Have you recently recorded some footage on your GoPro only for the camera to become unresponsive for minutes at a time while displaying the “BUSY” message? When was the last time you carried out a full format of your SD Card? Are you recording high-definition 4k footage while using an SD card not listed on the GoPro recommended list?
If you answered yes to any of the above-mentioned questions then this article will explain exactly why your GoPro is displaying the infamous “BUSY” message.
Your GoPro may display the “BUSY” message if any of the following apply:
- You are using a slow/incorrect SD card
- Your SD card has not been properly formatted in a while
- The SD card is physically dislodged
Now that we know the potential culprits, let’s investigate the above-mentioned reasons in a bit more detail.
Why Does My GoPro Say “BUSY” – A FEW REASONS
Solution #1 – Incorrect/Slow SD Card
Usually, when you get the “BUSY” message on your GoPro camera it means there is a communication lock between the camera and the SD card. Usually, it means data is being written to the SD card and the camera should not be interrupted while it is still busy processing and writing to the card.
If the process is disturbed before the GoPro has completed writing to the card, it could result in damage to the card and corrupted footage. If you are using a small/slow SD Card and you’re recording a 4K video, it takes a while to write that large data, high-resolution footage to the SD Card.
After multiple writing and erasing of 4K high definition data accompanied by heavy use, the flash memory systems micro SD cards operate with do eventually wear out
With ever-changing high-performance technology coupled with rigorous usage typically means your SD card has a limited lifespan of approximately 10 years or so. After multiple writing and erasing of 4K high definition data accompanied by heavy use, the flash memory systems micro SD cards operate with do eventually wear out. To consistently achieve the best results with your GoPro camera it is important to select micro SD cards that are known to work well with your camera.
SD Cards That Work with GoPro Cameras
We recommend only purchasing name-brand SD cards through official resellers.
| Camera | Minimum Requirements | Recommended SD Cards |
| HERO10 Black | microSD card with v30 or UHS-3 rating | Sandisk Extreme, Extreme Plus, Extreme Pro: 32/64/128/256/512GB Lexar Professional 1066x Silver Series: 64/128/256/512GB |
| HERO9 Black HERO8 Black MAX HERO7 Black and older cameras (* See exceptions below) | microSD card with at least Class 10 or UHS-1 rating | Sandisk Extreme, Extreme Plus, Extreme Pro: 32/64/128/256/512GB Lexar Professional 1066x Silver Series: 64/128/256/512GB |
Solution #2 – FORAMT SD CARD
If you are suddenly experiencing the “BUSY” message after working with a specific SD card for a while then it’s probably a good idea to format your card again. Another tell-tale sign is if a perfectly working SD card suddenly doesn’t get recognized by the GoPro after working fine all along.
It is highly recommended to regularly format your SD card before each use on the camera. However, if the card is not being recognized or causing performance issues then follow the below procedure to do a full format.
It is highly recommended to regularly format your SD card before each use on the camera.
First and foremost, be aware that your GoPro alone will not always be able to resolve this issue and you’ll need a computer to implement this fix.
- First, you want to remove the card from the GoPro and insert it into a PC and do a backup.
- Next, you want to format the card (full format)
- Lastly, run a chkdisk command on the card
The chkdisk will check your corrupted SD card and fix any corruption on the card. This process can take several minutes, depending on the speed and size of the SD card storage. The level and amount of corruption also affect the chkdisk time. Once chkdsk is done checking the card, it will prompt you to save lost chains.
The chkdisk will check your corrupted SD card and fix any corruption on the card.
Once that is completed, insert the card back into the GoPro and format it again so that it can use the correct file structure for your camera.
HERO 10 Black, HERO9 Black, HERO8 Black, MAX, HERO7 Black, HERO7 Silver, HERO7 White:
- Copy any desired files from your camera’s SD card to your computer.
- Ensure that the SD card is installed in the camera, then power the camera on.
- Swipe down on the touch display (HERO9/10 Black, Swipe left after swiping down).
- Tap [Preferences].
