My memory card is locked. How do I unlock it?

All SD cards I have ever seen can be locked with a little slide on the left side as you face the label. if the slide is up, the card is unlocked and can be used for taking pictures. If the slide is down, it is in the locked position, which prevents it from overwriting anything that is currently on the card. Before you unlock it you may want to verify that all pictures on the card (if any) have been saved because once you start using the card and overwriting its contents, the pictures are gone forever. If the card is empty, just unlock it, format it and start taking pictures.

Hi Linda -

First, the manual is available to freely download, view and print - here. It might be a good time to give it a "once over" to refamiliarize yourself with the camera functions and operations.

Does the camera work with a different card? If so, the problem is likely due to an issue with the card, not the camera.

Page 22 describes how to format the card and make it ready for use. You should make sure any photos on it already aren't needed or have been copied to another location before proceeding - as formatting erases the entire contents of the memory card. It will be very difficult to retrieve any of the old data on the card after you format it.

If unable to format the card - that is could be the reason why images are not saving to it - but it may also be due to the position of the lock / unlock tab on the memory card. You would normally see a "Card locked!" message on screen if this is the case however. Just to be sure, check page 16 of the manual to see how to check and change the position of the lock / unlock tab. When set to unlock, carefully reinsert the card into the camera again.

Page 53 describes how to perform a "Low Level" format on the memory card when "Memory error appears or when the camera does not work correctly". Low level formatting takes longer than a standard format mentioned above.

My last suggestion is to contact Canon Customer / Tech Support if the issue persists, but hopefully, one of the suggestions above will solve the problem. Good luck!

Look at your memory card. SD cards have a slide switch along one edge. The position farthest from the contacts locks the card, protecting it from writes. The position nearest the contacts unlocks the card.

If this doesn't do it, try another card.

I'll include a diagram of the little lock switch so you know the correct position to be able to load pictures to it. Another reason for getting the card locked error is if the memory card hasn't been formatted in the camera it's being used in. Formatting is necessary after downloading pictures to the computer as well.

Diagram

try to put some glue on a your card lock , in unlock position. But be carefully do not delete your picture by accidentally.

When this problem occur you need to set the memory card unlock or not protected. Remove the memory card from camera and you can see a small button in the memory card, so you need to slide that to set the memory card unlock or not protected.

Did you try formating the memort stick.
This will clean up any error in the stick.
Don't let the battery in the camera run to low, messes with the flash memory.

Use the camera to try to format the card. If this doesn't work use a computer to format the card. efore the camera can use the card, format the card in the camera. If this doesn't work, gently slide the lock back and forth several times and try this again. If this doesn't work, see if your friend can format it in his camera. If he can, then try formating it in your camera. At some point it will either work or it is compromised (toast).

:'( i'm in the same situation right now! :(((( I want my pictires back! i don't know what to do!

there will be a small projection at the side of the memory card. push it to its opposite side. this will unlock the card.
if not solve try that card in a card reader then use it in camera.