How to Reset GoPro Hero 3/4 to Factory Settings Without Data Loss  

How to Reset GoPro Hero 3/4 to Factory Settings Without Data Loss

Updated on Nov 11, 2023 | by Jeremy

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To get your GoPro working, you may need to reset it, and this article covers two essential parts: resetting your GoPro Hero and recovering lost files due to the reset using Deep Data Recovery, helping you prevent data loss from your GoPro.

To reset your GoPro Hero 3 or 4, you'll need to follow these steps: first, make sure your camera is turned off, then press and hold the Shutter button and Mode button at the same time, and finally, plug it into your computer and it will automatically reset to its factory settings. This process will remove any Wi-Fi settings and passwords you may have set up, and can help troubleshoot issues with your camera.

Part 1. How to Reset GoPro Hero 3/4 to Factory Settings

Note that the steps below can only be applied to GoPro generations newer than HERO 3. If your GoPro is older than HERO 3, you will not be able to follow these steps.

Factory reset for HERO 3/3+ (black and silver edition)

To turn on the GoPro, press and hold down the shutter button (the top button) until the camera turns on.

While still holding the shutter button, press the power button (on the front of the camera).

The camera will now power on and it will reset to the original settings. The lens cover will be removed and the camera will be ready to take photos.

Reset HERO 4 to Factory Settings (black and silver edition)

To enter the camera's setup mode, press the Mode button until the "Setup Gear" icon appears on the screen.

Navigate to the setup screen (the gear icon).

To select an image, press the Shutter button (the top button) on your camera.

Press the Mode button (the forward facing button, on the front of the camera) until "reset cam" is highlighted.

To reset your camera, press the shutter button (usually located on the top of the camera) and select the "Reset Cam" option.

When the camera is turned on again, all the settings will be reset to their original factory settings.

Before resetting your GoPro to factory settings, back up all photos and videos to avoid data loss, as the reset will erase all data.

Part 2. How to Recover Lost Photos and Videos after GoPro Reset

If you've done a factory reset on your GoPro Hero 3, 4, or other models without backing up your photos and videos, you can use Deep Data Recovery to easily retrieve them.

Your Safe & Effective Reset GoPro Data Recovery Software

Quick Scan is a program that rapidly scans the GoPro Hero to locate recently deleted or lost files.

Deep Scan is a feature that thoroughly scans a selected device to identify and recover all recoverable files on it.

How to Restore GoPro Reset Lost Data with Deep Data Recovery

You can use Deep data recovery to restore lost photos and videos on your GoPro Hero 3/4. Simply connect your camera to your computer via USB or use a memory card reader to access the contents of the memory card, which should then be detected by your computer. If the camera or memory card is not recognized, you may need to factory reset your GoPro before using the recovery utility. Once your computer detects the camera or memory card, you can open the utility to start the recovery process.

Step 1: select the file types that you want to recover.

When you open the GoPro recovery program, it automatically checks all file types, displaying several options. If you want to recover a specific type, you can easily uncheck and remove unwanted file types, or select "All File Types" to choose exactly what you need. Once you've selected the desired file type, click "Start" to begin recovering deleted files from your GoPro on Mac or Windows.

Step 2: Select a GoPro hero to scan or find data.

To recover data, select a location for the program to search, such as the GoPro SD card, and Deep Data Recovery will scan the chosen location, including the entire hard drive or external storage devices, to find lost data, then preview what it found.

Step 3: Recover Reset GoPro Hero data lost.

The window displays the scan result at the top, guiding you to a "Deep Scan" if needed. A tree-shaped directory at the left shows the file path or types, while the middle section displays all files and folders with more information. The right side shows a thumbnail and info for the selected file.

If the Quick Scan doesn't find the lost files, you may need to run a Deep Scan, which scans every sector of the device, taking longer to complete. This process can be paused and resumed later.

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