GoPros are a great way to capture all the action, whether you’re recording a video of your latest extreme sports adventure or simply documenting an average day in your life. But a question that often comes up is how long a GoPro can actually record for.
A GoPro can’t record for 24 hours non-stop. It will either run out of battery power or storage space. Most GoPros last about 2 hours at 1080p, and even at lower resolutions and frame rate, a GoPro won’t last more than 4 hours. Newer models, however, can record while plugged in.
If you’re really aching to record for an extended period, don’t worry; there are some options out there for you. Let’s take a closer look at how long a GoPro will last and what you can do to maximize recording time and storage space.
Can a GoPro Record for 24 Hours Straight?
A GoPro can’t record for 24 hours straight. The battery will die, and the SD card will fill up. You can connect an external power source to the GoPro to extend the recording time.
Additionally, you’ll need quite a large SD card if you plan to record for long periods. Looping is another option to record for long periods, but it will overwrite the footage that has already been recorded when the card becomes full.
Newer GoPros from the HERO6 and up can also be plugged in to extend recording time, but this isn’t ideal as it prevents the battery from charging and may cause the camera to overheat. This also means you can only use the GoPro where you have access to a charger.
How Long Do GoPro Batteries Last?
For normal recording, the battery life of a GoPro is between 1.5 and 2 hours. However, this varies depending on the resolution and frame rate that you’re recording at. Higher resolutions and frame rates will drain the battery faster.
If you’re using the WiFi connection or GPS, it will also use more battery power. The HERO10 Black (on Amazon) touts a recording duration of 2 hours and 10 minutes at 4K and 30fps, 1 hour and 30 minutes at 4K and 60fps, and 1 hour at 5.3K and 60fps. Older batteries tend to be less efficient at storing power and drain faster.
If you have an external battery pack, you can theoretically record for as long as the battery pack lasts. However, there are a few things to consider when doing this.
The first is that the GoPro will get hot after extended use and may overheat and shut down. It’s also important to ensure that the battery pack is compatible with the GoPro.
How to Make a GoPro Battery Last Longer
There are a few things you can do to make your GoPro battery last longer. One is to avoid using the WiFi connection or GPS if you don’t need to, as these features will drain the battery faster.
You don’t need to use a WiFi connection when recording; you can connect later to transfer the files. Another way to make your battery last longer is to lower the resolution and frame rate.
4k and HD recording use a lot of power, and when combined with higher frame rates, they shorten the recording time. You can also buy an external battery pack.
However, as we mentioned, you need to be careful when using one, as the GoPro can overheat. It’s also important to check that the battery pack you’re using is compatible with your GoPro model to avoid damaging the camera. We recommend the YOLOtek JUICEBOX (on Amazon).
Battery efficiency drops over time, and new batteries tend to be more powerful and last longer than older ones. If your GoPro battery isn’t lasting as long as it used to, it might be time for a replacement.
When to Replace a GoPro Battery
One way to tell if your GoPro battery is dead is if it’ll no longer hold a charge. This can be tested by charging the battery and then unplugging the charger to see how long it lasts before needing to be recharged again.
If it only lasts for a short period or doesn’t hold a charge at all, then the battery is likely dead and needs to be replaced.
Another way to tell if your GoPro battery is dead is if it won’t power on the camera. This can be tested by connecting the battery to the camera and trying to turn it on.
If nothing happens, or the camera powers on for a brief moment and then shuts off again, then the battery isn’t providing enough power to keep the camera running and needs to be replaced.
If you decide to replace the battery, ideally make it a GoPro-branded one. This is not to say that other batteries won’t work with your GoPro. Still, to get the best performance, and avoid any potential damage or issues, it’s generally recommended that you use GoPro-branded batteries.
Original batteries also come with warranties from the manufacturer. If you’re using a GoPro that has a built-in battery, you’ll need to take it to a service center to replace the battery as this is not something that users can do themselves.
Time-Lapse Mode
Time-lapse mode drains the battery at a similar rate to recording video because the GoPro is powered on regardless of the set interval. The camera doesn’t switch off between shots, so the power consumption is constant, irrespective of whether you’re using an interval of 5 or 60 seconds. At best, you get about 2 hours out of the battery.
There are options available to conserve power, like disabling WiFi and GPS, recording in lower resolutions/frame rates, and using a power-saving mode if your GoPro has one. If you’re using the GoPro indoors, you can connect it to a power outlet to avoid running out of battery.
If you’re using the GoPro outdoors and want to extend the battery life, then consider using an external battery pack. This will give you more power to work with and extend the amount of time you can record for.
Depending on the interval you set, time-lapse mode can also quickly fill up your memory card. A 16GB card can hold about 4 hours of 720p footage at 30fps with a 5-second interval. If you’re using a higher resolution, frame rate, or shorter interval, you’ll fill up your memory card faster.