When it comes to choosing the right SD card format for your GoPro camera, there are a few important factors to consider. The SD card format you use can impact performance, compatibility, and recording capacities. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the pros and cons of the main GoPro SD card formats to help you decide which one is the best choice for your needs.
Quick Answers
Here are the key points about GoPro SD card formats:
- GoPro cameras support microSD cards in the exFAT, FAT32, and NTFS formats
- exFAT is the best overall choice for most users due to its large file size support and wide compatibility
- FAT32 has a 4GB limit per file, but offers max compatibility with computers and devices
- NTFS is less compatible but can support larger individual files like exFAT
- GoPro recommends using exFAT for 4K and high bitrate recordings
- FAT32 is a good option for lower resolution videos if compatibility is needed
- NTFS works well for high resolution videos but may have playback issues
- exFAT strikes the best balance between file size limits, compatibility, and performance
What SD Card Formats Does GoPro Support?
GoPro cameras are compatible with microSD memory cards formatted in the exFAT, FAT32, and NTFS file systems. These are the main formats you’ll choose from when setting up your GoPro SD card.
Here’s an overview of what each of these formats offer:
- exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table) – Supports large individual file sizes up to 512TB and no practical limit on card capacity. Offers good performance and is widely compatible.
- FAT32 (File Allocation Table) – Max file size limited to 4GB but offers excellent compatibility. Good option for lower resolution videos.
- NTFS (New Technology File System) – No limits on individual file sizes, but less compatible than exFAT or FAT32. Can store larger files.
GoPro’s official recommendation is to use exFAT formatting, which provides the best balance of performance and compatibility for most users. However, FAT32 or NTFS may be better choices in certain situations.
exFAT – The Best Overall Choice
For most GoPro users, exFAT is recommended as the best SD card file system. Here are some of the key benefits of using exFAT:
- Supports individual files up to 512TB, eliminating worries about file size limits for large videos
- Allows memory card capacities up to 512TB theoretically, meeting all current and future SD card sizes
- Good performance and speed for recording high bitrate 4K or slow motion footage
- Wide compatibility with computers – supported by Mac and Windows without any special formatting
- Allows playback on many consumer devices like smart TVs, tablets, and smartphones
The only real downside to exFAT is lack of support on some older operating systems and devices. But for most modern equipment, exFAT works seamlessly.
GoPro themselves recommend using exFAT formatting when shooting high bitrate 4K video or for capturing longer recordings. The extra headroom for large file sizes makes exFAT ideal for maximizing your GoPro’s capabilities.
Performance With High Resolution Videos
When recording top quality 4K footage at high bitrates, you’ll be generating very large video files. exFAT formatting can comfortably accommodate the big file sizes produced by high resolution, high bitrate 4K recording. This allows you to utilize your GoPro’s full video capabilities without worrying about file size constraints.
The high performance of exFAT also ensures smooth and reliable high bitrate 4K recording. There’s essentially no limit to the size of individual 4K clips you can record when using exFAT, which provides peace of mind when capturing important events and activities.
Reliability for Recording Longer Videos
In addition to high resolution recordings, exFAT also excels at facilitating capture of longer videos. You can record single video clips over an hour in length with exFAT formatting. Again, the essentially unlimited file sizes help ensure continuous, uninterrupted recording at the GoPro’s max available length per clip.
Having the ability to record longer videos in a single clip provides flexibility in how you film and edit your footage. You don’t have to worry about shorter FAT32 limits potentially disrupting continuous filming.
FAT32 – Maximum Compatibility
While exFAT offers the best overall performance, FAT32 does have some potential benefits depending on your needs. Here’s an overview of FAT32’s advantages:
- Supported by essentially every operating system and device without requiring special drivers or software
- Allows playback and editing on nearly any computer, tablet, or smartphone
- Ideal for memory cards up to 32GB, which covers most average users’ needs
- Good option for lower resolution videos where file sizes are smaller
The main drawbacks when using FAT32 are the maximum 4GB file size limit and need to reformat cards larger than 32GB before use. But in terms of plug-and-play compatibility, FAT32 can be a better choice in some situations.
