Does ANYONE use the write protect tab on memory cards?

An arrow pointing to the write protect tab on an SD memory card
(Image credit: James Artaius)

When it comes to tech, I'm usually excited about having more knobs and dials and things to fiddle with. But this is one that I've never ever fiddled with in the almost quarter century that I've been using SD cards: the write protect tab. 

Actually, that's a bit of a fib. I have fiddled with the tab – because the only thing it has ever contributed to my life is causing three separate cards to fail on me, either because the tab broke or because the card itself stopped recognizing it (which actually happened to me earlier this month, on a professional job). 

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James Artaius
Editor

James has 22 years experience as a journalist, serving as editor of Digital Camera World for 6 of them. He started working in the photography industry in 2014, product testing and shooting ad campaigns for Olympus, as well as clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal. An Olympus / OM System, Canon and Hasselblad shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and he loves instant cameras, too.