GoPro Hero 11 F28 Error Code Fix Guide

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What This Error Means

F28 on a GoPro Hero 11 is a storage access fault linked to the microSD card.

The camera can’t reliably read or write the card, so it refuses to record, freezes, or throws the F28 code instead of starting a clip.

Official Fix

  • 1. Do a proper power reset.
    Turn the camera off. Pull the battery and the microSD card. Wait 30 seconds. Refit the battery, leave the card out, and power it back on. This clears simple firmware hiccups.
  • 2. Check the microSD card spec.
    Hero 11 wants a fast U3/V30 (or better) microSD card from a known brand (SanDisk Extreme, Samsung Pro/Plus, Lexar, etc.). If you’re using a no-name, very old, or suspiciously cheap card, swap in a known-good U3/V30 card before you blame the camera.
  • 3. Format the card in the camera.
    Back up anything you care about from the card on a computer first. Then in the GoPro: Preferences > Reset or SD Card > Format SD Card (menu wording can vary slightly). Confirm the format, then test recording. Most F28 cases die right here if the card was just corrupt.
  • 4. Update the firmware cleanly.
    Charge the battery to at least 50%. Connect to the GoPro Quik app or follow GoPro’s manual update steps from their website. Let the update fully complete, then reboot and test with a good card. Old firmware plus new cards is a common combo that throws weird errors.
  • 5. Factory reset the camera.
    If F28 still pops, run a full reset: Preferences > Reset > Factory Reset. This wipes custom settings, not your card, and can clear bad config that messes with storage access.
  • 6. Rule out the card completely.
    Test with at least two different, known-genuine U3/V30 cards. If both fresh cards fail and still trigger F28 after firmware update and reset, the issue is likely inside the camera (SD slot or main board), not the card.
  • 7. When the manual says “service”.
    If F28 survives all of that, GoPro’s official line is: contact GoPro Support for repair or replacement. At that point, they treat it as a hardware fault, not a user-fixable glitch.

The Technician’s Trick

  • 1. Deep power drain + clean boot.
    Pull battery and SD card. Hold the Mode/Power button for 30–40 seconds to bleed off any stuck charge. Now start the camera with no card in. Let it fully boot, wait 10 seconds, then insert a known-good card and try to format it in-camera. This sometimes clears stubborn F28 errors that survive normal resets.
  • 2. Wake up the SD slot.
    With the camera off and battery out, blow a couple of short bursts of compressed air into the SD slot (no spit, don’t use your mouth). Then gently insert and remove the card 5–10 times to scrub the contacts. Refit the battery, boot, and test. Techs do this all the time for flaky reader contacts that act like “bad card” errors.
  • 3. Reflash via SD card.
    On a computer, download the latest manual firmware update from GoPro’s site. Format a good U3/V30 card in the computer (exFAT, full format), copy the update files to the root of the card, then put that card in the powered-off GoPro and boot it. Let it sit and complete any update process. This “fresh firmware from SD” move can rescue cameras that report storage faults from corrupted system files.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: F28 goes away with a new legit U3/V30 card, a clean format, or a firmware reload. Under warranty? Definitely fix or replace through GoPro, almost no cost.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: Out of warranty, intermittent F28 that only shows up on long shoots, and a shop is quoting you close to a mid-range action cam price for board work. Fix it only if you rely on matching Hero 11 footage or accessories.
  • ❌ Replace: F28 still present across multiple good cards, visible corrosion or water damage, or a repair quote that’s within striking distance of a new GoPro. Put that money toward a fresh camera.

Parts You Might Need

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See also

Dealing with other gear that’s throwing codes? These guides can help on the appliance side of things: