This wikiHow teaches you how to connect your GoPro camera to your computer so you can download and edit the photos and videos you take. The easiest way to connect your camera to your computer is via the USB cable that came with your GoPro purchase. However, you can also use a micro SD card if your GoPro comes with one.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Connecting GoPro to Computer Via USB Cable
Step 1. Turn on the GoPro
Press the “Power”/“Mode” button on the front or top of the camera until the red indicator LED lights up.
If you are using a GoPro HERO3+ or earlier model, turn off WiFi on the camera before you connect the camera to the computer. There is a special button to turn WiFi on and off on the side of the camera
Step 2. Locate the USB port
On most GoPro models, you'll find a mini USB port on one side of the device.
Step 3. Connect the GoPro to the computer
Use the cable included in the camera package. Connect the USB mini-jack end to the camera, and plug the standard USB end into an empty USB port on the computer. When the GoPro recognizes the USB connection to the computer, the device will enter USB mode. The USB symbol will be displayed on the camera screen if the GoPro has a display.
- Connect the camera to one of the computer's main USB ports, and not a USB hub or port on a keyboard or monitor.
- On Mac computers, the camera icon will appear on the desktop. Double-click the icon to access photos and videos stored on the camera's micro SD card.
- On a Windows computer, go to “ My Computer ”, then locate and double-click the GoPro icon in the list of available drives.
- For older HERO7 and GoPro models, the Quik desktop app (Mac and Windows) opens.
Method 2 of 3: Connecting GoPro to Computer Via SD Card
Step 1. Remove the micro SD card from the GoPro
Not all GoPro models come with an additional storage card so if you're not sure if your device has an add-in card, use a USB cable to connect the camera to your computer.
Step 2. Insert the micro SD card into the adapter or card reader on the computer
For this step, you'll need an adapter that allows a regular-sized SD card reader slot to accommodate a micro-size card from a GoPro. You can also take advantage of an external card reader that can be connected to a computer via a USB connection. You can buy both from electronics or computer stores (eg Electronic Solution).
If you have an adapter that can fit a micro SD card, you will need to insert the adapter into the SD card reader slot on your computer
Step 3. Locate the GoPro files
After the computer reads the card, a file manager window will open (Finder on Mac computers and File Explorer on Windows computers). You'll find your GoPro SD card in that window (the name of the SD card will vary depending on the manufacturer).
Method 3 of 3: Troubleshooting
Step 1. Make sure you are using the correct USB settings (for HERO9 Black and HERO8 Black only)
Open menu “Preferences” > “Connections” > “USB Connections” and select " MTP ” if you want to use a USB connection to transfer files.
To use the camera as a webcam, select “ GoPro Connect ”.
Step 2. Turn your GoPro off and on again once it's connected
Your GoPro usually needs to be turned on when you connect it to your computer, but if that doesn't work, try turning the camera off and on again once it's connected to the computer.
Step 3. Check all connections
You may have a loose connection between the camera and the computer.
Step 4. Replace the USB cable
If your USB cable is plugged in without loss of connection, find out if the problem is with the cable by replacing it with another cable. If the second cable works fine, the problem is with the first cable.
Step 5. Try another USB port
The port you selected on your computer may not work so you may need to try a different port.
Step 6. Restart the computer and camera
If the previous steps did not help, try restarting the computer and camera. Disconnect the camera from the computer, restart the computer, and reconnect the GoPro to the computer.
