If your Gopro won’t charge, check the cable, 5V/2A power, port debris, battery health, and firmware before seeking repair.
What The Charge Light And Icons Mean
Your camera shows short status hints. A red status light turns on while charging and turns off when full. Newer models also show a lightning bolt on screen when power flows. If the light never comes on, the camera is not seeing power. If the light stays on for hours, charging may have stalled, the port may be dirty, or the battery may be worn.
Quick Symptoms, Likely Causes, And First Fixes
| Symptom | Likely Cause | First Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No red light at all | Bad cable, weak charger, dirty port | Try a fresh USB-C cable and a 5V/2A wall plug |
| Light turns on, then off | Loose connection or bad battery seat | Reseat the battery and USB plug firmly |
| Light stays on for hours | Low power source or firmware bug | Use a wall adapter, then update firmware |
| Gets warm and stops | Charging while hot after filming | Let the camera cool, then charge again |
| Charges only when off | Power draw during recording | Power the camera off while charging |
| Stuck at 1–10% | Tired or swollen cell | Swap in a known good battery |
| Water in the port | Moisture or corrosion | Dry fully; use silica gel; try again |
Fast Checks Before You Pull Parts
Start simple and rule out the usual suspects first. Plug the camera into a known good 5V USB wall adapter that can supply 1–2A. Many laptop ports trickle power and will not bring a flat cell back quickly. Use a short, data-rated USB-C cable. Thin giveaway cables fail often. Inspect the USB-C port under bright light; lint packs in the slot and lifts the plug just enough to block power. Pick out debris with a wooden toothpick and light air only, never metal.
Power the camera off while charging. Recording pulls power faster than a slow source can feed it, so the battery never rises. Remove media mods, grips, and third-party doors for now. Reseat the battery: open the door, pull the tab, wait ten seconds, then click it back in with a firm press. If you have a dual charger, test the cell outside the camera. A healthy cell should reach full on a 5V source. If the charger blinks or stops early, the cell is likely done.
Fixing ‘GoPro Not Charging’ Errors: Model-Aware Steps
HERO12, HERO11, HERO10, HERO9, HERO8
Use a USB-C to USB-A or USB-C to USB-C cable and a 5V adapter that can deliver up to 2A. Close the side door fully unless you use a pass-through door. Leave the camera idle. If the status light does not turn on within two minutes, swap cables and sockets. Update firmware with the Quik app. A reset can clear odd charge states: power off, pull the battery, hold the Mode button ten seconds, reinstall, then charge on a wall plug.
If charge still fails, look for port damage, bent pins, or green specks from moisture. The port can work for data yet fail for power. An external dual charger helps split the problem: if the same cell fills in the dock, the camera port is the fault path. If the dock also fails, replace the battery.
HERO7, HERO6, HERO5 And Earlier
These models ship with older cells and older ports (micro-USB or mini-USB on some early units). The same rules apply: 5V only, steady 1–2A, short cable, and a clean port. If you still use an older side door, check its seal and hinge so the plug seats square. Do not force a tight plug; remove lint first. A dual charger is the fastest way to confirm a weak cell on these bodies.
Battery Health, Swelling, And Safe Handling
Lithium-ion wears down. Age, heat, and deep cycles bring the charge floor down. Swelling is a hard stop. A puffy pack will jam doors, trip errors, and can vent. Do not charge a swollen pack. Recycle it and move on. Keep spares between 40–60% when stored, cool and dry, and outside the camera. Let a hot pack rest before charging. After a cold shoot, warm the pack to room temp first.
Check The Charger, Cable, And Power Source
Stick to 5V chargers that can deliver 1–2A. High watt phone bricks that only offer fast modes may fall back to low current on simple 5V and cause slow fills. Wall power beats laptop ports for a flat cell. Keep cables under one meter for best results. If you must charge from a power bank, pick one with steady 5V output, not a random auto-detect mode that sleeps on low draw. When in doubt, use the brand’s Supercharger or a dual charger made for your model.
Firmware, App, And Resets
Firmware affects charge logic, temps, and battery reporting. Open the Quik app, pair the camera, and apply any update. After a firmware change, do one full, calm cycle: charge to 100% while the camera is off, then use it down below 10%, and charge again while off. This helps the meter align. If the meter jumps or sticks, pull the battery for thirty seconds, reinstall, and try a clean wall charge. A full factory reset is a last step before service.
Water, Salt, And Corrosion Checks
Charging pins hate moisture. Even a light splash can leave salt on contacts and block current. Dry the port with time, mild heat from a room fan, and silica gel packs. Do not bake it, and do not poke the pins. Once dry, plug a cable in and out several times to rub the contacts clean. If you see green film or white crust, the board may be damaged. External charging can keep you shooting while you plan a service visit.
Step-By-Step Fix Flow
- Power the camera off and remove mods.
- Plug a short, known good cable into a 5V/2A wall adapter.
- Seat the cable firmly; wait up to two minutes for the light.
- Let the camera rest if it feels hot; then retry.
- Reseat the battery and try a second cable.
- Charge the battery in a dual dock to split the fault path.
- Update firmware with the Quik app; retry on wall power.
- Inspect the port for lint or bent pins; clean lint gently.
- Do a full reset only after the steps above.
Common Charging Scenarios And Fixes
Charges Only On A Power Bank
Some banks hold 5V steady while your wall brick falls back to weak modes. Swap in a plain 5V/2A wall adapter. If the camera charges from both, your first brick was the culprit.
Stops At 80–90%
Cells taper near full. A worn pack may stall early. Try a second battery. If both stop at the same mark, update firmware and try a longer wall session with the camera off.
Starts, Then Drops To 0%
This points to poor contact or a failing cell. Clean the pads on the battery with a dry cloth. Reseat it and close the door until it clicks. If the gauge still drops, replace the cell.
Charges But Drains Fast
High frame rates, high bit rates, and wireless links burn power. Turn off Wi-Fi when parked at home, pick a lower frame rate for long clips, and keep screens set to a short timeout.
Won’t Charge After A Swim
Water behind the door or in the port blocks power. Dry the camera for a day with silica gel. Check the door gasket. If you see salt marks or fogging inside, plan for service.
SD Card Myths And Real Checks
A bad card can stop a boot. That can look like a charge fault because the screen never wakes. Pull the card and try again on wall power.
Safe Charging Habits That Pay Off
Keep packs shaded. Hot dashboards and direct sun shorten life fast. Do not leave a fresh cell at 100% for weeks. If you store gear between trips, park the charge around the middle. Use a pass-through door only when you need power while mounted; seal the body again once you pack up. Small habits like these reduce hiccups on big days.
Time Savers That Solve Most Cases
Use a short, high-quality cable. Charge from a 5V/2A wall plug. Power the camera off. Let hot packs cool. Reseat the battery. Update firmware. Test the cell in a dual charger. Nine times out of ten, one of those clears the issue.
Charger And Cable Reference You Can Trust
| Connection | Spec To Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USB-C on camera | 5V up to 2A | Works with brand Supercharger or any 5V source |
| Micro-USB models | 5V up to 1–2A | Use a short, snug cable; clean the port well |
| Dual battery dock | 5V USB input | Best for testing packs outside the camera |
When Service Makes Sense
After you try a known good charger and cable, a clean port, fresh firmware, and a second battery, the fault likely sits in the camera. Common signs include a red light that never shows with any source, repeat charge drops at the same percent, and visible port damage. Back up your clips and reach out to the brand for repair options.
Helpful Official References
For charge steps and adapter specs, see How to charge the camera battery and the page on recommended chargers. Both outline 5V input, adapter current, and charging behavior across models.