Fix the 'Access Denied' Issue on USB Without Losing Data

The following table summarizes the solutions to the "Access denied to USB" error. Read through the content for details. These methods also apply to resolve issues with pen drive access denied, external hard drive access denied, and other portable hard drives not accessible.

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User scenario: How to fix "Access Denied to USB Drive" issue?

"Hey guys, do you know how to recover data from an inaccessible external hard drive? This morning, I tried to open my external hard drive, but failed. It displayed an error message 'H: is not accessible. Access is denied', preventing me from accessing the drive. I've tried all the USB ports on my laptop, but it's still inaccessible. Since there's a lot of important data on the drive, I can't directly format it. How can I fix the 'access denied' error on the hard drive without losing any data?"

The "Access is denied" error on the hard drive has been fixed.

When a hard drive fails or the file system of your storage device, like an internal/external hard drive, USB, or SD card, turns RAW, it can block access to your saved data. So, what can you do when your storage device and important files become inaccessible due to an "Access Denied" error? Don't panic! We'll provide you with quick solutions and effective methods to fix the inaccessible hard drive caused by the "Access Denied" error without losing your data.

What is the "USB Access Denied Error"?

"Access denied to USB," "Access denied to SD card," "Access denied to Pen Drive," or "Access denied to other removable flash drives" is a common issue related to permissions, file systems, and the like. This can occur when you're unable to open files or folders, services fail to start on your computer, you can't access files over a network, or you're unable to visit websites, among other scenarios.

Aside from error messages in real user scenarios, which can vary depending on the issue, the solutions also differ. To give you a clear understanding of why you might be getting this error and how to fix it across various devices, platforms, or applications, we'll explain the error through five scenarios that cover most situations you might encounter.

• HDD/USB/SD card location is unavailable. Access is denied.
• Folder access is denied. Cannot open, delete, or move folders.
• Command Prompt access is denied. Disk Management encounters errors.

If you encounter an Access Denied error, even with other accompanying error messages, read on and try the various methods to resolve it.

Firstly, recover data from the inaccessible USB to protect the data

To avoid losing any data from the inaccessible USB flash drive, you'd better recover data from the unaccessible device first. The Data Recovery Wizard tool will help you restore deleted files and formatted/damaged data from a storage device with just a few simple clicks.

You can download it for free and use it to recover data from an inaccessible hard drive, USB, or other device by following these steps:

Step 1: Run the USB Data Recovery software

Connect your USB drive or pen drive to the computer, and then launch the USB Data Recovery tool on the PC. Select the drive labeled “External Drive,” and click “Scan” to start searching for lost files.

Select the USB/flash drive to scan for and recover lost files:

Step 2. Scan and search for lost files on the USB drive

The Data Recovery Wizard will thoroughly scan your USB flash drive/stick and find all lost data. After the scanning is completed, use the “Filter” feature to locate the files you need.

Step 3: Recover all lost files from USB device

Double-click it to preview the file. Select the files you want to recover, then click “Recover” to save them to a secure location on your computer or an external storage device.

After the data recovery, work through the following steps one at a time.

1. Resolve USB Access Denied Issue with Disk Error Checking Tool

Error Checking is a built-in utility in Windows that checks for and repairs errors on devices. If you're experiencing access issues with a hard drive, USB, SD card, or folder, you can follow this guide to resolve "Access Denied" errors on the device:

Step 1. Connect the inaccessible device – like a hard drive, external hard drive, USB flash drive, pen drive, or SD card – to your computer.

Step 2: Open File Explorer and right-click on the inaccessible device or folder. Select Properties.

Step 3. Click on the "Tools" tab > click "Check/Check Now".

Fix "Access is Denied" Error on Unreachable Storage Device

If the issue is resolved, you can now directly open the hard drive and access its data. If not, try the Quick Repair option 2 to further address the "Access Denied" error on the device.

2. Gain Access to a Denied USB Drive

If you don't have access to a protected USB or hard drive, you won't be able to open it, and you'll receive an “Access is denied” error message.

Thus, the other option is to gain access to an inaccessible hard drive, USB, or folder:

Step 1: Right-click on the inaccessible hard drive, USB, or folder and select “Properties.”

Step 2: Click Security, then Advanced, and then find the Owner tab.

Step 3: Click “Edit,” and then click “Groups or Usernames” under the username.

Step 4: Check all the boxes in the Allow column, click OK, and then click Apply to grant permission to access unsupported devices.

If there is important data, try to fix all issues without losing any data; if the data is unnecessary, you can directly format the inaccessible disk to solve the problem at once.

