How to Delete GoPro Videos

Clear your SD card so you can capture more action

Cyclist mounting an action camera on mountain bike.

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by Molly McLaughlin
Molly K. McLaughlin has been a technology writer since 2004. Her work has appeared on PCMag, Dealnews, Wirecutter, and others.
Updated May 20, 2019

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's actually allows for a more convenient way to manage your video.

When it's time to free up some space, there are a few ways you can do it.

These instructions apply to the GoPro HERO7 Black, Silver, and White, the HERO6 Black, HERO 5 Black, GoPro Fusion, and GoPro HERO5 Session. If you have an older model, you can find instructions on GoPro’s website.

Delete Videos From the HERO7, HERO6, and HERO5

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

  1. Power the camera on, making sure the SD card in 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 the only 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 at the same time.

Delete Videos Using the GoPro App

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

  1. Launch the GoPro 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 to 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 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.