Memory card locked., Sony
What it means and what to do: it depends on the model; find yours below.
34Sony manuals we read list this message
In the 34 we read
| Camera | What it means† | What to do† | What its manual also says† |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony a99 II (ILCA-99M2) | The card's write or delete protection switch is set to lock. | Move the switch to the record position. | Same as “What the manuals also say” below |
| Sony a1 (ILCE-1) | The card's write or delete protect switch is set to lock. | Set the switch to the record position. | If messages persist, remove and reinsert the battery or consult Sony service. Check lens and camera contacts for cleanliness. |
| Sony a1 II (ILCE-1M2) | The card's write or delete protection switch is set to lock. | Move the switch to the record position. | If a message persists, consult an authorized Sony service facility. Turn power off and on, or remove and reinsert the battery pack. Check that lens and product contacts are clean. |
| Sony a6100 (ILCE-6100) | Write or delete protection switch is set to lock. | Set the switch to the record position. | If messages persist, consult a Sony dealer or service facility. Turn the camera off and on, or remove and reinsert the battery. Check that lens and camera contacts are clean. |
| Sony a6100A (ILCE-6100A) | Write or delete protection switch is set to lock. | Move the switch to the record position. | If messages persist, restart the camera or reinsert the battery. Check lens and camera contacts for cleanliness. Consult Sony service if issues continue. |
| Sony a6400 (ILCE-6400) | The card's write or delete protection switch is set to lock. | Move the switch to the record position. | If messages persist, restart the camera or reinsert the battery. Check lens and camera contacts for cleanliness. Consult Sony service if issues continue. |
| Sony a6400A (ILCE-6400A) | Write or delete protection switch is set to lock. | Set the switch to the record position. | If messages persist, consult a Sony dealer or service facility. Turn the camera off and on, or remove and reinsert the battery. Check that lens and camera contacts are clean. |
| Sony a6500 (ILCE-6500) | The card's write or delete protect switch is set to lock. | Set the switch to the record position. | Same as “What the manuals also say” below |
| Sony a6600 (ILCE-6600) | Write or delete protection switch is set to lock. | Set the switch to the record position. | Same as “What the manuals also say” below |
| Sony a6700 (ILCE-6700) | The card's write or delete protection switch is set to lock. | Move the switch to the record position. | If messages persist, reattach lens, check contacts are clean, or consult Sony service. Reinsert battery if needed. |
| Sony a7C (ILCE-7C) | The card's write or delete protect switch is set to lock. | Move the switch to the record position. | Same as “What the manuals also say” below |
| Sony a7C II (ILCE-7CM2) | The card's write-protect or delete-protect switch is set to the lock position. | Move the switch on the memory card to the record position. | Same as “What the manuals also say” below |
| Sony a7CR (ILCE-7CR) | The card's write or delete protection switch is set to lock. | Move the switch to the record position to unlock the card. | If a message persists, consult an authorized Sony service facility. Turn power off and on, or remove and reinsert the battery pack. Check that lens and camera contacts are clean. |
| Sony a7 III (ILCE-7M3) | The card's write or delete protect switch is set to lock. | Move the switch to the record position. | Same as “What the manuals also say” below |
| Sony a7 IV (ILCE-7M4) | The card's write or delete protect switch is set to lock. | Move the switch to the record position. | Same as “What the manuals also say” below |
| Sony a7 V (ILCE-7M5) | The card's write or delete protection switch is set to lock. | Move the switch to the record position. | Same as “What the manuals also say” below |
| Sony a7R III (ILCE-7RM3) | The card's write or delete protect switch is set to lock. | Set the switch to the record position. | Should the alert remain, visit an approved Sony repair center. Verify lens and device contacts are free from dirt. |
| Sony a7R IIIA (ILCE-7RM3A) | The card's write or delete protect switch is set to lock. | Set the switch to the record position. | If a message persists, consult an authorized Sony service facility. Turn power off and on, or remove and re-insert the battery pack. Check that lens and product contacts are clean. |
| Sony a7R IV (ILCE-7RM4) | The card's write or delete protect switch is set to lock. | Set the switch to the record position. | Should alerts remain, visit certified Sony repair centers. Cycle power or swap battery packs. Verify lens and device contacts lack dirt. |
| Sony a7R IVA (ILCE-7RM4A) | The card's write or delete protect switch is set to lock. | Set the switch to the record position. | Should alerts remain, visit certified Sony repair centers. Cycle power or swap battery packs. Verify lens and device contacts lack dirt. |
| Sony a7R V (ILCE-7RM5) | The card's write or delete protect switch is set to lock. | Set the switch to the record position. | Same as “What the manuals also say” below |
| Sony a7R VI (ILCE-7RM6) | The card's write-protect or delete-protect switch is set to the lock position. | Move the switch to the record position. | Same as “What the manuals also say” below |
| Sony a7S III (ILCE-7SM3) | The card's write or delete protect switch is set to lock. | Set the switch to the record position. | Same as “What the manuals also say” below |
| Sony a9 (ILCE-9) | The card's write or delete protection switch is set to lock. | Move the switch to the record position. | Same as “What the manuals also say” below |
