Once the drive shows as "Unallocated," close Disk Management and try TransMac again. 6. Use Diskpart to Clear the Drive (Advanced)
occurs, it typically means a Windows process or security feature is preventing TransMac from gaining the exclusive low-level access it needs to write to a Mac-formatted drive. Because Windows does not natively recognize HFS+ or APFS file systems, it often tries to "protect" or "scan" the disk, causing a conflict. Common Causes for the Lock Windows Defender/Antivirus
⚠️ WARNING: This will completely erase all data on the target USB drive. Ensure you choose the correct disk number. transmac drive has been locked by another program hot
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the "drive has been locked" error and successfully create your bootable macOS media in TransMac. The best free partition tools to clean stubborn drives.
The following methods are organized from the simplest administrative fixes to comprehensive hardware resets. 1. Run TransMac with Administrative Privileges Once the drive shows as "Unallocated," close Disk
Before changing system settings, force TransMac to override background permissions. completely. Right-click the TransMac desktop icon. Select Run as administrator . Try flashing or opening the drive again. Step-by-Step Solutions to Unlock Your Drive
The error "drive has been locked by another program" in TransMac usually occurs because Windows or a background service (like Windows Defender or File Explorer) is actively monitoring or trying to mount the drive while TransMac is attempting to write to it. Core Fixes to Unlock the Drive Because Windows does not natively recognize HFS+ or
Sometimes, a specific USB 3.0 controller or hub can cause conflicts. Try a USB 2.0 port or a port directly on the motherboard (rear of the PC). B. Use Third-Party Tools to Unlock
Alternative method:
Most of the time, Windows is just being "clingy." Here are 3 quick fixes to unlock it: