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How To Download GoPro Videos To Your PC

GoPro cameras are fantastic for filming videos, but unless you have a lot of storage on your SD card, you’ll probably want to upload your videos to your computer. Computers also have better editing software than the GoPro app, so you’ll need to get your footage off the camera if you’re planning on doing any serious video editing.

Transferring files using the SD card reader, using the Quik app, or connecting your GoPro directly to your computer using a USB cable will all enable you to get videos off the device and onto your computer. Moving the SD card from the camera to your PC is the fastest and easiest option.

To transfer files using the Quik app, your GoPro and the PC must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Once they’re connected, open the Quik app and select your GoPro from the list of devices. If you use the USB cable, ensure your computer has the GoPro drivers installed. Your computer should automatically detect the camera. If not, open the Windows Device Manager and look for your GoPro under USB devices. In more detail, let’s look at the ways of downloading GoPro files to your computer.

Can You Download Your GoPro Videos to a PC?

Gopro camera standing on desk

You might want to transfer files from your GoPro to a computer for several reasons. The most obvious reason is that computers have more storage than GoPro cameras.

Even if you have a 64GB SD card in your GoPro, you’ll eventually fill it up if you’re shooting many videos. Computers also have better editing software than the GoPro app. 

Additionally, uploading videos to a computer can free up space on your SD card so you can continue shooting without having to stop and delete old videos.

Some people prefer watching videos on a larger screen than what is available on a GoPro. If this is the case, you’ll need to transfer your videos to a computer to watch them.

How to Download Files to Your Computer

Use an SD Card Reader

The first and most straightforward way to download files from your GoPro is to use an SD card reader. This method requires no extra software or cables—all you need is the SD card and an SD card reader (which usually comes bundled with the camera).

To use this method:

  1. Remove the SD card from your GoPro and insert it into the SD card reader.
  1. Once the card is inserted, a folder will open up showing all of the files on the card.
  1. Find the video you want to transfer, select it, and then click Copy (or “Ctrl + C” on a PC). 
  1. Next, open up the folder on your computer where you want to save the video and click Paste (or “Ctrl+V”).

The transfer will start, and the video will be saved to your computer. This is the fastest way to download GoPro videos to your computer, but it does have a few drawbacks.

The biggest downside is that you’ll need to remove the SD card from your camera whenever you want to transfer videos, which can be a hassle if you use the GoPro frequently. Additionally, if you’re using a microSD card, you’ll need an adapter to insert it into a standard SD card reader.

Use the GoPro Quik App

The GoPro Quik app is a handy tool that can be used for downloading, editing, and sharing GoPro videos. The app is free on Windows and Mac computers and iOS and Android devices.

To use the app:

  1. Connect your GoPro to your computer using a USB cable or Wi-Fi connection (more on that later). 
  1. Once the connection is established, open up the Quik app and select your GoPro from the list of devices. All videos on your camera will be displayed in the app window.
  1. Find the video you want to transfer and click Download.
  1. The video will begin transferring to your computer and will be saved in the default location (usually the Pictures folder).

One of the great things about using the GoPro Quik app is that it doesn’t require removing the SD card from your camera. This means you can continue shooting while videos are transferred in the background.

The app also has some basic editing features, so you can trim and merge videos right from the app before moving them to your computer. However, one downside of the GoPro Quik app is that it doesn’t give you as much control over where your videos are saved as other methods do.

USB Plug-In

The third way to download GoPro videos is using a USB cable to connect the camera directly to your computer. This is the recommended method by GoPro, as it’s the fastest and most reliable way to transfer files.

To use this method:

  1. Connect your GoPro to your computer using a USB cable.
  1. Once the connection is established, your computer should automatically recognize the camera and open up a folder showing all of the files on the SD card.
  1. Find the video you want to transfer and click Copy (or “Ctrl+C” on a PC).
  1. Next, open up the folder on your computer where you want to save the video and click Paste (or “Ctrl+V”). The transfer will start, and the video will be saved to your computer.

This method gives you more control over where your videos are saved since you can choose the destination folder before starting the transfer. However, one downside of using a USB cable is that it requires an extra piece of equipment—namely, the USB cable itself.

Deleting Files From a GoPro

A man holding camera

Once you have transferred the videos you want to keep to your computer, it’s a good idea to delete them from your GoPro (on Amazon) camera to free up space on the SD card. To do this, connect your GoPro to your computer using a USB cable.

Once the connection is established, open up the folder containing the files on your GoPro. Next, find the video you want to delete and click Delete (or “Ctrl+D” on a PC). The file will be deleted from your GoPro, and the space will be freed up for new videos.

You can also delete files directly from your GoPro camera without connecting it to a computer. To do this, press the Mode button on your GoPro until you get to the Delete menu. Next, find the video you want to delete and press the Shutter/Select button.

A message will pop up asking if you’re sure you want to delete the file. Press the Shutter/Select button again to confirm, and the file will be deleted.

In Conclusion

Downloading videos from a GoPro camera to your computer doesn’t have to be complicated. Using one of the methods described above, you can easily transfer your videos to start editing and sharing them with the world.