Losing your videos or other data files can be an awful experience. It spoils everything in a matter of seconds. Whether you store data on computers, SD cards in digital cameras, or any other storage device, your data files remain prone to corruption, deletion, or loss. The same is the case with the GoPro camera.
GoPro captures high-quality videos and photos, especially in challenging situations and environments, which is why it is considered one of the finest action cameras. It still can’t fully protect your material. Have your GoPro videos been lost or deleted all of a sudden? Don’t worry, as this guide presents multiple methods to recover GoPro videos without compromising their originality.
Part 1. Leading Causes of GoPro Data Loss
Before getting into the specifics of how to recover GoPro files, let’s first understand the leading reasons behind losing your data files from the camera.
- Transfer Errors: If the video transfer process is interrupted, it may make your content inaccessible or corrupt. This issue occurs when the GoPro camera or SD card is not connected correctly.
- Formatting: If your SD card is formatted accidentally, you may lose all the videos stored on it. If you have performed a Quick Format, you can use a data recovery tool to restore the data. However, you can’t undo a Full Format.
- Accidental Deletion: While clearing some space on the SD card, you may unintentionally delete some important videos. It may happen when you connect the SD card to your computer. It can also occur within the GoPro camera.
- File System Corruption: Normal wear and tear, interrupted formatting, and improper ejection. They may all cause file system corruption. You won’t be able to access videos from a corrupted SD card.
- Physical Damage: A GoPro camera may not withstand extreme temperatures. It may physically damage if used in such environments. The SD card may also experience this physical damage.
Part 2. What to Do If GoPro Videos Are Lost?
If your GoPro videos are deleted or lost, consider the following things before attempting to recover them.
- Stop Using GoPro: Avoid using the camera to prevent the overwriting issue, as it makes recovery next to impossible, even for advanced data recovery tools.
- Remove the SD Card: If the videos are deleted or erased from the GoPro SD card, immediately remove it from the camera, and insert another SD card for further use.
- Don’t Format the SD Card: When you connect the affected SD card to a computer for recovery, you may see a notification or a pop-up message asking for formatting. Never format the SD card, as this may reduce your chances of recovery.
- Create an Image of the SD Card: The image of your memory card allows you to replicate its content. Therefore, if you think that your memory card will soon die, create its disk image immediately.
Part 3. How to Recover GoPro Videos?
Now that you know the reasons behind losing your photos and videos from the GoPro camera, and are familiar with what to do in case of data loss. It is time to learn how to recover deleted files from GoPro, thereby maintaining their original quality. And we will show you a free data recovery software that can easily get your lost data back from any devices, including GoPro, camera, SD cards, etc.
Method 1. Windows File Recovery
Microsoft developed this command-line utility to help you restore deleted files from various data storage devices, including but not limited to SSDs, HDDs, USB flash drives, and SD cards (including GoPro memory cards). Windows 10 and 11 users can easily download this tool from the Microsoft Store. This tool can help you recover videos from both deleted and formatted memory cards.
Here is how you can use Windows File Recovery to recover GoPro videos for free.
Step 1: Open the Microsoft Store on your computer, search for Windows File Recovery, and tap on the Get button to download it to your system.
Step 2: Wait for the tool to get installed. Once done, hit the Open button. A new window will appear, sharing a few examples of how you can use this utility, as shown below.
Step 3: Type the “winfr J: D extensive /n gopro” command and hit Enter on the keyboard. It uses an extensive mode to recover deleted videos. You can replace “D” with the drive letter of the recovery destination and “J” with the drive letter of your SD card connected to the GoPro camera.
Method 2. Use ATTRIB
The Command Prompt (CMD) is a built-in Windows tool that enables you to restore data from various storage devices, including your GoPro SD cards. This tool uses various commands to restore lost data files from different storage devices. The attrib command lets you recover GoPro files. Here’s how you can use this command-line tool to recover your deleted videos.
Step 1: Search for CMD on your computer, right-click on it, and select Run as administrator.
Step 2: Type the “attrib -h -r -s /s /d J:\” command and press Enter on your keyboard. You can replace the letter “J” with the drive letter of the SD card in your GoPro camera. Once you choose the correct drive letter, the attrib command will fix your hidden or corrupted GoPro videos.
Method 3. Use GoPro Plus
It is a cloud-based service introduced to protect your photos and videos by creating automated backups whenever your GoPro camera connects to the internet. To perform a quick GoPro data recovery, follow these steps.
Step 1: Log in to your account on the GoPro official website. Alternatively, you can log in to the GoPro Quick application.
Step 2: Search for the deleted GoPro footage from your SD card on the website. Alternatively, open the app, go to Media, and choose Cloud.
Note: You can only benefit from this tool if you have a GoPro Plus subscription.
Method 4. Use a Third-Party GoPro Data Recovery Tool
Have you tried your luck with the above methods? Didn’t get successful? There’s nothing to be worried about. Recoverit – Data Recovery will help you recover deleted GoPro videos, without compromising their quality. Follow the steps below.
Step 1: Connect your GoPro SD card to your computer.
Step 2: Download and open the tool.
Step 3: Navigate to Hard Drives and Locations from the main interface and choose the SD card under External Drives.
Step 4: Recoverit will search for your lost/deleted GoPro videos.
Step 5: Once Recoverit finishes the scanning process, click the Preview button to preview the recoverable video. Hit Recover if it is okay.
Ending Note
Though GoPro cameras are known for their durability, adventure filming, high-resolution capture, and waterproof design, they are prone to accidental deletion and corruption of videos and photos.
You may lose GoPro videos due to various reasons, e.g., incorrect removal and formatting. Regardless of how your data was lost, you can now recover GoPro videos using the Windows File Recovery, the ATTRIB command, GoPro Plus, and a reliable data recovery tool like Recoverit.
FAQs
What is the best GoPro data recovery tool?
Recuva, Recoverit, and PhotoRec are listed among the top-tier data recovery tools. Recoverit is a more advanced utility trusted by millions of users worldwide.
Can I restore videos from the GoPro camera after formatting my SD card?
Yes, dedicated tools like Recoverit can recover your GoPro videos, even if the memory card is formatted, but not overwritten.
Can I restore GoPro videos without using a computer?
Yes, it is doable with limited recovery options. GoPro Quick app and other similar mobile applications offer cloud access. However, full recovery can only be performed with a Mac or PC.
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