am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/1 "2019-08-22T03:16:48Z")
Two of my three MicroSD cards currently in ADS-B stations show they are write protected. It prevents formatting as well. I searched on the web for a way to fix this, but the methods I tried did not work. What could have caused them to become write protected? Is this recoverable or are new cards needed? ---
**Author:** ![jonhawkes2030](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/jonhawkes2030/32/113977_2.png) [@jonhawkes2030](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/jonhawkes2030)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 3:57am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/2 "2019-08-22T03:57:10Z")
Are you using a direct reader or putting them in an SD card first? The SD cards have write protect switches. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/flightaware/original/3X/b/6/b6215a130a3a9639544f3301d04b58abd94f9620.jpeg) URL [http://i.fixya.net/uploads/images/bea21a9.jpg](http://i.fixya.net/uploads/images/bea21a9.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![foxhunter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/foxhunter/32/113733_2.png) [@foxhunter](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/foxhunter)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 4:15am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/3 "2019-08-22T04:15:17Z")
Which methods did you try? Are you using the FA image or a home brew install? Some FR24 images are write protected by default ---
**Author:** ![wiedehopf](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/wiedehopf/32/114045_2.png) [@wiedehopf](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/wiedehopf)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 5:02am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/4 "2019-08-22T05:02:15Z")
> [@foxhunter](#): > > Some FR24 images are write protected by default Not quite that. fr24feed brings a buggy script with it that remounts / readonly. Can happen on any installation if the buggy script runs while no files are open for writing (which is normally not the case, so the readonly remount fails) ---
**Author:** ![wiedehopf](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/wiedehopf/32/114045_2.png) [@wiedehopf](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/wiedehopf)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 5:04am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/5 "2019-08-22T05:04:20Z")
> [@jonhawkes2030](#): > > The SD cards have write protect switches. Isn’t that a non-electronic plastic tab that’s ignored by most card readers? Anyway good thing to check. If sd-cards reach their flash cycle count i could imagine they could become read-only to protect you from data loss. But that’s speculation, didn’t even look that up. ---
**Author:** ![abcd567](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/abcd567/32/113769_2.png) [@abcd567](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/abcd567)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 5:56am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/6 "2019-08-22T05:56:34Z")
[![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/flightaware/original/3X/e/c/ec28f4fba5114575747db031a465edabe5afa13e.jpeg "👨‍💻 How to Unlock a Write Protected USB Drive, a SD or Micro SD Memory Card or a Hard Drive in 2021") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm_lAxkl5tY) ---
**Author:** ![biekerc](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/biekerc/32/136579_2.png) [@biekerc](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/biekerc)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 6:04am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/7 "2019-08-22T06:04:14Z")
> [@wiedehopf](#): > > If sd-cards reach their flash cycle count i could imagine they could become read-only to protect you from data loss. > But that’s speculation, didn’t even look that up. I remember reading something similar as well, to protect pictures etc. ---
**Author:** ![SoNic67](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/sonic67/32/119872_2.png) [@SoNic67](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/SoNic67)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 9:04am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/8 "2019-08-22T09:04:38Z")
They are dead. It happend to me on a couple of cards too. That’s why I minimized the number of writes that Pi does on my SD card. > **[Better Linux Disk Caching & Performance with vm.dirty\_ratio](https://lonesysadmin.net/2013/12/22/better-linux-disk-caching-performance-vm-dirty_ratio/)** > > The Linux kernel parameters vm.dirty\_ratio and vm.dirty\_background\_ratio can help you improve your disk I/O performance. Here's how to adjust them. ```auto sudo tee /etc/sysctl.d/07-dirty.conf < **Author:** ![geckoVN](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/geckovn/32/136508_2.png) [@geckoVN](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/geckoVN)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 9:20am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/9 "2019-08-22T09:20:23Z") > [@SoNic67](#): > > They are dead. It happend to me on a couple of cards too. I’ll go with this option. I shut down a Pi to swap PSU’s and it wouldn’t reboot. After several hours trying different utilities and getting different reports (one said it couldn’t be formatted, one said it had formatted it, but on inspection, the old files were still present, one claimed to have written the image, but the old files were still present). I gave up, flicked the card binward and blew $7 on a Sandisk 32G card claiming 80Mb/s.\* Burn image, boot Pi, get on with my life. \*(Did I need these specs? - No, but it was $0.50 more than a 16G card.) ---
