How to Delete GoPro Videos

Clear your SD card so you can capture more action

By
Molly McLaughlin
Molly McLaughlin
Molly McLaughlin
Senior Editor & Content Strategist
Molly K. McLaughlin has been a technology editor and writer for over a dozen years. She runs product reviews for Lifewire, overseeing the process from hands-on testing to publishing.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on March 22, 2021

What to Know

  • For HERO7, HERO6, and HERO5, go to Preferences > Reset > Format SD Card > Format or Delete.
  • For GoPro Fusion, go to Settings > Preferences > Format > Both.
  • In the GoPro App, go to GoPro Media > Edit > select files > Delete.

This article explains how to delete videos and photos from the GoPro HERO9, GoPro HERO8, GoPro HERO7 Black, Silver, and White, the HERO6 Black, HERO 5 Black, GoPro Fusion, and GoPro HERO5 Session.

Cyclist mounting the action camera on mountain bike.
lzf / Getty

If you have an older model, you can find instructions on GoPro’s website.

Delete Videos From the HERO7, HERO6, and HERO5

Deleting recordings from your GoPro is the easiest way you can be sure you have enough room for your next adventure. The most recent GoPro cameras don’t have any onboard storage; everything is saved to a memory card. That might seem like a downside, but it actually allows for a more convenient way to manage your video.

The instructions are similar for the GoPro HERO7 Black, Silver, and White and the HERO6 Black, HERO5 Black.

  1. Power the camera on, making sure the SD card is inserted.

  2. Swipe down on the display.

  3. Tap Preferences.

  4. On a HERO 7, scroll to the bottom and tap Reset > Format SD Card > Format.

  5. On a HERO6 or HERO5, scroll to the bottom and tap Format SD Card > Delete.

  6. This action reformats and clears the memory card.

Delete Files From the GoPro Fusion

The GoPro Fusion works differently from the HERO cameras. There is only one way to delete Fusion files: directly from the camera.

  1. Power the Fusion on, making sure the SD card is inserted.

  2. Press the side Mode button repeatedly until Settings (wrench icon) is displayed. 

  3. Press the front Shutter button to enter the Settings menu.

  4. Press the front Shutter button repeatedly (5x) to access the Preferences menu (gear icon).

  5. Press the side Mode button repeatedly until Format is highlighted. 

  6. Press the front Shutter button to enter the format menu.

  7. Press the front Shutter button to select "BOTH" and begin formatting both SD cards. Formatting the cards deletes all files.

Your Fusion camera allows you to format both cards, or each card, individually. We recommend treating the SD cards in Fusion as a pair in all processes, and therefore suggest formatting both SD cards simultaneously.

Delete Videos Using the Quik App

The process of deleting photos and videos using the Quik app is the same for all GoPro models. 

  1. Launch the Quik app on your smartphone

  2. Tap the GoPro Media icon (grid).

  3. To delete specific files, tap Edit, then choose the ones you want to remove.

  4. To delete the most recent file you captured or delete all files, go to Settings (wrench icon).

  5. Scroll down and tap Delete.

  6. Select Last to delete the most recent capture or All/Format to remove everything.

Delete GoPro Files With a Computer

For all GoPro models except the Fusion:

  1. Plug the microSD card into your computer’s card reader.

  2. Open up the SD card in a file browser.

  3. Drag and drop the files you want to delete to the trashcan.

If you'd like to delete all files, hit Control + A on a Windows computer or Command + A on an Apple Mac to select all files, then drag and drop to the trash.

Was this page helpful?