Playback on Almost Any Device
A major advantage of FAT32 is the ability to insert your SD card directly into virtually any device with an SD card slot for instant playback. Whether you want to review footage on your laptop, desktop, tablet, or television, FAT32 will provide hassle-free compatibility in most cases.
This gives you flexibility to easily share and view your footage anywhere without hunting down special software or drivers to enable support.
Editing on Older Computers
In addition to direct playback, FAT32 can also make editing easier when using older computers. Operating systems like Windows XP lack native exFAT support. But they can read and edit off FAT32 formatted cards without issues.
So if you need to maintain compatibility with an older machine for editing, sticking with FAT32 may be your better option compared to exFAT.
NTFS – Large File Support With Caveats
NTFS (New Technology File System) offers an interesting middle ground between exFAT and FAT32 in some ways. Key points about NTFS include:
- No limits on individual file sizes like FAT32
- Supports cards larger than 32GB without reformatting
- Provides better security features like encryption and permissions
- Not compatible with Mac OS or many consumer devices
- Requires special driver installation on some versions of Windows
So NTFS allows saving really large files comparable to exFAT, while also offering some extra security options. However, you’ll lose wide cross-platform compatibility and plug-and-play convenience.
Saving Large Individual Video Files
Similarly to exFAT, NTFS does away with file size limits, so you can write very large files to the SD card. This makes NTFS a solid option for recording high resolution 4K video with GoPro cameras.
As long as you’ll be playing back the footage on Windows machines, NTFS provides the flexibility to capture massive individual video clips without worrying about 4GB restrictions.
Extra Security Features
For those needing more security, NTFS brings options like file encryption and permissions to the SD card. You can configure NTFS to require authentication before accessing files on the card.
This can help protect your GoPro videos if the SD card is ever lost or stolen. The trade-off is much lower cross-platform convenience and accessibility.
Tips for Choosing the Best GoPro SD Card Format
When deciding which SD card format to use in your GoPro camera, keep these tips in mind:
- Use exFAT for 4K video and most purposes – it ticks all the boxes
- Pick FAT32 for maximum compatibility and smaller cards
- NTFS works for large files but sacrifices compatibility
- Format cards 32GB or smaller with FAT32, 64GB+ as exFAT
- Try formatting as exFAT first, then FAT32 if issues occur
- Always reformat SD cards directly in the GoPro camera before recording
- Store important videos immediately rather than leaving them on the SD card
In most cases, you can simply format your microSD card in the GoPro camera itself using the exFAT option via the device settings menu. But having the flexibility to choose FAT32 or NTFS as needed can resolve playback or compatibility issues.
Formatting SD Cards in a GoPro Camera
Reformatting the SD card directly in your GoPro is the recommended way to apply exFAT, FAT32, or NTFS formatting.
Here are the steps to format an SD card in a GoPro:
- Insert the SD card into your GoPro camera if not already inserted
- Power on the GoPro and access the main settings menu
- Select the “Format SD Card” option
- Choose either exFAT, FAT32, or NTFS format
- Allow the formatting process to fully complete
- The card is now ready to use! Be sure to format again before each major recording session.
Following this process allows the GoPro to optimize the SD card’s formatting for ideal performance in that specific camera model. The camera settings provide convenient access to quickly reformat in any of the three main file systems.
Conclusion
Getting the right SD card format for your GoPro camera ensures you can record high quality videos without limitations or compatibility issues. In most cases, you’ll want to stick with the standard exFAT format for its versatility across recording modes and devices.
But FAT32 offers a more compatible choice if needed, while NTFS allows storing larger individual files. Optimize your SD card formatting for your specific recording needs and playback scenarios to get the most out of your GoPro action camera.