**Author:** ![wiedehopf](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/wiedehopf/32/114045_2.png) [@wiedehopf](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/wiedehopf)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 10:10am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/10 "2019-08-22T10:10:39Z")
100 MByte/s read and 60 MByte/s write: [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XX29S9Q](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XX29S9Q) Note that that’s only for the 64 GByte version. The 32 GByte only has 20 MByte/s write 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dxista](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/dxista/32/136404_2.png) [@Dxista](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/Dxista)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 11:43am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/11 "2019-08-22T11:43:09Z")
> [@jonhawkes2030](#): > > Are you using a direct reader or putting them in an SD card first? > The SD cards have write protect switches. Direct reader, but I tried the SD card adapter as well. ---
**Author:** ![Dxista](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/dxista/32/136404_2.png) [@Dxista](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/Dxista)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 11:43am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/12 "2019-08-22T11:43:59Z")
> [@foxhunter](#): > > Are you using the FA image Yes, that’s what I use. ---
**Author:** ![Dxista](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/dxista/32/136404_2.png) [@Dxista](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/Dxista)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 11:45am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/13 "2019-08-22T11:45:27Z")
One of the methods I tried. Still no go. ---
**Author:** ![Dxista](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/dxista/32/136404_2.png) [@Dxista](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/Dxista)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 11:46am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/14 "2019-08-22T11:46:39Z")
> [@biekerc](#): > > I remember reading something similar as well, to protect pictures etc. That’s a neat feature, even if it’s unwanted right now.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dxista](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/dxista/32/136404_2.png) [@Dxista](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/Dxista)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 11:48am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/15 "2019-08-22T11:48:09Z")
> [@SoNic67](#): > > They are dead. It happend to me on a couple of cards too. I have reached that conclusion as well. My free time is more valuable than the cost of a new micro SD.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![geckoVN](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/geckovn/32/136508_2.png) [@geckoVN](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/geckoVN)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 12:31pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/16 "2019-08-22T12:31:05Z")
> [@wiedehopf](#): > > 100 MByte/s read and 60 MByte/s write: > [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XX29S9Q](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XX29S9Q) > > Note that that’s only for the 64 GByte version. > The 32 GByte only has 20 MByte/s write 😉 You’ve linked a Samsung card, but yes - it’s the read speed that is always quoted because it looks better. The [actual cards I purchased are still on special.](https://www.mediamarkt.de/de/product/_sandisk-ultra%C2%AE-2363791.html) [Sandisk don’t seem to quote a write speed](https://www.sandisk.com/home/memory-cards/microsd-cards/ultra-microsd-80mbs) at all ---
**Author:** ![Dxista](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/dxista/32/136404_2.png) [@Dxista](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/Dxista)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/17 "2019-08-22T23:50:10Z")
Just installed a Samsung EVO Plus 32 GB card. Impressed with the speed so far. It claims read speed of up to 95MB/s. Write speed of up to 20MB/s. Not bad for CDN$14.88 at Best Buy. ---
**Author:** ![abcd567](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/abcd567/32/113769_2.png) [@abcd567](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/abcd567)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/18 "2019-08-23T01:47:33Z")
> [@Dxista](#): > > Samsung EVO Plus 32 GB card. Impressed with the speed so far. It claims read speed of up to 95MB/s. Write speed of up to 20MB/s. > > Not bad for **CDN$14.88** At my neighbourhood Store “Canada Computers”. [http://www.canadacomputers.com](http://www.canadacomputers.com) Branches in many cities of Canada. Delivery in-store only. - Make ADATA (I am using 4 microSD cards of this make since last 4 years without any problem) - 32 Gb, Class 10 - Read 85 Mb/s, write 20 Mb/s - **Canadian $5.99** ![Screenshot_20190822-213544_Samsung%20Internet](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/flightaware/original/3X/2/b/2b2c9d4bc12daf70feea07879b64f331a14e3589.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Dxista](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/dxista/32/136404_2.png) [@Dxista](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/Dxista)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 2:00am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/19 "2019-08-23T02:00:56Z")
> [@abcd567](#): > > At my neighbourhood Store “Canada Computers”. Thank you for the tip. My neighbourhood store has 5 in stock. I’ll go there tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![abcd567](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/abcd567/32/113769_2.png) [@abcd567](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/abcd567)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 2:36am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999/20 "2019-08-23T02:36:46Z")
@Dxista Glad to know “Canada Computers” has a branch in your city also. [Next page](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/microsd-cards-are-write-protected-now/53999.md?page=2)