(4 Ways) How to Recover Deleted GoPro Video in 2025

I often run into situations where GoPro videos get accidentally deleted, whether it’s while organizing travel footage, exporting exciting action clips, or just handling daily recordings. So, I started looking for the most reliable and easy-to-use ways to recover deleted GoPro videos. Naturally, I turned to Reddit, where I found plenty of users facing the same problem and sharing tons of real, hands-on advice.

After testing several of those methods myself, I decided to put together this practical guide to show what actually works and what doesn’t. Hopefully, it’ll save you the time and trial-and-error I went through.

Emergency Actions After Deleting GoPro Videos

When videos are accidentally deleted, taking immediate and correct action is crucial. Here are the key steps to maximize the chances of recovering your lost video:

• Stop Using the GoPro and SD Card Immediately

Continuing to record or access the SD card may overwrite the deleted data, making recovery difficult or even impossible. Note that deleted files are not permanently erased at once but are simply marked as reusable space.

• Safely Remove the SD Card

Turn off your GoPro and gently remove the SD card from the slot. Avoid touching the metal contacts to prevent static electricity or physical damage.

• Do Not Format the SD Card

Formatting will rebuild the file system and may permanently erase recoverable data. Only consider this as a last resort if all other recovery methods have failed.

• Protect the GoPro and SD Card

Keep the device and storage card away from physical impact, liquids, extreme temperatures, and static electricity.

• Prepare Necessary Recovery Tools

Make sure you have a working computer (Windows or Mac) and a reliable SD card reader. Using an external card reader is generally more stable and faster than connecting the GoPro directly.

What Are the Most Common Causes of GoPro Video Loss

Why does your GoPro sometimes fail to read video files? This usually occurs when the storage system becomes corrupted or unrecognized. Generally, these issues can be divided into two main categories: operational/software-related and physical/hardware-related problems.

Issues that are often manageable through proper handling:

• Accidental deletion of files or formatting of memory cards
• Improper SD card ejection leading to file system errors
• Interrupted file transfers are causing incomplete data writing
• GoPro firmware bugs or failed system updates
• Virus infection from connected computers

Situations where professional recovery is strongly recommended:

• Physical damage to storage chips from impact, water, or heat
• Incorrect capacity display or unrecognized storage space
• Severely degraded read/write speed due to aging hardware
• Component failure is causing abnormal heating during operation
• Random data corruption appears sporadically across files

Method 1. Recover Deleted GoPro Video with AiRecover Data Recovery

One of the most effective ways to recover deleted GoPro videos is by using AiRecover Data Recovery, a 100% safe and reliable recovery software. The SD card recovery tool helps you recover videos easily and securely, whether they were accidentally deleted, lost due to formatting, or corrupted.

You can recover individual videos or restore entire folders at once. AiRecover Data Recovery supports common GoPro video formats like MP4 and HEVC, as well as photo files like JPEG and RAW. Furthermore, it offers batch recovery, making it ideal for restoring multiple files or large collections of GoPro footage in one go. You can also use it to recover digital cameras like DJI, Nikon, Fujifilm, etc.

As a professional GoPro video recovery solution, AiRecover Data Recovery allows you to retrieve deleted videos in their original quality and format. Simply set the scan target and recovery location, and you can recover your lost videos in seconds.

Here are some reasons why you can trust and choose AiRecover Data Recovery:

• 100% safe to install, free from malware or bundled software
• Recover files from multiple storage devices, including SD cards, USB drives, and hard drives
• Restore entire folders, multiple files, or complete datasets
• Support for GoPro video formats (MP4/HEVC) and photo files (JPEG/RAW)
• Recover data from formatted, corrupted, or inaccessible storage
• Deep scan technology ensures comprehensive file reconstruction
• Free trial available with file preview

Here is the guide on how to use AiRecover Data Recovery to restore deleted GoPro videos:

Step 1. Launch AiRecover Data Recovery on your computer and insert the GoPro SD card via a card reader. Select “USB/Memory Card Recovery” and click “Recover”.

