Rufus is a popular software tool used to create bootable USB drives from ISO files. This tool is especially useful when installing operating systems or making backup copies of important files. However, one common issue that users encounter while using Rufus is the “Access to the device is denied” error, which prevents the program from writing files to the USB drive.
In this article, we’ll explore the various causes of the “Access to the device is denied” error in Rufus and provide solutions to fix the issue on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
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What is the problem?
The “Access to the device is denied” error in Rufus occurs when the program is unable to write to the USB drive. This error can happen on any version of Rufus, including Rufus 3.21 and later. After encountering the error, you can check the Rufus log file to identify the issue, which typically displays the message “Write error [0x00000005] Access is denied“.
Causes of the “Access to the device is denied” error in Rufus
There are several reasons why Rufus may encounter the “Access to the device is denied” error when creating a bootable USB drive. Here are some of the most common causes.
Related issue: Windows 11 bootable USB doesn’t boot
Microsoft Defender or Antivirus software blocking Rufus
The main cause of the issue is that the Microsoft Defender’s Controlled Folder Access feature or third-party antivirus software has blocked Rufus from having the rights to write on the USB drive. This is done as a security measure to prevent malicious software from tampering with your files.
Microsoft Defender’s Controlled Folder Access feature is a security feature that protects your files and folders from being modified or deleted without your knowledge. When Rufus tries to write to the USB drive, it may trigger this feature and prevent Rufus from accessing the device.
When using a third-party antivirus software, it may also block Rufus from accessing the USB drive as it may consider it to be a potentially harmful application.
Insufficient privileges
Sometimes, the user account you are logged in with may not have the necessary permissions to access the USB drive. This can happen if you are logged in as a guest user or a standard user without administrative privileges. In this case, Rufus may not have the required permissions to write to the USB drive.
Corrupted USB drive
Another reason why Rufus may encounter the “Access to the device is denied” error is because the USB drive you are trying to write to may be corrupted or damaged. This can cause issues with Rufus not being able to access the device. The USB drive may have bad sectors or other issues that prevent Rufus from writing to it.
Malfunctioning USB port
Another possible cause of the “Access to the device is denied” error in Rufus is a malfunctioning USB port. The USB port you are using to connect the USB drive may have a loose connection or be damaged, which can prevent Rufus from accessing the device.
How to fix the issue
Here are some solutions to fix the “Access to the device is denied” error in Rufus.
See also: How to Burn Windows 11 ISO to USB
Temporarily disable Microsoft Defender’s Controlled Folder Access feature
The easiest solution is to temporarily disable the Controlled Folder Access feature of Microsoft Defender. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the Start menu and type “Windows Security” in the search bar.
- Click on “Windows Security” in the search results to open the app.
- Click on “Virus & threat protection” in the left-hand menu.
- Under “Virus & threat protection settings“, click on “Manage settings“.
- Scroll down to the “Controlled folder access” section and toggle the switch to “Off“.
- If prompted, click “Yes” to confirm that you want to turn off this feature.
- You should now be able to use Rufus to write to your USB drive without encountering the “Access to the device is denied” error.
Note: After creating your bootable USB drive using Rufus, remember to turn the Controlled Folder Access feature back on for added security. To do this, simply follow the same steps as above and toggle the switch back to “On”.
Add Rufus as an allowed app in the Controlled Folder Access
If you’re encountering the “Access to the device is denied” error in Rufus due to Microsoft Defender’s Controlled Folder Access feature, you can add Rufus as an allowed app to avoid disabling the feature completely.
Here are the steps to add Rufus as an allowed app in the Controlled Folder Access feature:
- Open the Windows Security app by searching for it in the Windows Start menu.
- Click on the “Virus & threat protection” option.
- Click on “Manage settings” under “Virus & threat protection settings“.
- Scroll down to the “Controlled folder access” section and click on “Manage Controlled folder access” or “Allow an app through Controlled folder access“.
- Under “Allowed apps“, click on “Add an allowed app“.
- Click on “Browse all apps“.
- Navigate to the folder where Rufus is installed (e.g. “C:\Program Files (x86)\Rufus”) and select the “Rufus.exe” file.
- Click on “Open” and then click on “Add“.
- Rufus should now be added to the list of allowed apps in the Controlled Folder Access feature.
Adding Rufus as an allowed app in the Controlled Folder Access feature will allow Rufus to write to the USB drive without disabling the security feature.
Temporarily disable antivirus software or add Rufus to its exclusion list
In addition to Microsoft Defender’s Controlled Folder Access feature, third-party antivirus software can also cause the “Access to the device is denied” error in Rufus. Antivirus software may block Rufus from accessing the USB drive, as it may consider it to be a potentially harmful application.
If you’re encountering this issue while using Rufus, you can temporarily disable your antivirus software to allow Rufus to write to the USB drive. However, it’s important to note that disabling your antivirus software can leave your computer vulnerable to malicious software, so it’s recommended to only disable it temporarily while using Rufus to create a bootable USB drive.
Also see: How to Allow an App Through Firewall in Windows 11
To temporarily disable your antivirus software, look for the program’s icon in your system tray and right-click on it. Then, look for an option to temporarily disable the software.
Alternatively, you can add Rufus to your antivirus software’s exclusion list to allow it to write to the USB drive without being blocked. To do this, consult your antivirus software’s documentation for instructions on how to add an exclusion. The process may vary depending on the antivirus software you are using.
Make sure to run Rufus as administrator
Running Rufus as an administrator is necessary in some cases to avoid the “Access to the device is denied” error in Rufus. If the user account does not have sufficient privileges to access the USB drive, or if the USB drive is write-protected, running Rufus as an administrator is necessary to ensure that it can write to the USB drive.
Suggested read: How to Take Ownership of a Folder or Drive in Windows 11
To run Rufus as an administrator, right-click on the Rufus executable file (Rufus.exe) and select “Run as administrator“. This will launch Rufus with elevated permissions and should allow it to write to the USB drive without encountering any issues.
Manually format the USB Drive first
If the USB drive is corrupted, you may need to manually format it before using Rufus. To do this, plug the USB drive into your computer and open File Explorer. Right-click on the USB drive and select “Format“. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to format the USB drive. After formatting the USB drive, try using Rufus to create your bootable USB drive again.
Try using a different USB port
Try using a different USB port on your computer to connect the USB drive. If the USB drive is still not accessible, try connecting it to another computer to see if the issue persists. If the USB drive is accessible on another computer, then the issue is likely with your USB port.
If you suspect that your USB port is the problem, you may need to have it repaired or replaced to resolve the issue. Alternatively, you can use an external USB hub or adapter to connect your USB drive to your computer if your USB port is no longer functional.
Exploring other options
While Rufus is a popular and efficient tool for creating bootable USB drives, encountering the “Access to the device is denied” error can be a frustrating experience. If you’re unable to fix the issue using the solutions outlined in this article, there is an alternative solution to create bootable USB drives for Windows installation: the Media Creation Tool.
The Media Creation Tool is a free utility provided by Microsoft that allows you to create a bootable USB drive to install Windows 11 or Windows 10. This tool is easy to use and does not require any technical expertise. To use the Media Creation Tool, simply download it from the Microsoft website, follow the on-screen instructions, and wait for the tool to create the bootable USB drive.
