Mount External Storage as Read-Only in Ubuntu

Enable or disable mounting external storage devices as read-only

Ubuntu allows mounting external storage devices as read-only. Viewing files on USB sticks or external hard drives works normally, but altering or deleting them remains restricted. This read-only mounting serves as a safety feature, preventing accidental data loss.

System modifications require using the Ubuntu Terminal. Launch this interface by pressing the Super key and searching for ‘Terminal,’ or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+T.

Run the following command in the terminal to make all external drives read-only:

Reverting this behavior to permit writing requires running a different command:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.lockdown mount-removable-storage-devices-as-read-only false

Enable or Disable mounting storage devices as read-only devices using the Dconf Editor

The Dconf Editor tool acts as a visual settings manager for the system, letting users change configuration values without typing terminal commands. Installing the utility comes first before making any configuration changes.

Installing the tool requires running this command in the terminal:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install dconf-editor

Learn more about software management via the guide on How to add or remove software on Ubuntu Linux.

Launch Dconf Editor from the app menu after completing the installation. Navigate through the following schema path: org -> gnome -> desktop -> media-handling

Locate the setting labeled "mount-removable-storage-devices-as-read-only" and toggle the switch to "On."

Enforcing read-only status on external storage stops any connected USB drive from accepting new writes. Notifications or lock icons appear to signal that writing to the device remains blocked.

Conclusion

Controlling whether external drives mount as read-only on an Ubuntu computer helps prevent accidental file modifications.

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