Step 2. Choose your SD card from the list of available devices and click “Scan”. It will perform both quick and deep scans to locate all recoverable videos, including recently deleted ones.

Step 3. During the scan, browse detected files in folder view. Preview recoverable GoPro videos to check their integrity before recovery.

Step 4. Select the videos you want to restore and click “Recover”. Choose a safe location on your computer or external storage to save the video files.

Method 2. Recover Deleted GoPro Videos Using GoPro Quik App and Cloud Backup

GoPro Quik is an official app that allows you to recover deleted videos using cloud backup. With a GoPro subscription, your video can be automatically uploaded to the cloud before deletion, making it easy to retrieve lost videos.

To use GoPro Quik and cloud backup to recover deleted videos:

Step 1. Sign up and log in to your GoPro account

Step 2. Turn on the Auto-Upload feature so that videos are automatically backed up to the cloud whenever the camera is connected to Wi-Fi and charging.

Step 3. Open the GoPro Quik app or website to browse the videos that have been uploaded to your cloud storage.

Step 4. Locate the videos you need and click “Download” to save them to your computer or other storage devices.

Note: This method only works for videos that were uploaded to the cloud before deletion. It serves as a backup solution, not a recovery tool for files that were never uploaded.

Method 3. Use CHKDSK to Recover Deleted Video from GoPro

Except for using data recovery software or restoring from the Cloud, another method you can try is using the built-in disk repair tool on your computer, such as “CHKDSK” on Windows, to fix SD card errors. This can help access videos that are unreadable due to file system issues.

Follow this step-by-step guide to use CHKDSK to repair your GoPro SD card:

Step 1. Search for “cmd” or “Command Prompt” in the Windows search bar, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.

Step 2. Type the following command and press Enter: chkdsk X: /f /r. Replace “X” with the drive letter of your GoPro SD card.

Step 3. Then, it will scan the SD card to fix file system errors and repair bad sectors.

Note: CHKDSK mainly fixes logical errors and does not directly recover deleted files. In some cases, it may remove data that cannot be recovered. It’s recommended to back up the SD card before running this tool whenever possible.

Method 4. Turn to Data Recovery Services for Help

What if you’ve tried all recovery methods above but still can’t retrieve your GoPro videos? Maybe your SD card is physically damaged. For this, a dedicated data recovery service is an excellent choice.

These services don’t require you to do anything yourself. Instead, trained technicians work in a cleanroom lab to repair the storage device and extract the lost data at a chip level. You can send in your broken SD card and let the experts handle the recovery.

If your GoPro SD card is broken, water-damaged, or unreadable after capturing irreplaceable footage, a professional service gives you the best chance to save those memories.

Just contact a reputable data recovery service, ship your SD card, and they’ll provide a free evaluation. After you approve, they’ll start the recovery process and attempt to restore your videos safely.

The Bottom Line

No matter which recovery method you try, always stop using the SD card immediately before performing any operations. This simple step helps prevent new data from overwriting your deleted GoPro videos and greatly improves your chances of a successful recovery.

For most users, AiRecover Data Recovery remains the most reliable and user-friendly choice -  it scans the SD card deeply, lets you safely preview files, and restores multiple video formats without risking further damage. Compared with free or limited tools, it generally provides higher recovery success, better file integrity, and a smoother recovery experience.

FAQs on GoPro File Recovery

Q1: Is it possible to recover deleted GoPro videos?

Yes. As long as no new data has been recorded on the SD card after deletion, you can use professional data recovery software to scan the card. Most of the time, this allows you to successfully retrieve deleted GoPro video files.

Q2: How long does it take to recover GoPro videos?

The time required mainly depends on the capacity of your SD card and the scanning mode you choose. A typical deep scan usually takes a few minutes to several tens of minutes. If the SD card is very large or heavily damaged, a full and thorough scan may take several hours.