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GoPro Says No SD: How to Easily Fix a GoPro SD Card Error (Hero12 to Hero3)

When your GoPro says NO SD, it can be kind of frustrating – and scary. In this post, you’ll learn how to fix your GoPro SD card error. This fix applies to all GoPro cameras (Hero3, Hero4, Hero5, Hero6, Hero7, Hero8, Hero9, Hero10, Hero11, Hero12).

GoPro says no SD

Here’s what you need to do when your GoPro says “NO SD.”

3 Reasons for the GoPro “No SD” Error

There are three reasons you might get the NO SD error on your GoPro. The last one is the most common.

  1. Incorrectly inserted: I guess this one is obvious and probably the first thing you should check. If the card is either inserted backward or if it isn’t fully inserted, you’ll get the “No SD” error. The card should be mounted without extending from the camera. And it should insert easily, without requiring force.
  2. Wrong type of card: Not all GoPro cameras will accept all types (size and speed) of micro SD cards. Be sure to check your camera’s specs before buying your SD card.
  3. Corrupted SD card / Improperly formatted: From my experience, this is the most common. I’ve had problems when switching cards between GoPro cameras. For some reason, it will sometimes seize up when I move the cards between different cameras – especially when there are images already on it. See the solution below.

Learn more with our GoPro SD Card Guide

When Your GoPro Says NO SD: Easy Fix 

GoPro Says No SD: To fix a corrupted SD card, just pop it out of your GoPro and into another camera that will recognize it and then format the card.

I’ve had success formatting a corrupted card in both a point-and-shoot camera and on a laptop.

Warning: Performing this format will delete all your images. If the images on your card are important, try to copy them onto your computer. I’ve had success a few times.

Okay, so you’ve formatted your card, and you’re almost good to go.

To be safe, I recommend formatting your card again (yes, a second time) after inserting it back into your GoPro camera. This ensures it’s ready to go with the new GoPro without any new SD errors.

Reset Your Camera: If your camera seems to be glitching out, and you’ve tried the above steps, you might consider resetting your GoPro. It is really easy and can fix a number of problems.

GoPro “NO SD” Error: Easy Fix for all GoPro Cameras (Hero2 through Hero8)

Here’s a 2-minute video showing how to fix the no SD error:

I’ve only had this problem when switching cards between GoPro cameras (Hero3 and Hero4). The last time it happened, I was camping and shooting a night lapse and my first card filled up.

I just grabbed a card out of another camera (that already had images on it) and stuck it in. It worked for a while, and then it seized and stopped capturing the stills. That finished my shoot – much earlier than I had planned.

To avoid this problem, make sure you bring enough cards for your shoot – and don’t switch cards between cameras. The risk of losing both sets of images is too great.

What If This Doesn’t Work?

If another camera doesn’t recognize the card, try formatting it on a computer.

If the computer doesn’t recognize the card, it might be physically damaged. There isn’t much to do now except buy a new one.

GoPro no SD error fix

More reading: How to Format an SD Card (5 Ways)

Learn more about the GoPro red light – what causes it and how to turn it off.

Your Turn

Did this fix work for you? How did you get your card working again? Join me in the comments!

Jonathan

Saturday 22nd of January 2022

Yeah, my SD card worked in another computer so that was not the issue :(

huw roberts

Saturday 17th of February 2018

i have a go pro hero, the basic one stuck to the case. it displays NO SD. formatted the card, still doesn't work. i have used several cards but the go pro still displays NO SD.. is my camera a goner?