Why is some of my GoPro footage missing?

It can be incredibly frustrating when you realize that some footage is missing from your GoPro camera. You may go to review videos or photos you know you captured, only to find they are not there. There are various potential reasons footage can go missing from a GoPro camera.

This article will provide an overview of the common causes of missing GoPro footage and steps you can take to try to recover it or prevent it from happening in the future.

Check Storage Capacity

One of the most common reasons for missing GoPro footage is filling up the storage capacity. GoPro cameras have limited internal storage, ranging from 32GB on older models up to 256GB on the latest Hero 11 models. This storage can fill up quickly when recording high-resolution or high frame rate video.

It’s important to regularly offload and delete old footage from the GoPro’s SD card or internal storage. Formatting or erasing the SD card through the GoPro interface can also help maximize available space. If storage becomes full during a recording session, the camera will stop recording and you may end up with fragmented or incomplete video files. Make sure your SD card or internal storage always has ample free space for new videos and photos.

Some tips to avoid maxing out storage:

– Offload footage to a computer or external drive after each recording session.
– Delete old footage you don’t need after offloading backups.
– Use the largest SD card your GoPro model supports, up to 512GB.
– Format the SD card through the GoPro interface before each use.
– Check the remaining storage and switch SD cards if getting close to full.

Verify the File Format

GoPro cameras record video in the .mp4 format by default. This is a standard high definition format that most video editing software and devices can read and play. Some lower resolution formats like .lrv may be used if you choose lower settings, but in most cases your footage should be .mp4.

If you notice files are missing after transferring from your GoPro, check if those files were recorded in another format besides .mp4. Formats like .lrv indicate a lower resolution setting was used, which results in smaller file sizes. So those clips may still exist, just under a different format.

You can verify the format GoPro used by checking the specifications for your camera model. Most recent GoPros like the HERO10 default to .mp4 unless lower quality settings are manually chosen. So if your missing footage was shot in normal modes, it should be .mp4. If you know the format, you can scan your files and folders to check if it exists under a different extension.

Additionally, update your camera firmware and software like the GoPro Quik app to ensure compatibility with the standard .mp4 files. Older versions may not read newer formats properly, leading to missing clips. Keeping your GoPro up to date will help ensure maximum compatibility.

Review SD Card Health

Faulty, slow, or corrupted SD cards can cause issues recording footage with your GoPro camera. Over time, SD cards can degrade and develop bad sectors that lead to data corruption or card errors. It’s a good idea to periodically scan your SD cards for errors to ensure they are still functioning properly.

You can use free utilities like h2testw or SD Formatter to scan for and fix errors on SD cards. Slow card write speeds can also cause footage to be skipped if the camera buffer fills up faster than the card can save data. Check your card’s listed write speed rating against GoPro’s recommendations to ensure compatibility.

As a preventative measure, reformat your SD card in the GoPro camera before each major shooting session. This will wipe the card and create a fresh file system, clearing any latent corruption that could cause footage loss. Avoid fully filling cards to maximize their lifespan. Replace any cards that repeatedly show errors after reformats.

Update Firmware

Outdated firmware can lead to bugs and missing files on your GoPro camera. GoPro releases periodic firmware updates to fix bugs and optimize performance. If you’re experiencing missing footage, it’s a good idea to update your GoPro to the latest firmware version.

To update your firmware, you’ll need to connect your GoPro to the GoPro app or Quik desktop software. Make sure you have the latest version of the app/software installed. Then connect your GoPro and follow the on-screen prompts to download and install the newest firmware available for your camera model.

Updating firmware can take 10-15 minutes. It’s important not to disconnect your GoPro during the update process, as this can corrupt the firmware and make your camera unusable. Wait until the update fully completes before disconnecting.

Keep checking for new firmware releases periodically. GoPro issues updates every few months to fix bugs and improve performance. Staying current on firmware is one of the best ways to avoid potential issues like missing files in the future.

Check Connections

Loose or faulty USB or SD card connections can interrupt transfers, causing files to go missing. Carefully inspect the connections between your GoPro camera, USB cable, SD card, and computer. Look for any debris, damage, or bent pins that could be interrupting the connection. Re-seat each connection and try using a different USB port, cable, or SD card if available. Formatting the SD card can also help reset the connection.

Proper connections are crucial for a smooth data transfer. A loose USB or SD card connection is one of the most common reasons for missing GoPro footage. Taking the time to gently clean the ports and reconnect everything can often resolve the issue.

Look in All Folders

Sometimes completed files may be saved in unexpected folders on your GoPro camera or memory card. Thoroughly check through every folder – videos and photos can end up anywhere. The files app on your phone or desktop computer should be able to browse all folders.

Some places to check thoroughly include:

  • The main DCIM folder where photos and videos are usually saved
  • The “Photo” folder for QuickCapture photos
  • The “Time Lapse” folder for time lapse media
  • The “Burst” folder for burst photos
  • Any folders with nonstandard names that the camera software may have automatically created

Be meticulous and patient in browsing all folders on both the GoPro’s internal memory and any inserted SD card. Sometimes the footage gets tucked away in an odd location. Double check even if you think you’ve already looked there.

Try Data Recovery

If you are missing GoPro footage that you know for certain was recorded, recovery software provides the best method for retrieving deleted files. Specialized GoPro recovery software can scan the SD card and restore video clips that may still be present but are not showing up in folders.

Look for a reputable program like Disk Drill that is designed specifically for GoPro file recovery. The software will thoroughly scan the card and rebuild any fragmented videos it can find. With a deep scan, recovery is possible even if the files were formatted or erased. This gives you the best chance of getting back footage you thought was lost forever.

Recovery software is relatively inexpensive compared to the value of lost GoPro videos and photos. Download a trial version first to preview what files can be restored before purchasing the full program. Just make sure not to record new videos to the card before running the recovery tool, as this may overwrite deleted files making them unrecoverable.

Contact GoPro Support

As a last resort when all other troubleshooting has failed, contacting GoPro Support can be useful if footage is missing from your camera or memory card. The expert technicians at GoPro can perform advanced troubleshooting and potentially recover lost footage in some cases. They may have access to proprietary data recovery tools and techniques that everyday users do not. While contacting support should not be the first option to try, it can be invaluable if all other attempts to locate missing footage are unsuccessful. The GoPro support team is specially trained to handle missing footage issues across the various camera models and accessories in the GoPro ecosystem. Describing your setup, camera model, recording details, and troubleshooting steps already attempted to the support rep can help them quickly diagnose potential causes of missing footage. Though support cannot guarantee a fix, their specialized knowledge makes them an important resource to try if all else fails. According to GoPro’s website, their expert support team aims to “make missing footage a thing of the past.” So if you’ve exhausted all other options, give GoPro’s technicians a chance to work their magic before giving up hope on those irreplaceable video memories.

Prevent Future Loss

To avoid losing GoPro footage in the future, it’s important to regularly offload videos from the camera to an external hard drive or cloud storage. According to GoPro’s community forums, offloading footage helps prevent corruption or loss if the SD card fails. It also ensures you have a backup in case files get accidentally deleted or lost.

Be sure to use memory cards that meet GoPro’s recommendations for speed and capacity. Their forums note that slower cards can cause recording to stop unexpectedly if the data rate is too high for the card to keep up. Cards by reputable brands like SanDisk Extreme, Lexar Professional, and Samsung EVO Select are good options.

Before any important shoot, format your SD card in the camera and check that the camera, battery, and connections are in good working order. Formatting clears any lingering issues and ensures maximum storage capacity and stability. This helps avoid missing footage due to technical problems during filming.