How to Fix Corrupted GoPro Video?

9 minutes read

You might have captured unforgettable video clips on your GoPro camera, but what if they get corrupted? It is disheartening if your GoPro video has become unplayable. If you are looking for a reliable tool to fix corrupted GoPro MP4 videos, then use Remo Video Repair software. It is an advanced yet user-friendly tool to fix corrupted MP4, MOV, and AVI videos.

Gravatar Hamid Imtiaz
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GoPro in known as the ultimate action camera that will come through no matter what. be it underwater or in the negative temperatures of the tundra desert.

GoPro faced a lot of issues when it came to video editing. The brand spent over $105 million USD to purchase 2 start-up companies to work on its video software.

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Despite that, there are still isolated cases where users or editors may face issues

How to Repair GoPro Video?

In the below section, you will learn the two manual methodologies to effortlessly fix broken GoPro videos of any version of your GoPro model. Follow the section below to repair the video effortlessly.

Solution 1: Repair the Corrupted GoPro video with the in-built SOS feature

The GoPro camera displays SOS on its LCD screen, which indicates that the camera has found a problem in one of the files. SOS is an in-built feature to fix corrupted GoPro videos. It indexes the MP4 file with a proper header and thereby helps you access the video without audio and video synchronization issues.

GoPro Hero Serials (GoPro Hero11, GoPro Hero10, GoPro09):

1. Switch off the GoPro camera.

GoPro Camera

2. Remove SD card and battery from your GoPro camera.

Removing SD Card from GoPro Camera

3. Reinsert the battery and switch on the camera.

Reinsert battery in GoPro Hero 11 camera

4. Insert the SD card that has corrupt MP4 video wait for the repair icon to appear, and press any button to start the repair of corrupt GoPro MP4 video.

Insert SD card that has a corrupt video clip and fix it

GoPro Hero Sessions:

  • Switch off your camera and remove the memory card
  • Now, Reinsert the memory card and switch on the camera
  • If the video is corrupt, SOS will automatically scan and repair it.

You can also try to import GoPro videos to Mac or Windows computers. Sometimes, viewing media files directly from the camera shows an error or corruption.

Note: This method may not help you fix GoPro videos that are freezing, choppy, or with other video problems. You would have to use a GoPro Video Repair tool for this job.

Solution 2: Fix Corrupted GoPro videoVLC Media Player

In case of minor video corruption, you can choose to fix the corrupted GoPro video by converting the video file to a different file format. However, it is important to note that there would be a slight quality loss in your video.

Follow the steps below to convert the video file using VLC:

  • Launch VLC: Download, Install and launch VLC Media Player.
  • Access Open Media Window: Click on Media > Convert/Save.
In VLC Media Player choose convert/save option
  • Import Corrupted Video File: Click on Add, browse and select the go-pro video file.
  • Access Convert Window: After adding the video file, click on convert/save > choose Convert.
choose the convert option to convert the corrupted GoPro video
  • Input Conversion Details: In the convert window, Choose the video file format by expanding the drop-down next to the profile. Browse the destination for saving the converted video file
Choose the MP4 format to convert the corrupted GoPro video file and save the video
  • Convert Video: Click on Start to begin the conversion process.

Once the video conversion process is completed now try playing the video file.

Solution 2: Repair GoPro Video Using Video Repair Tool

If the above solution can’t fix the MOV/ MP4 videos from GoPro, you may need Professional video repair tool.Remo Video Repair software can repair the corrupt video with simple clicks.

You can utilize this software to repair videos from all GoPro models, including the latest GoPro Hero 11 and GoPro Session.

Steps to use Remo Video Repair to fix corrupted GoPro video

Download and install the Remo Video Repair tool and follow the steps mentioned below.

