GoPro Hero 7 Charging Light Not On 

If you own a GoPro Hero 7 action camera, one of the most annoying issues you may face is the charging light not turning on when you try to charge the camera. A solid red charging light indicates the camera battery is being charged properly. However, if this light doesn’t come on, it likely means there is some problem like an issue with the battery or charging cable/adapter.

Not being able to charge your GoPro can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you need to use it urgently for filming some important event or activity. A non-functional camera with a flat battery isn’t going to be much use.

So why isn’t the charging light on your GoPro Hero 7 turning on? And more importantly, what can you do to fix this issue? This article will provide some troubleshooting tips to help get the charging indicator working again.

Why the Red Light of the GoPro Hero 7 isn’t Illuminating?

There could be a few possible reasons why your GoPro Hero 7 doesn’t display the solid red charging indicator light when connected to a charger:

Charging Source Doesn’t have Enough Voltage and Amp

The most common reason for the charging light not turning on is that the power source you’re using to charge the GoPro doesn’t provide enough voltage and amperage.

The GoPro Hero 7 battery requires constant 5V voltage with at least 1A current from the charger or power source to charge properly. If the charger/computer USB port cannot supply enough power, the camera will not go into charging mode.

So if you’re trying to charge your GoPro using a low-powered computer port or USB hub, the battery may not receive sufficient charge input. Try using the original GoPro wall charger instead, which is designed to meet the voltage and amperage needs.

Damaged Battery

Another possibility is that the rechargeable lithium-ion battery itself has become damaged due to overcharging or normal wear and tear over time.

A faulty battery will often fail to charge properly or display charging indicators. If your GoPro is working fine when powered externally via the USB cable but won’t charge the battery, then the battery itself might need replacing.

You can confirm battery damage by testing with a known good quality replacement battery. If the solid red light comes on with the new battery installed, then it confirms the earlier battery was bad.

Problematic Cable 

Sometimes there may be nothing wrong with the camera, battery, or charger. Instead, the issue could lie with the USB charging/data transfer cable used to connect the GoPro Hero 7 to the power source.

Faulty charging cables, especially low-quality non-original ones are a common cause of charging problems with GoPro cameras. Issues like loose connectors, damaged wiring, or missing pin contacts in the cable prevent sufficient power transfer to the camera.

So if your GoPro’s original charging cable is damaged, try replacing it with a brand new cable to rule out any connectivity issues. Use an original GoPro-branded cable for the best reliability.

What to Do to Fix the Charging Light of the GoPro Hero 7 isn’t Turning On Issue? 

If your GoPro Hero 7 doesn’t show the solid red charging indicator light, try these troubleshooting tips before giving up:

Try to Charge It Using a Wall Charger 

As mentioned earlier, insufficient voltage/amperage from the charging source is the most common reason why the GoPro’s battery won’t charge.

So first, disconnect your camera from the computer, power bank, or car charger you were trying to charge with. Instead, connect the GoPro directly to an original GoPro wall charger or the one that came bundled with your camera.

The wall charger can provide consistent 5V/1A (minimum) power output required for charging your GoPro optimally irrespective of other connected devices.

If the charging light glows solid red with the wall adapter, then lack of adequate power was the issue earlier. You may continue safely charging your Hero 7 via the wall socket.

Remove and Reinsert the Battery (Applicable for Black Edition Only)

If your GoPro Hero 7 black edition is failing to charge properly and does not display the solid red charging indicator light, try reseating the battery.  Before doing so, perform a soft reset – press and hold the power button for 10 seconds and then check whether the red light is illuminating or not. If this does not turn on the charging light, proceed to remove the battery completely and reinsert it back into the compartment while the GoPro is still plugged into the power source. 

With the battery re-fitted securely, press and hold the power mode button again for 10 more seconds to check if the red charging light starts glowing now. 

Change the Cable 

If your GoPro Hero 7 still fails to charge after trying different power sources and reinserting/replacing the battery, then the issue likely lies with the charging cable itself.

Damaged USB cables, loose connectors, and missing pin contacts are common culprits for charging problems in cameras. So replace the cable connecting the charger to your GoPro with a brand new one.

Only use original GoPro charging/data cables for maximum reliability. Also check the charger port and connector pins of the camera for any dust, corrosion, and signs of damage before connecting the fresh cable.

Hopefully, one of the above troubleshooting tips helps resolve the charging light not turning on a problem plaguing your GoPro Hero 7 camera. Worst case, you may need to replace the battery, cable, and charger all at once or send it for repair.

Change the Battery

If trying a wall charger makes no difference, the next step is attempting to replace the rechargeable battery seated inside the GoPro Hero 7.

For GoPro Hero 7 Black

The battery is removable in this model. It may have worn out, got damaged internally, or lost charging capacity – preventing it from charging further regardless of the power source.

A new replacement battery from GoPro is your best bet because third-party cheaper batteries can be of unreliable quality. Carefully open the housing and replace the existing battery with a fresh one. Properly install the new battery, connect your charger to the GoPro and check if the solid red light turns on.

If yes, it confirms the earlier battery had gone bad and needed change. You can continue using the camera with the new battery fitted inside.

For GoPro Hero 7 Silver/White

These models come with an inbuilt, non-removable rechargeable battery. So you cannot physically access or replace the battery yourself.

But if the original charging method stops working, it likely indicates the integrated battery has deteriorated or lost charging capacity over time.

You will need to contact GoPro support and inquire about the possibility of sending the camera for official GoPro battery replacement. This may be a paid service though.

Conclusion 

As an action camera user myself, I understand the annoyance when your GoPro refuses to charge properly. However, through my experience grappling with a non-glowing charging light, I learned there are some clearly identifiable issues that prevent charging – whether it’s the battery, cable, or charger incompatibility. By patiently inspecting each hardware piece and attempting reasonable solutions like battery reinsertion or cable replacement, you can isolate and fix the root cause yourself without panic. Proper accessories care also minimizes such charging disruptions. Hopefully, equipped with this reassuring perspective, you can resume charging your Hero 7 smoothly and continue capturing life’s adventures worry-free again! Let me know if any other GoPro charging snags need troubleshooting