You don’t want some stranger looking at your latest travel photos or videos, do you?Īnd if you just purchased a used memory card, I would definitely recommend formatting it before first use even if the seller said they already did it. The first reason is for privacy and to prepare the memory card for use for the next user.
There are no negatives to reformatting your card so feel free to do it as often as you’d like. Think of it like spring cleaning for your camera card but instead of once a year, you’re doing it a bit more often. So now that you understand why you should format your card and how it’s different from deleting your photos and videos, let’s talk about when you should do it.Ī good rule of thumb is to format your card every month or so. Some image data may still remain on the card and it’s even possible, with software, to recover parts of an image/video or even the entire file. Repeating this process of deleting files without reformatting the card can leave lots of these little file fragments that could eventually compromise or reduce the performance and reliability of your memory card over time. When you simply delete all of your videos and pictures (whether directly on the GoPro or on your computer), there are still some fragments and files left on the card. How is Formatting Different from Deleting the Files? It is recommended to reformat your card regularly to ensure maximum performance and reliability with your GoPro.
Shown below is a slideshow of how to reformat a HERO6 Black. However, the steps are a bit different from model to model. Whether you have a HERO8 or one of the original HD Hero cameras, it’s possible to reformat the card inside of the camera. If you’re here to learn how to format your card, we’re covering that next. In other words, the card can properly communicate and function with your GoPro in the most reliable way possible. In this case, data means videos and photos. Memory Card Formatting is essentially the process of preparing the card for data storage. We’ll show you how to do it as well as the benefits of formatting your GoPro’s card.įormatting your GoPro Memory Card is the best way to REMOVE all existing GoPro Videos and Pictures from your card, PREPARE it for use in your GoPro and MAXIMIZE the Performance and Reliability. You will have to use the Capture app.Let me guess…you’re searching for How to Format SD Card for GoPro, right? You cannot format SD cards in these camera using the camera options. Format SD card in GoPro Hero5 Session, Hero4 Session and Hero Sessionįormatting SD cards on Hero5 Session, Hero4 Session and Hero Session is easy and could be done by following the same method: Tap this option and then select “Delete”. Go to Preferences and then scroll down to the bottom until you see the “Format SD Card” option. Now open the menu on the back screen with side button. Insert the SD card in your Hero5 Black camera and turn it on. If you want to format SD Card on Hero5 Black, follow the steps below. I will now tell you how to format SD card on different models of GoPro. Yes, there are options using which you can free up space in your SD card with your computer, but GoPro has some sensitive file systems, and it is always safe to format SD card on the camera. The best way to format a GoPro camera is to do it in-camera. Format SD Card in GoPro Hero4, Hero5, Session For example, formatting SD card of Hero 4 isn’t same as formatting SD card on Hero 5. Different models of GoPro have different ways to format SD card. That’s why you should format SD card of GoPro.
As GoPro is a small device, the internal memory isn’t enough to last months if you are a regular user. If you own a GoPro, you must be feeling the need to format SD card on GoPro as you need to free up space to get more photos and data. GoPro is the best action camera in the world.