1. Launch the application : Download, Install and Open Remo Video Repair.

Repair Corrupted GoPro video using Remo Video Repair

2. Import Corrupted MP4 Video: Click on Select File, and choose the corrupted GoPro MP4 Video.

Corrupted GoPro Video Repair Progress screen

3. Repair MP4 Video File: Click on Repair to start fixing the corrupt GoPro video. If the MP4 video is severely damaged, then the tool will ask you to provide a reference video to perform an advanced GoPro video repair process.

Save the repaired GoPro video using Remo Video Repair

Why are all my GoPro files corrupted?

GoPro videos get corrupted either while recording or after recording the videos. Here are the possible causes of why your GoPro video might be corrupted. If you are you encounter your GoPro files not opening, this could be the following reasons.

Your recorded videos might be incomplete, which means your GoPro camera might have stopped recording the video mid-way. This usually happens when you don’t have enough space in the SD card or if the camera has abruptly shut down while recording.

  • The file could be corrupted: if you tried to edit the GoPro MP4 videos using an unreliable editing tool. This can result in videos with no sound, choppy or blurry video track, audio-video sync problems, etc.
  • Incompatible SD Card: Due to the incompatibility of the SD card, you might find an SD card error on the GoPro camera. In this case, your GoPro videos won’t play properly
  • Malware And Viruses: Sometimes you might find the GoPro MP4 videos not playing either on the GoPro camera or other device. Malware or Viruses intrusions can lead to damaged or corrupted GoPro videos. Abrupt interruption during the transfer of GoPro videos from can cause corruption.
  • Incompatible Codecs: In some scenarios, you might not be to play the MP4 video files on your system or device due to codecs issue. If the issue is codec related, download and install appropriate codecs (MPEG-4, K-lite, ALAC, G.711, etc.).

Quick Tips to Avoid Corruption in GoPro Videos

Now that you can repair corrupt GoPro videos, let’s understand how to avoid the corruption of GoPro videos in the future. 

  • Make use of a good-quality memory card to record videos.
  • Never record videos when the camera is on low battery.
  •  Install antivirus on your system.
  • Properly insert or eject the SD card.
  • Avoid interruptions while transferring GoPro videos.

Conclusion

The information provided in this article is the safest way to fix GoPro videos. You can try fixing the choppy or jerky video using media VLC player. It can fix corrupted video files. However, it carries risk as VLC operates directly on the original file.

To avoid any such disaster in the future, make sure you have charged the device sufficiently and freed up enough space for a new video.

Frequently Asked Questions

What file format does the GoPro camera record in?

GoPro camera records the media files on H.264 and MP4 file type. HERO 8, HERO 7, and 6, which use High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC)/ H.265 for a better video output are expectations.

Where do my GoPro videos get saved after recording?

The following are pathways for the users to access the recorded GoPro videos.
1. For Mac: /Users//Pictures/GoPro
2. For Windows: C:\Users\\Pictures\GoPro

How to keep your GoPro videos away from Corruption?

1. Regularly back up GoPro videos from the device.
2. Frequently clear viruses, and spyware on both PC and camera.
3. Repair failed memory card.
4. Evade Abrupt Interruptions while transferring data between PC and camera.

My GoPro camera displays a Bicycle and a plus sign, a bandage, and a “REPAIRING FILE” notification. What does it mean?

When you see the icons of a bicycle and a plus sign, a bandage, and a “REPAIRING FILE” notification on your GoPro camera, it indicates video file corruption before recording or accessing the SD card. To resolve this problem, you can press any button on the camera while the icon is visible.

I own a HERO Session / HERO4 Session camera. Do I need to press any button to repair a corrupted video file? 

No, you don’t need to press any button if you own a HERO Session or HERO4 Session camera. These camera models are designed to automatically initiate the GoPro video repair process when a potentially corrupted file is detected.

Gravatar Hamid Imtiaz

About the Author: Hamid Imtiaz

Hamid Imtiaz is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Remo Software, where he leads the charge in developing cutting-edge solutions in the fields of data recovery, data security, and data forensics. With a strong engineering background, Hamid has a keen eye for detail and a meticulous approach to his work. His expertise spans a wide…