GoPro Hero 11 F31 Error Code Guide (Real-World Fixes)

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What This Error Means

F31 on a GoPro Hero 11 is a generic system fault code, usually tied to SD-card or firmware problems.

The camera tries to boot or start recording, hits corrupted data or can’t talk to the card properly, and shuts itself down or freezes.

Official Fix

GoPro doesn’t publish F31 in the basic user manual, but their official support flow for this kind of fault is always the same: isolate the SD card, reset the camera, then update firmware.

  • 1. Kill the power. Hold the Mode/Power button for 10 seconds until the camera hard-shuts off.
  • 2. Strip it down. Pop the battery out. Remove the microSD card. Leave both out for 30–60 seconds.
  • 3. Check the card. If it’s a no‑name, super‑cheap, or older than a few years, assume it’s suspect. Hero 11 wants a U3/V30 microSD from a solid brand.
  • 4. Boot with no card. Put the battery back in, leave the SD card out, and power on.
    • If it powers up clean and shows “No SD”, the camera itself is probably fine. The card is your problem.
    • If F31 still shows with no card, it’s firmware or hardware, not the SD.
  • 5. Try a known‑good card. Borrow or buy a proper U3/V30 card (64–256 GB), insert it, then power on.
    • If it boots: go to Preferences > Reset > Format SD Card and format it in‑camera.
    • If it throws F31 again: keep going, treat it as a firmware issue.
  • 6. Do a full camera reset. If you can reach the menus:
    • Go to Preferences > Reset > Reset Defaults.
    • Then also do Preferences > Reset > Factory Reset if available.

    Try recording a short clip after each reset.

  • 7. Update the firmware the official way.
    • Install GoPro Quik on your phone or computer.
    • Connect the Hero 11 via USB‑C with a charged battery inside.
    • Let Quik detect the camera and offer a firmware update. Run the update and don’t touch anything until it finishes and reboots.
  • 8. Re‑test with a fresh card. After the update, format the SD in‑camera again and record a few minutes of 4K footage. If F31 doesn’t return, you’re done.
  • 9. If F31 stays: with multiple good SD cards, after reset and firmware update, GoPro’s next step is warranty or paid repair. Contact GoPro Support and describe the F31 behavior.

The Technician’s Trick

Here’s what a bench tech does when the standard steps don’t clear F31.

  • 1. Rule out a bad battery. Pull the battery. Plug the Hero 11 into a good USB‑C power source (or computer) and try to power it on without the battery.
    • If it works fine on USB but fails with the battery installed, the battery is likely failing or dragging voltage down. Swap in a new, original battery.
    • If it still shows F31 on USB power only, keep going.
  • 2. Forced “clean” boot with a blank card.
    • On a computer, fully format a quality microSD as exFAT (not just a quick format if you can avoid it).
    • Put the empty card in the GoPro, then power on.
    • If it boots, immediately format the card again in‑camera, then try recording.
  • 3. Offline firmware reload.
    • From GoPro’s support site, download the manual firmware update for Hero 11.
    • Unzip it and copy the update folder to the root of the freshly formatted microSD card.
    • Put the card into the camera, insert a good battery, and power on. Leave it alone while it updates; it may reboot a few times.
  • 4. Inspect the SD slot.
    • Use a bright light and look into the SD slot. Bent pins, corrosion, or debris will all cause random F‑codes.
    • Blow out dust with short bursts of clean compressed air only. No liquids, no metal tools.
    • If pins look bent or green, that’s board‑level work. Not DIY unless you’re comfortable with micro‑soldering.
  • 5. Heat test. If F31 only appears once the camera warms up, that’s usually a failing main board. Back up your footage and start planning for a repair or replacement.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Camera is under 3–4 years old, no water damage, and F31 goes away or improves when you swap SD cards or batteries. Spending $20–$80 on a proper card and new battery is worth it.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: Out of warranty, heavy use, and F31 only clears temporarily after resets or firmware reloads. A main‑board repair or out‑of‑warranty swap can run close to half the cost of a new Hero.
  • ❌ Replace: Visible corrosion, cracked housing, or F31 persists even with multiple known‑good cards, batteries, and a fresh firmware install. At that point you’re basically buying a new camera in repair fees—put that money into a newer GoPro instead.

Parts You Might Need

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See also

Need more straight‑talk error code help? Start here: