GoPro Hero 11 F37 Error Code Guide (Quick Fixes)

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What This Error Means

F37 on a GoPro Hero 11 is an internal fault code that usually points to a firmware or SD card communication error.

In plain terms: the camera is glitching while talking to the memory card, so it freezes, reboots, or refuses to record.

GoPro doesn’t publish F37 in the user manual, but in real-world use it behaves like a storage/firmware crash warning, not a lens or sensor failure.

Official Fix

Here’s the by-the-book GoPro-style approach for this kind of error:

  • Power the camera off, pull the battery out, wait 30 seconds, then reinstall the battery and power it back on.
  • Pop the microSD card out and check it: it must be U3 / V30 rated and from a solid brand (the cheap no-name cards are trouble magnets).
  • Back up every file from the card to a computer before you do anything else.
  • Reinsert the card into the Hero 11 and format it in-camera: Preferences → Reset → Format SD Card.
  • If F37 comes back, swap in a different, known‑good, high‑speed microSD card and test again.
  • Update the camera firmware with the GoPro Quik app or via manual update from GoPro’s site so you’re on the latest version.
  • Run a full factory reset: Preferences → Reset → Factory Reset.
  • Test with only the bare camera (no mods, no external mic, no USB power), using a good card after the reset.
  • If several good cards still trigger F37 after a reset and firmware update, GoPro’s official line is: send it in for service or replacement.

The Technician’s Trick

When the textbook routine doesn’t clear F37, here’s how a working tech squeezes a bit more life out of it before calling it dead.

  • Do a real hard boot, not just an off/on.
    Pull the battery and SD card. Hold the Power/Mode button for 15–20 seconds (drains any stuck charge). Reinstall only the battery and boot the camera with no card inserted. Let it sit powered on for 2–3 minutes, then shut it down cleanly. Now insert a freshly formatted card and test.
  • Full PC format before in‑camera format.
    Stick the card in a computer. Run a full (not quick) format to exFAT (for 64 GB and up) or FAT32 (smaller cards). Then put it back in the Hero 11 and format it again in-camera. This can clean up file system junk that in‑camera format sometimes leaves behind.
  • Test the camera with no SD card first.
    Boot the Hero 11 with the card removed. If it locks up or errors with no card, that smells like an internal board/firmware problem. If it’s smooth with no card but F37 appears the second you insert or start recording, the card (or card slot) is your suspect.
  • Lower the stress on the write speed.
    Drop settings temporarily to 1080p/60, no high bitrate, no 5.3K, no high frame rates. Try a short clip. If low‑stress modes work and 4K/5.3K instantly trigger F37, your card isn’t keeping up even if it’s “fast on paper”. Swap brands or step up a tier.
  • Check the physical card and slot.
    Inspect the microSD contacts for scratches or corrosion. Blow out the slot gently with clean air (no spit, no oil). If the card looks warped or cracked, stop using it. A damaged card can drag the camera down with it.

If it still throws F37 after a hard boot, fresh firmware, multiple known‑good cards, and low‑stress recording tests, the logic board is likely done. At that point, stop burning hours and think replacement.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Camera is under warranty or just out of it, and F37 only shows up with one suspect SD card. A new quality card and firmware update are cheap and worth it.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: F37 shows up randomly but the camera still mostly works, and you rely on it only occasionally. Might be worth living with or buying one more premium card to test before sending it in.
  • ❌ Replace: F37 appears across multiple good cards, after factory reset and firmware update, and it crashes on every serious shoot. At that point you’re staring at a likely board failure—put the money toward a replacement body.

Parts You Might Need

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See also

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