How to Factory Reset Gopro HERO12 Black Before Selling or Donating It?

Steven
Written byStevenUpdated on May 06, 2024
Gerhard Chou
Approved byGerhard Chou

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It can be hard to say goodbye to your GoPro HERO12 Black. It is very important to ensure your personal information is safely erased, whether upgrading to a newer model or giving it to someone else. Protecting private data is more important than ever in this age of worries about digital privacy. Before you sell or give away your GoPro HERO12 Black, this guide will show you the steps to reset it to factory settings.

These steps will keep your information safe and ensure the device is ready for its next journey. From making a copy of your data to ensuring the reset worked, every step is carefully explained to ensure the process goes smoothly. Say goodbye to your beloved action camera, knowing your privacy will be protected and the device is ready for its new owner.

factory reset GoPro HERO12 Black

Why Reset Before Giving or Selling Your GoPro HERO12 Black?

There are a few important reasons to reset your GoPro HERO12 Black:

Protects Your Privacy: GoPro cameras save many things, like the names of Wi-Fi networks, passwords, location tags in pictures and videos, and even cloud storage settings. This information won't be given to the new owner after the reset.

Ensures Optimal Performance: Temporary files and settings you've changed can build up on your GoPro over time. When these are cleared, the camera returns to its original state so the new owner can have the best experience possible.

Provides a Clean Slate: When you reset, your pictures, videos, and highlight reels are erased. That makes room for new things and lets the new owner start over with their work.

Steps to Reset GoPro HERO12 Black

Setting your GoPro HERO12 Black back to factory settings is easy. To make sure the reset goes smoothly, follow these steps:

Step 1: Backup Your Data

It's important to back up any important info on your GoPro before you start the reset process. That includes videos, pictures, and any settings you want to keep the way they are. You can save these files safely by moving them to your computer or a cloud storage service.

Step 2: Power On the GoPro

Before you start the reset process, ensure your GoPro HERO12 Black is turned on. It's best to charge the device before proceeding with the steps so that the restart doesn't get interrupted.

Step 3: Access the Settings Menu

Swipe down from the top of your GoPro screen to access the settings menu. Then, click the "Preferences" button, which looks like a gear.

Step 4: Reset to Factory Defaults

Scroll down until you find the "Reset" choice in the "Preferences" menu. That could be called "Reset Defaults" or something similar, depending on the type of GoPro. If you choose this choice, the reset process will begin.

factory reset GoPro HERO12 Black

Step 5: Confirm Reset

Once you choose the "Reset" choice, your GoPro will ask you to confirm what you just did. As a safety measure, this keeps the reset button from being pressed by mistake. You need to make sure you want to reset the device to its original settings.

Step 6: Wait for the Reset to Complete

Once that is done, your GoPro HERO12 Black will start the reset process. The device will delete all files and settings, which could take a moment. To prevent problems, ensure you don't turn off the device during this time.

Step 7: Restart the GoPro

After the reset is done, your GoPro HERO12 Black will restart itself. After the reset, you will see the basic setup screen, which means the reset worked.

Step 8: Complete Initial Setup

follow the instructions to finish setting GoPro HERO12 Black for the first time. Configuring choices like language, date, and time is part of this. You can skip linking to a Wi-Fi network if you don't want to.

Step 9: Verify Reset

After you finish the original setup, ensure your GoPro HERO12 Black has been reset to its factory settings. Make sure that all of your old files and settings have been erased.

If you can't reach the settings menu because the touchscreen or software isn't working properly, you can perform a hard reset. This skips the user interface and returns the camera to its original settings.

  • Make sure the GoPro HERO12 Black is not on.
  • Press and hold both the Power button and the Front Capture button at the same time.
  • For about 10 seconds, hold down both buttons. After the GoPro logo, you'll see a black screen, which means the reset process has started.
  • When the fix is done, the camera will turn itself back on.

Please note that the lost videos are lost for good even you have reset your GoPro HERO12 Black to its factory settings.

 
Recover Lost Videos from Your GoPro HERO12 Black

Recover Lost Videos from Your GoPro HERO12 Black

Data recovery software is able to recover deleted or lost videos from your GoPro HERO12 Black after factory reset.

Additional Considerations:

Even though the steps above show you how to restart your GoPro HERO12 Black, there are a few more things you should remember:

  • Remove Memory Card: If you sell or give away your GoPro, don't forget to remove the memory card so that the new owner can't access any data or media files that are still on it.
  • Take Off Any Accessories: If you bought clips or grips to go with your GoPro, remove them before giving the camera to someone else.
  • Check for changes: Before you sell or give away your GoPro, make sure any firmware changes are available and install them. This will ensure that the new owner gets the most up-to-date software.
  • Factory Reset with the GoPro app: You can also use the GoPro mobile app to reset your GoPro HERO12 Black factory. Connect your GoPro to the app and follow the on-screen directions to start the reset.
  • Clear GoPro Quik App Data (if applicable): If you used the GoPro Quik app to control your HERO12 Black, you might want to clear its app data to eliminate any saved camera-related data. You can do this on your phone in the settings menu of the GoPro Quik app.

How to Permanently Erase All Data from GoPro HERO12 Black?

If you will sell or donate your GoPro HERO12 Black, you should permanently erase all your private data from it to avoid potential data recovery. The data is not lost forever even you have factory reset the GoPro HERO12 Black.

Data erasure program is able to securely and permanently erase data from HDD, SSD, memory card, USB flash drive, digital camera, etc. You can use it to securely wipe all private data from the GoPro HERO12 Black.

Step 1. Download and install the reliable data erasure program - Donemax Data Eraser. Connect the GoPro HERO12 Black to the same computer.

Step 2. Open Donemax Data Eraser, choose Erase Hard Drive mode, then select the GoPro HERO12 Black and click on Erase Now button.

wipe data from GoPro HERO12 Black

This software will securely and permanently erase all data from the GoPro HERO12 Black, making data recovery be impossible.

If you follow these steps and consider them, you can confidently reset your GoPro HERO12 Black and permanently erase data from it before selling or giving it away. This will protect your privacy and prepare the device for its next journey.

Conclusion:

You should reset it before you sell or give away your GoPro HERO12 Black. That is a simple but important step to protect your privacy and make the device work best for the new owner. By following the guide's steps and taking extra safety measures, you can ensure the transition goes smoothly and have peace of mind that your personal information is safe. Take the time to reset your beloved action camera before you say goodbye properly. It's a small step that makes a big difference.

With data erasure program, such as Donemax Data Eraser, can help you quickly and permanently erase all private data from the GoPro HERO12 Black beyond the scope of data recovery. Before you sell, donate or dipspose of an old GoPro HERO12 Black, just securely erase it with Donemax Data Eraser.

Steven
Contributing Writer

Steven

Steven has been a senior writer & editor of Donemax software since 2020. He's a super nerd and can't imagine the life without a computer. Over 6 years of experience of writing technical solutions and software tesing, he is passionate about providing solutions and tips for Windows and Mac users.

Gerhard Chou
Editor in chief

Gerhard Chou

In order to effectively solve the problems for our customers, every article and troubleshooting solution published on our website has been strictly tested and practiced. Our editors love researching and using computers and testing software, and are willing to help computer users with their problems