Osmo Action 5 Pro overheating, restarting or not turning on

The Osmo Action 5 Pro gets hot mostly in high-spec modes like 4K/120fps, Subject Tracking and SuperNight, during long recordings, and when held in your hand without airflow. If it overheats, stops recording or restarts, let it cool, drop the resolution or frame rate, and turn off Wi-Fi when you don't need it. If it won't turn on, charge it with a USB PD charger and hold the Quick Switch button.

Osmo Action 5 Pro limits — From DJI's Osmo Action 5 Pro specs, FAQ and manual. Run time is DJI's lab figure with Wi-Fi and screens off; high-spec modes use more power and make more heat.

Why it heats up

DJI's FAQ says the camera uses more power, and gets noticeably warmer, in modes such as 4K/120fps video, 2.7K/60fps Subject Tracking and 4K/30fps SuperNight. Long sessions and handheld use add to it. The Action 5 Pro is sealed for waterproofing, so it relies on its body to shed heat. Moving air (biking, driving, water) keeps it cooler than holding it still in the sun.

DJI rates it to operate from -20° to 45° C (-4° to 113° F).

Fixes for overheating

Lower the settings. 4K/60 or 4K/30 runs cooler than 4K/120. Use high frame rates only for the clips that need them.
Turn off Wi-Fi and disconnect DJI Mimo when you're not using it. DJI's battery tests are done with Wi-Fi off.
Dim or turn off a screen. You can run just one screen from the camera menu.
Get airflow. Mount it on a moving bike, helmet or car, or set it in the shade between takes. Avoid hot dashboards.
Rest between long takes. Power off for a few minutes and let it cool.
Don't charge while recording in the heat unless you need to. Charging adds heat.
Update the firmware in DJI Mimo.

Keeps restarting

Low battery. DJI says a battery with very low voltage enters a low-power state and needs charging to exit it. Charge it fully.
Battery seating. Remove the battery, clean the battery and compartment with a dry cloth, and reinsert it.
The microSD card. A bad or slow card can cause crashes. Back up your files and format the card in the camera, or try another card. See Action 5 Pro SD cards.
Firmware. Update in DJI Mimo. If an update fails, DJI says to restart the camera and the app, check Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on, and try again.

Won't turn on

Use the right button. Press and hold the Quick Switch button to power on. Pressing and holding the Shutter button starts SnapShot recording instead.
Charge it. Use a USB-C charger that supports Power Delivery or PPS, as DJI recommends. A deeply drained battery may take a few minutes before it responds.
Check the temperature. The battery only charges between 5° and 40° C. A cold or hot battery won't charge until it's back in range.
Try another battery or run it on USB power. DJI says most modes work on USB power without a battery, except Subject Tracking and SuperNight.
Recharge stored batteries. DJI recommends a full charge and discharge every three months, and storing batteries at 40 to 65% if unused for 10 days or more. A battery left empty for months can be permanently damaged.

When to get it repaired

Start a repair if it won't power on with a known-good battery and charger, restarts on every battery, or overheats within minutes in cool weather. If a battery is swollen, stop using it.

Spare Extreme Battery Plus packs let you swap instead of waiting. For cooler-running settings, see Osmo Action 5 Pro settings and battery life. The Osmo Action 5 Pro product page has the full specs.