| Sony a9 II (ILCE-9M2) | The card's write or delete protect switch is set to lock. | Set the switch to the record position. | Should the alert remain, visit an approved Sony repair center. Verify lens and device contacts are spotless. |
| Sony a9 III (ILCE-9M3) | The memory card's write-protect or delete-protect switch is set to the lock position. | Set the switch to the record position. | Same as “What the manuals also say” below |
| Sony ILME-FX2/ILME-FX2B | The card's write or delete protection switch is set to lock. | Move the switch to the record position. | If messages persist, consult a local authorized Sony service facility. Turn power off and on, or remove and reinsert the battery pack. Check that lens and product contacts are clean. |
| Sony FX3 (ILME-FX3) | The card's write-protect or delete-protect switch is set to the lock position. | Move the switch to the record position. | Same as “What the manuals also say” below |
| Sony FX30 (ILME-FX30) | The card's write or delete protect switch is set to lock. | Set the switch to the record position. | Same as “What the manuals also say” below |
| Sony ILME-FX3A | The card's write or delete protection switch is set to lock. | Move the switch on the memory card to the record position. | Should the notice remain, visit a certified Sony repair center. Cycle power or swap the battery. Verify lens and device contacts are spotless. |
| Sony ILX-LR1 | The card's write-protect or delete-protect switch is set to the lock position. | Move the switch on the memory card to the record position. | If a message persists, consult an authorized Sony service facility. Turn the power off and on again. Check if lens and product contacts are clean. |
| Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E1 (ZV-E1) | The card's write or delete protect switch is set to lock. | Move the switch to the record position. | If messages persist, remove and reinsert the battery or consult Sony service. Check lens and camera contacts for cleanliness. |
| Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 (ZV-E10) | Write or delete protection switch is set to lock. | Set the switch to the record position. | If messages persist, restart the camera or reinsert the battery. Check lens contacts for cleanliness. Consult Sony service if issues continue. |
| Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 II (ZV-E10M2) | The memory card's write-protect or delete-protect switch is set to the lock position. | Move the switch on the memory card to the record position to unlock it. | If messages persist, restart the camera or reinsert the battery. Check lens and camera contacts for cleanliness. Consult a Sony dealer or service facility if issues continue. |
What the manuals also say
- If messages persist, consult Sony service. For system errors, reinsert battery. Check lens contacts if lens errors recur (Sony a99 II (ILCA-99M2), Sony a6500 (ILCE-6500), Sony a6600 (ILCE-6600), Sony a7C (ILCE-7C), Sony a7C II (ILCE-7CM2), Sony a7 III (ILCE-7M3), Sony a7 IV (ILCE-7M4), Sony a7 V (ILCE-7M5), Sony a7R V (ILCE-7RM5), Sony a7R VI (ILCE-7RM6), Sony a7S III (ILCE-7SM3), Sony a9 (ILCE-9), Sony a9 III (ILCE-9M3), Sony FX3 (ILME-FX3) and Sony FX30 (ILME-FX30)).
Not carried here
- Sony a1 (ILCE-1): “What it means” is not carried here: its documents word it apart, and the page shows one wording per model. This document of the Sony a1 (ILCE-1) gives it: helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2420/v1/en/contents/t11_messages.html
- Sony a1 (ILCE-1): “What its manual also says” is not carried here: its documents word it apart, and the page shows one wording per model. This document of the Sony a1 (ILCE-1) gives it: helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2420/v1/en/contents/t11_messages.html
- Sony a7S III (ILCE-7SM3): “What it means” is not carried here: its documents word it apart, and the page shows one wording per model. This document of the Sony a7S III (ILCE-7SM3) gives it: helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2410/v1/en/contents/t11_messages.html
- Sony a7S III (ILCE-7SM3): “What to do” is not carried here: its documents word it apart, and the page shows one wording per model. This document of the Sony a7S III (ILCE-7SM3) gives it: helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2410/v1/en/contents/t11_messages.html
- Sony a7S III (ILCE-7SM3): “What its manual also says” is not carried here: its documents word it apart, and the page shows one wording per model. This document of the Sony a7S III (ILCE-7SM3) gives it: helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2410/v1/en/contents/t11_messages.html
- Sony a9 (ILCE-9): “What it means” is not carried here: its documents word it apart, and the page shows one wording per model. This document of the Sony a9 (ILCE-9) gives it: helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1830/v1/en/contents/TP0002352019.html
- Sony a9 (ILCE-9): “What its manual also says” is not carried here: its documents word it apart, and the page shows one wording per model. This document of the Sony a9 (ILCE-9) gives it: helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1830/v1/en/contents/TP0002352019.html
Other Sony messages
- Cannot open the shutter since the memory card is not inserted.
- Unable to read memory card. Reinsert memory card.
- Check that a lens is mounted. For an unsupported lens, set "Release w/o Lens" in the menu to "Enable".
- Recording is unavailable in this movie format.
- The SteadyShot function does not work.
- The retractable lens with power zoom is retracted.
Sources
- Sony Help Guides (helpguide.sony.net), one per model, checked Oct 6, 2026
Each value is checked automatically against the source it links, on the date shown. How we build these pages
† What it means and What to do and What its manual also says: restated in plain words from the sources linked here; each source has the exact wording.