Frequently Asked Questions

Sometimes GoPro camera is stubborn and it can be challenging to connect it. Here is Troubleshooting Tutorial that will guide you through the most commnon issues.

It is different for each GoPro camera. In this GoPro manual page search for "password" for your camera model and follow the steps described there.

Camera acts as a file (not only) server with its own Wi-Fi. If you need to download GoPro media files, you need to connect to such server. Thus, app needs to disconnect from your current network (Mac can be connected with built-in Wi-Fi to just one network at a time).
Upon app termination, app can automatically reconnect you to your original network (see Reconnecting to original Wi-Fi.

No. The app uses Wi-Fi only. Note however that a new camera needs to be at least once connected to GoPro app (typically in your mobile phone) prior using this app (and that app uses Bluetooth).

Use GoPro mobile free app and let the app to discover (activate) the camera. This operation does not need to be repeated (one-off only). See Troubleshooting - the first section.

The app does not keep your GoPro alive when you do not perform any action. Staying alive is energy consuming task for camera and thus all cameras have a pre-defined auto-off timer. That's why when you leave it idle, camera will sooner or later switch itself off. App detects it and informs you about the disconnection.
Note that GoPro behaves so that it first switches off the logic that handles the connection and a few minutes later, it disconnects the Wi-Fi module. Thus, soon after disconnection, if you have auto-connect feature activated, you can see errors in the log informing you that app tries to connect and subsequently timetouts when reaching the camera.

Gopro 6 and 7 use H.265 (HEVC) encoders for high-FPS or high-resolution videos. Only new Mac models can play them smoothly. Older Macs will play the videos but it won't be smooth (you can hear sound but not all video frames). The app has a built-in converter that allows you to play even these movies - see H.265 (HEVC) Converter section for details.

It happens that Wi-Fi stops working sometimes when you connect camera via USB cable to your Mac (sometimes even just to a power adapter). It is recommended to disconnect the usb & cycle camera power.

If you have automatic reconnection switched on, once the app detects that your camera is disconnected it tries to reconnect. GoPro internally behaves so that it switches first the logic that provides the communication with remote host and only after few minutes later, it disconnects the Wi-Fi module. The app thus can discover camera Wi-Fi even when it is already switched off (since Wi-Fi module is still active), informs you in the log about the prospect of new connection but when it tries to communicate with camera, such communication timeouts. Thus, you can see periodic "connecting ... errors" trials till the final Wi-Fi disconnection.

We test with GoPro 4, 5, 6 and 7 Hero white, silver, black & session. It shall be compatible with older models (as the logic is equal) but we do not guarantee it. On the other hand, you can try your older camera model with free demo. If it connects and work with images, it will also work with movies.