3. Change Drive Letter to Access USB or Pen Drive

If the drive letter is assigned automatically to a USB or flash drive, the hard drive might not be accessible if the letter is incorrect. In this case, you can change the drive letter for troubleshooting.

< strong > Step 1. < /strong> Right-click on the inaccessible device and select "Rename." Input a new drive letter for your inaccessible device and see if you can open it. If this doesn't work, read on for more tips.

2. Right-click on "This PC/My Computer" and select "Manage".

Step 3: Click "Disk Management". Right click on the target partition and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths..."

Step 3: In the Change Drive Letter and Paths window, select Change to modify the drive letter, then click OK.

4. Edit Local Group Policy to Access USB/Flash Drive

If your USB flash drive, pen drive, or external hard drive is restricted by the Windows Local Group Policy Editor, you might encounter access denied issues. Here's how to tweak the Windows Local Group Policy:

Step 1: Click on the "Search" bar and type in gpedit.msc. Hit Enter to open the "Local Group Policy Editor".

Step 2: Click on " Administrative Templates " to expand the System folder.

Step 3: Click on “System,” and then open the “Removable Storage Access” folder.

Step 4: Double-click on “Deny Execute Access on Removable Disks,” “Deny Read Access on Removable Disks,” and “Deny Write Access on Removable Disks.”

Step 5: Click on “Disabled > OK” to change the Windows Local Group Policy to allow access to USB drives.

5. Run CHKDSK from the Command Prompt to Fix “Access Denied” Issues

Command Prompt access denied error usually results from insufficient privilege or write protection to the disk partition that is being operated, for example, "Disk Management encountered an error, Access is denied".

Step 1. Press the Windows + X keys to open the black Quick Access Menu.

Step 2: Select “Command Prompt (Admin)” to open Command Prompt.

3. Type in chkdsk g: /f and press Enter. Replace the drive letter of the USB drive with the correct one.

6. Remove write protection from USB/External Hard Disk

Step 1. Press Windows + R to open the Run box.

Step 2: Type regedit in the box.

Step 3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies.

Step 4: Now double-click on the “WriteProtect” key and change its value to 0.

7. Format the USB or hard drive and restore it to factory settings

After recovering data from an inaccessible hard drive or storage device, you can directly format the inaccessible drive to its factory settings:

Step 1: Right-click on the inaccessible device, such as an internal or external hard drive, USB or SD card, and select "Format."

Step 2. Reset file system, label, etc. on the inaccessible device and click on “Start”.

Step 3. Click “Yes” to reset the inaccessible device to its factory settings to resolve the “Access is denied” error.

[Video Tutorial] How to Fix 'Access Denied' Error on Hard Drive

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Bottom line

When you encounter the "USB access denied" or "external hard drive access denied" error, it signifies an issue with your hard drive. To resolve the problem of device access being denied, we have six verified solutions to assist you.

Most importantly, before you proceed with data safety, you need to recover and back up your important data from the failed USB device.

FAQ: "USB Access Denied" Error

We've listed seven ways to fix the Access Denied error on Windows for USB. For more information, you can refer to the following questions and answers:

Why do I get an "Access Denied" error on my USB flash drive?

If you encounter hard drive failure errors, or the file system of your storage device (such as hard disk, external hard drive, USB flash drive, and SD card) turns into RAW format, you might not be able to recover saved data. This issue can result from a faulty USB cable, a damaged or corrupted USB device, or the file system.

How do I fix the "Access denied" issue with drives in Windows?

You can try the following methods to fix the "Drive is not accessible" issue:

1. Modify the permission settings in "Properties." You can change the ownership of this drive to "Everyone." 2. Search online for hard drive recovery services. 3. Utilize CMD to address the issue. You will use the CHKDSK command.

How do I enable USB access denied on Windows?

There are several ways to fix this on Windows:

1. Remove malware and viruses. 2. Disable antivirus software and reconnect. 3. Reset the USB drive letter. 4. Change the ownership of the USB drive. 5. Run CMD with the CHKDSK command. 6. Uninstall the USB drive from Device Manager and reconnect it. 7. Edit the Windows Registry. 8. Format your USB flash drive.

Can I recover data from a USB device with permission denied?

Yes, the best way to recover data from a USB device with permission denied error is by using a Data Recovery Wizard tool.

1. Connect the target USB flash drive and scan it. 2. Filter all recoverable files and preview the needed ones. 3. Click on the "Recover" button to start retrieving data.