GoPro Hero 11 F29 Error Code Fix Guide

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What This Error Means

On a GoPro Hero 11, ‘F29’ is an undocumented firmware or startup fault code that usually points to a problem with the microSD card or the camera’s power system. The camera is failing an internal self-check (often while trying to talk to the card) and refuses to fully boot or start recording.

Official Fix

GoPro does not publish an official meaning for ‘F29’, but their standard playbook for this kind of fault is simple: clean up the SD card and firmware, then rule out power issues. Do it in this order:
  • Kill all power: slide the door open, pull the battery and the microSD card, and leave the camera sitting for about 30 seconds.
  • Try a clean boot: put the battery back in with no card installed, then power it on. If it boots normally without the card, the camera itself is usually fine.
  • Use a proper card: grab a branded V30 or U3 UHS-I microSD (SanDisk Extreme, Samsung Pro Plus, Lexar and similar), 32 to 512 GB. If F29 only shows up with a cheap or unknown card, that card is the problem.
  • Format the card in the camera: once it boots, go to Preferences > Reset > Format SD Card (wording may vary) and let the GoPro do the format. Do not just delete files from a computer and assume the card is clean.
  • Update firmware: pair the Hero 11 with the GoPro Quik app on your phone and let it install the latest firmware. If you cannot pair, download the manual update from GoPro’s site on a computer, put the UPDATE folder on a freshly formatted card, insert it, and power the camera on to let it update.
  • Reset settings: on the camera, go to Menu > Preferences > Reset > Factory Reset. This clears corrupt configuration that can cause odd startup faults.
  • Check the battery and charger: use an original GoPro battery and a decent USB-C wall charger, then power it up again. Weak or fake batteries can sag voltage when the camera starts recording and throw random fault codes like F29.
  • Swap in a second known-good card: if a new, branded V30 card runs clean and the old card always gives F29, retire the old card and stop trusting it with footage.
  • If F29 still shows with no SD card inserted, on current firmware, and with a good battery, you are most likely looking at an internal board fault. The official next step is GoPro support for warranty or a paid swap, not home board repair.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: F29 disappears after a proper V30 card, firmware update, and battery swap, the camera is under roughly 3 years old, and there is no sign of water damage or cracks.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: Out of warranty, F29 is intermittent, you are already buying new cards and batteries to keep it stable, and repair or swap pricing is getting close to a used Hero 11.
  • ❌ Replace: F29 shows even with no card and a brand-new original battery, plus other issues like random shutdowns, fogged lens, or visible corrosion; main-board work usually costs more than just moving to a newer GoPro.

Parts You Might Need

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See also

If other gear around the house is throwing cryptic codes too, these breakdowns can help you decode them fast: