VIRB Elite, locks up and will not respond to any of the buttons

Make sure you don't touch the Ok button repeatedly because that will lock it up right away forcing a reboot. Two times in a row is enough.

virb elite locking up

Make sure you don't touch the Ok button repeatedly because that will lock it up right away forcing a reboot. Two times in a row is enough.

So I have been following this and periodically hoping that the firmware updates will resolve the issue. I have been using the virb for skate skiing this winter, as well as bike rides (head mount and handlebar mount). Withou fail, it has locked up on every workout/ride. I am typically taking pictures and doing video. When it locks up I often don't know it (running in upside-down mode on my handlebar so i can't see the screen, or on my head where i can't see my screen). So there have been many times when I thought i was taking pictures or video, but when i got home and checked....locked up and no pictures/video (or only the pics/video taken before the lockup). I've tried only taking pictures when NOT recording video (although this supposedly should be possible). I'm typically linking the virb to my powermeter and my garmin HRM. I have also tried using the remote capability with a garmin 510.

I am using a sandisk ultra 64 gb microsdxc class 10 card.

I'm doing my final attempt at resolving before I contact garmin....i did the following:
1. Erase card via the UI on the virb
2. Reset via holding the down arrow, powering on, and selecting the reset.
3. restoring the latest firmware via the garmin web updater.

After doing this I've re-paired my hrm, powermeter, and set it up.

I will try this on my next outing to see if it resolves the issue. If not, and I still have the lock-up, I'll contact Garmin customer support.


I think the garmin products are great and I hope I can get the issues resolved soon if the steps above don't do the trick.

mine locked up on my last couple of rides while recording. holding power never would shut it down so i yanked battery several times on each ride.

sucks to lose footage and have to mess with this...

There has never been once in my experience where holding the power button in has failed to restart a locked camera. You're probably not holding it in properly.

There has never been once in my experience where holding the power button in has failed to restart a locked camera. You're probably not holding it in properly.

If i can't hold a power button down properly then I need to quit life...

Viewfinder would show a frame it froze on while recording and holding power down did nothing. Tried that each time first. It froze at least 3 times each the last 2 rides. Will be testing on extended ride again this sat.

If i can't hold a power button down properly then I need to quit life...

Or get a better grip on it.

So I have been following this and periodically hoping that the firmware updates will resolve the issue. I have been using the virb for skate skiing this winter, as well as bike rides (head mount and handlebar mount). Withou fail, it has locked up on every workout/ride. I am typically taking pictures and doing video. When it locks up I often don't know it (running in upside-down mode on my handlebar so i can't see the screen, or on my head where i can't see my screen). So there have been many times when I thought i was taking pictures or video, but when i got home and checked....locked up and no pictures/video (or only the pics/video taken before the lockup). I've tried only taking pictures when NOT recording video (although this supposedly should be possible). I'm typically linking the virb to my powermeter and my garmin HRM. I have also tried using the remote capability with a garmin 510.

I am using a sandisk ultra 64 gb microsdxc class 10 card.

I'm doing my final attempt at resolving before I contact garmin....i did the following:
1. Erase card via the UI on the virb
2. Reset via holding the down arrow, powering on, and selecting the reset.
3. restoring the latest firmware via the garmin web updater.

After doing this I've re-paired my hrm, powermeter, and set it up.

I will try this on my next outing to see if it resolves the issue. If not, and I still have the lock-up, I'll contact Garmin customer support.


I think the garmin products are great and I hope I can get the issues resolved soon if the steps above don't do the trick.

I just wanted to provide an update on this. Went on a 3+ hour group ride last night with about 30 pics and lots of video. No lock-ups! Fingers are crossed and hope the problems are behind me.

On the forced power-down when locked, I always need to hold down for what seems like 30sec before it reboots. And he button is tough to keep pressd that long due to its recessed nature.

a rarely open mountainbiking venue was open today and we got a group ride in. i of course brought the camera. it froze >10 times (lost count)...

going to do the above as well and hope this frustration stops as i missed a bunch of good footage today dammit

And he button is tough to keep pressd that long due to its recessed nature.

Agreed - if my camera locks up and I press the power button, if it doesn't seem to restart after 20 seconds or so, I move my finger and try again. It never fails to shutdown/restart after a couple of tries.