- Scroll to the bottom of Preferences and tap [Reset].
- Tap [Format SD Card].
- Tap [Format] on the next screen to erase and reformat your micro SD card.
Solution #3 – DISLODGED SD CARD
GoPro’s are after all action cameras, which means they are designed to be used in extreme sports and mounted to all possible weird and wonderful places, which puts them at risk of taking a few heavy knocks and falls along the way.
The camera might have taken a heavy knock or fall which resulted in the SD card becoming slightly dislodged.
Try removing the SD card and then turning the camera on to check if it still freezes. If, after removing the card the camera behaves, then obviously the problem most likely stems from the card. Make sure the SD card is seated securely in the micro SD slot.
WATCH – GOPRO HERO SD CARD ERROR – FIX
Why Does My GoPro Keep Freezing
Nothing can be more frustrating than getting the rare opportunity to capture that perfect shot or video clip, only to have your GoPro camera freeze on you. There are multiple reasons which can cause your GoPro camera to behave this way and we’ll discuss each cause and solution in detail here, so keep reading.
A GoPro camera can freeze due to any of the following 5 reasons:
- Outdated firmware
- Incorrect SD card
- Dislodged SD Card
- Dislodged/Faulty battery
- Camera needs a reset
Now let’s look at a few troubleshooting steps and solutions in more detail. Before you continue, make sure you’ve switched off all the camera connections i.e. Wi-Fi, GPS, Voice Control, and that you’ve removed any BacPac accessories.
For the full article click the link below
What GoPro Users Have to Say
GoPro User experience/Feedback #1
My GoPro Hero4 Silver when turned on is in ‘BUSY’, without any possibility of use, for more than one minute. Can you tell me what the problem is for this abnormal delay to happen?
Right now, before sending this message, I opened gopro and took out the battery to see the serial number and when I put the battery back in and turned it on it did not present this problem. However, this was only the first time. Then, in the next ones, it continued to be ‘BUSY’.
I would appreciate help.
https://community.gopro.com/s/question/0D53b00008BtJuoCAF/gopro-stays-busy-for-more-than-1-minute-after-calling?language=en_US
GoPro User experience/Feedback #2
hi, so today i went to pick my camera , which i have used a lot of times, (GOPRO Hero Session) and out of sudden it shows up a “BUSY” message on screen. don’t know why it is stuck in this error…
https://community.gopro.com/s/question/0D53b00008BtdcaCAB/busy-message-on-screen?language=en_US
GoPro User experience/Feedback #3
I have been trying to pair my Hero 5 Session to the GoPro Quik app on my iPhone 11 iOS 15. It would not work after several attempts – receiving the message “Please try again” whenever I selected CAMERA INFO and CONNECT NEW DEVICE.
I was instructed to manually update my camera; which I did. Now whenever I turn the camera on it says, “BUSY”. I am able to select the CONNECTION SETTINGS, but I still receive the same messgae “Please try again” whenever I select anything within that menu.
I have rest my camera to factory settings and installed the update, still not resolved. I was speaking with Support for over an hour and they couldn’t solve it. Anyone here have any solutions?
https://community.gopro.com/s/question/0D53b00008BtgvRCAR/hero-5-session-busy?language=fr
Resources
- https://community.gopro.com/s/question/0D53b00008BtJuoCAF/gopro-stays-busy-for-more-than-1-minute-after-calling?language=en_US
- https://community.gopro.com/s/question/0D53b00008BtdcaCAB/busy-message-on-screen?language=en_US
- https://community.gopro.com/s/question/0D53b00008BtgvRCAR/hero-5-session-busy?language=fr
- Photo by Tigran Hambardzumyan on Unsplash
Conclusion
- Make sure you regularly format your SD Card to ensure optimum performance for as long as possible.
- Make sure you are using an SD card that is recommended by GoPro
- If your action camera has taken a few hard knocks, it’s always good practice to ensure the battery and SD card are still seated properly. Open it up from time to time and reseat to prevent performance issues later on.
