How to delete a write-protected image file?

[Android Central Question]

There is one image file on my phone that I cannot open, delete, move, or rename. It says that it is write-protected. I am trying to transfer my photos from my phone to my computer via USB cable.

I have turned debugging on and off. I have changed it from media device to camera. I have (carefully) tweaked the registry. I have right-clicked on the file and gone to "Properties." There are three tabs across the top: General, References, Details. The file is not marked as read only, but it cannot be opened, moved, changed, or deleted.

The file does not show up in the gallery on my phone. It is only found once I connect it via USB to my computer through the computer's File Explorer. Searching the phone with the phone's search does not find the file.

Any help to delete this file would be appreciated.

I am using a Samsung Note 3 (which still works great) and a Windows 10 PC.

 

[Mooncatt]

Yes, those characters are part of the name. There are also blank spaces in the file name. It's a .png file. The file only shows up on my PC when I connect the phone and the PC says that it cannot delete it because it is write protected.

It's a bit of a long shot, but can you at least rename it to remove the space(s) and special characters? I'm wondering if that's what's tripping it up.

 

[mustang7757]

Yes, those characters are part of the name. There are also blank spaces in the file name. It's a .png file. The file only shows up on my PC when I connect the phone and the PC says that it cannot delete it because it is write protected.

I would check your Google drive , and Samsung cloud see if that photo exist there ?

 

[anon(10614692)]

Long shot but theres a Windows program called Lock Hunter. It removes stubborn files by changing the permissions to allow the user to take control and be able to delete them.

 

[B. Diddy]

Do you recall actually taking that screenshot? Just wondering if it might be some malicious file from some other source.

 

[leyankee]

I rarely take screenshots, and I don't visit or use Instagram.

 

[mustang7757]

I rarely take screenshots, and I don't visit or use Instagram.

Look in every files In my file again open them , if nothing, do you want to do a factory reset for this?

 

[mustang7757]

And check your sd card
Edit: sd card have write protection

 

[B. Diddy]

I rarely take screenshots, and I don't visit or use Instagram.

All the more reason to suspect it's a potentially malicious file. Try wiping the cache partition, if you haven't already: https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-27708. If that doesn't help, you may want to consider backing up your important data and doing a factory reset.