In this article, we will show you some possible causes and solutions for the Rufus error access to the device is denied in Windows 11/10. Hopefully, you can fix this issue and create a bootable USB drive successfully.
Possible Causes for Rufus Error Access to the Device Is Denied
There are several factors that may cause Rufus to fail to access the USB drive. Some of the common ones are:
Controlled folder access feature in Windows Defender: This is a security feature that protects your files and folders from being modified or deleted by unauthorized or malicious applications. However, it may also block Rufus from accessing the USB drive, especially if you have enabled it manually or through a group policy.
Insufficient privileges: You may not have enough permissions to write to the USB drive, especially if you are not running Rufus as an administrator. This can happen if you have multiple user accounts on your computer, or if you have changed the ownership or security settings of the USB drive.
Corrupted USB drive: The USB drive may have some bad sectors, file system errors, or other physical damages that prevent Rufus from writing to it. This can happen due to improper removal, power surges, virus infections, or other reasons.
Defective USB port: The USB port that you are using may have some issues, such as loose connections, dust accumulation, or hardware failures. This can affect the communication between Rufus and the USB drive.
Solutions for Rufus Error Access to the Device Is Denied
Depending on the cause of the problem, you may try one or more of the following solutions to fix the Rufus error access to the device is denied in Windows 11/10.
Solution 1: Disable Controlled Folder Access Feature in Windows Defender
If you suspect that the controlled folder access feature in Windows Defender is blocking Rufus from accessing the USB drive, you can disable it temporarily and see if that helps. Here are the steps:
Open Windows Settings (the cog wheel in the Start Menu) and click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Security on the left pane and then click on Virus & threat protection on the right pane.
Scroll down and click on Manage settings under Virus & threat protection settings.
Scroll down again and click on Manage Controlled folder access under Controlled folder access.
Toggle the switch to Off to disable the feature.
Alternatively, you can add Rufus as an allowed app in the controlled folder access settings, so that it can access the USB drive without being blocked. Here are the steps:
Follow steps 1-4 above to open the controlled folder access settings.
Click on Add an allowed app under Allow an app through Controlled folder access.
Click on Browse all apps and navigate to the folder where Rufus is located. Select Rufus.exe and click on Open.
Rufus should now appear in the list of allowed apps.
After disabling or allowing Rufus through controlled folder access, try to create a bootable USB drive again and see if the error is gone. Remember to enable controlled folder access again after creating the bootable USB drive, as it is a useful feature to protect your files and folders from ransomware and other threats.
Solution 2: Run Rufus as an Administrator
If you are not running Rufus as an administrator, you may not have enough permissions to write to the USB drive. To fix this, you can run Rufus as an administrator and see if that solves the problem. Here are the steps:
Right-click on Rufus.exe and select Run as administrator.
Click on Yes if prompted by User Account Control.
Rufus should now run with elevated privileges.
Try to create a bootable USB drive again and see if the error is gone. If not, move on to the next solution.
Solution 3: Format the USB Drive
If the USB drive is corrupted or has some file system errors, Rufus may not be able to write to it. To fix this, you can format the USB drive and erase all the data on it. This will also make sure that the USB drive has the correct partition scheme and file system for creating a bootable USB drive. Here are the steps:
Open Windows Explorer and locate the USB drive. Right-click on it and select Format.
Select the desired file system (usually FAT32 or NTFS) and allocation unit size. You can also check the Quick Format option to speed up the process.
Click on Start and wait for the formatting to complete.
Alternatively, you can use Disk Management or Diskpart to format the USB drive. However, be careful not to format the wrong disk or partition, as this may cause data loss or system damage.
After formatting the USB drive, try to use Rufus again and see if the error is gone. If not, move on to the next solution.
Solution 4: Check the USB Port
If the USB port that you are using is defective or has some issues, Rufus may not be able to communicate with the USB drive properly. To fix this, you can try a different USB port or a different computer and see if that works. Here are some tips:
Try to use a USB port that is directly connected to the motherboard, rather than a front panel or a hub.
Try to use a USB 2.0 port rather than a USB 3.0 port, as some older BIOS may not support booting from USB 3.0 devices.
Try to use a different USB cable or adapter, if applicable.
Try to clean the USB port and the USB connector with a soft cloth or a cotton swab, if they are dusty or dirty.
Try to update or reinstall the USB drivers, if they are outdated or corrupted.
After trying a different USB port or a different computer, try to use Rufus again and see if the error is gone. If not, you may have a faulty USB drive that needs to be replaced.
Final Words
Rufus is a handy tool that can help you create a bootable USB drive from an ISO file. However, sometimes it may encounter an error that says "Access to the device is denied" or "Write error [0x00000005] Access is denied". This can be caused by various factors, such as controlled folder access feature in Windows Defender, insufficient privileges, corrupted USB drive, or defective USB port. In this article, we have shown you some possible solutions for this issue in Windows 11/10. Hopefully, you can fix this issue and create a bootable USB drive successfully.
If you have any questions or suggestions about this topic, feel free to leave a comment below. We appreciate your feedback and support.
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