AniSmall
AniSmall for iOS
Convert and compress videos/audios.
OPEN
Wondershare UniConverter
Enriched with 20+ lightweight features, we offer an ultra-high-speed video converter and compressor designed to process 4K/8K/HDR files.
  • Accelerated GPU conversion for high-resolution videos/audios/images.
  • Easier 8K video compression, less quality loss.
  • Empowered with 9 AI features, efficiently processing files.

[2024] How to Connect GoPro to Mac with 3 Easy Methods

by Christine Smith • 2024-09-29 10:27:45 • Proven solutions

Connecting your GoPro camera to a Mac computer might be a bit challenging if you have recently switched from Windows and are new to the platform. Unlike Windows that allows you to access images, videos, and audio files merely by browsing through its windows, macOS has particular programs to handle different file types. This makes the operating system secure by enforcing all the malicious elements to become inactive and sit idle even if they are copied to your Mac erroneously.

Keeping all the possible threats and their prevention measures in mind, Apple makes connecting GoPro to Mac a bit more demanding than merely plugging it to a USB port and browsing through its memory to access photos and videos.

how to connect gopro to mac

That said, below are the three simple methods that guide you through the process on how to connect GoPro to Mac and access its media file without any hassle.

Part 1. How to Connect GoPro to Mac via Image Capture

Image Capture is a built-in app in macOS that automatically detects a connected scanner or camera when launched. Once the program recognizes your device (GoPro, in this case), you can access all the media files it contains. To use Image Capture for GoPro:

Step 1: Connect GoPro to Mac

Connect one end of the USB cable to GoPro and the other end to your Mac computer.

Step 2: Launch Image Capture

Click Launchpad from the Dock at the bottom, go to the Other folder and click Image Capture.

click launchpad

click image capture

Step 3: Import Media Files

Click Import All from the bottom-right corner of the Image Capture window to import all the media files that your GoPro camera has in its memory.

import media files

Part 2. How to Connect GoPro to Mac via SD Card

In this method, your GoPro camera isn’t directly connected to your Mac computer. Because the main motive behind connecting a recording device to a computer is to access its file, the process given below explains how you can use GoPro’s SD card populated with images and video recordings on your Mac, and access those files with ease:

Step 1: Get the GoPro Memory Card

Power off your GoPro, depending on the model, open its cover and take out the SD card from the camera.

Step 2: Connect the Memory Card to Your Mac

Insert the SD card in a card reader, connect the reader to the memory card slot on your Mac, and wait while macOS detects the card and mounts it as a drive.

Step 3: Access Files On Your SD Card

Double-click the memory card drive on your Mac desktop (NO NAME is the name of the mounted drive in this example), and go to the DICM folder to access pictures and videos you captured through your GoPro.

access files on sd card

click dicm folder

Part 3. How to Connect GoPro to Mac via Quik

Proprietary of GoPro and available for free, Quik can also be downloaded on Mac. The program may come in handy when you want to connect your GoPro camera to macOS to import media files for further processing. You can follow the below steps to connect GoPro to Mac using Quik:

Step 1: Download and Install Quik for Mac

Go to https://gopro.com/en/in/shop/softwareandapp/quik-%7C-desktop/Quik-Desktop.html, and download and install the latest version of Quik for your Mac computer.

install quik

Step 2: Connect Your GoPro and Launch Quik

Use the USB cable to connect your GoPro to your PC, and wait while Quik automatically launches. If it doesn’t, you can start the program manually by going to the Launchpad window.

launch quik

Note: You will have to create a new account or sign in to an existing one if you’re a new or existing user.

Step 3: Import Your GoPro Files

Click IMPORT FILES from the Quik’s main window to import all your captured images and footages from GoPro to your Mac computer for further manipulation.

import gopro files

Full Video, Audio and Image Solutions for Camera Users

Still struggling with your shooting 4K video won't play on other devices or playing with audio and video out of sync? Wondershare UniConverter helps you out! Find your issues and get the full answer now.

Explore More

Part 4. How to Edit GoPro Videos with Wondershare UniConverter On Mac

Wondershare UniConverter is a bundle of several tools put together to give an all-in-one program for all your video, audio, and image-related tasks such as conversion, compression, downloading, optical disc burning, and much more. This makes UniConverter unique and stands out among its competitors with a fewer tools and can perform merely a few functions.

Available for both Mac and Windows platforms, Wondershare UniConverter is lightweight and less resource-intensive. This means that all the tasks that it performs are quickly completed without giving your computer any overhead.

That being said, after you have imported your GoPro videos to your Mac computer using any of the methods explained above if you want to make any adjustments to the footages before they can be shared on social networks or streaming websites, Wondershare UniConverter would be your best bet.

gopro video converter icon Wondershare UniConverter - Best GoPro Video Editor Mac/Windows (Catalina Included)

wondershare uniconverter
  • Edit GoPro videos with cropping, rotating, adding effects, adding watermark, and more others.
  • Convert GoPro videos to 1000+ formats with high-quality output.
  • Customize GoPro 4K videos by changing resolution, bit rate, encoder, frame rate, etc.
  • Optimized presets for almost all devices, like iPhone, iPad, Huawei phone, etc.
  • 120X faster conversion speed than common converters with unique APEXTRANS technology.
  • Burn GoPro videos to DVD or Blu-ray disc with free DVD menu templates.
  • Transfer videos from computer to iPhone, iPad and other devices directly and vice versa.
  • Versatile toolbox: Add video metadata, GIF maker, cast video to TV, video compressor and screen recorder.
  • Supported OS: Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista, macOS 11 Big Sur, 10.15 (Catalina), 10.14, 10.13, 10.12, 10.11, 10.10, 10.9, 10.8, 10.7, 10.6.

safe download Security Verified. 7,975,022 people have downloaded it.

Step 1 Install Wondershare UniConverter and Click Add Files

Go to Wondershare UniConverter’s official website, download and install the latest version of the program for Mac, and click the add files icon in Wondershare UniConverter .

add files to uniconverter

Step 2 Import a GoPro Video to UniConverter

Locate and select the video you want to edit, and click Load from the bottom-right corner to import the GoPro footage to Wondershare UniConverter. Optionally, you can drag and drop the files from your disk to the program’s interface.

import gopro video

Step 3 Trim GoPro Video

Click the Trim icon from below the thumbnail of the imported video, on the box that appears, place the Timeline bar on the frame you want the footage to start from, click Cut from the top, ensure that the unwanted segment of the clip is selected, and click Delete to remove the section. Repeat the process for the right side of the Timeline to adjust the ending point of the video as well, and click Save.

trim gopro video

cut gopro video

Back on the main window, click the Crop icon, use the handles in the Output Preview section to crop off the unwanted section(s) of the footage, and click Save.

crop gopro video

Next, click the Effects icon, move the sliders present at the right of the box to adjust the visuals of the clip, choose your preferred effect from the lower section, and click Save.

save gopro video

Step 4 Choose an Output Format and Convert the Video

Click and open the Output Format: menu once you are back on the main window, select your preferred video format from the left pane (MP4 here), choose an appropriate video quality from the right pane of the menu, select/define an output folder in the Output field at the bottom, and click the Start All to begin the conversion process.

convert gopro video

Conclusion

Even though it could be a bit challenging to import GoPro videos to your Mac computer, once they are on the disk, Wondershare UniConverter is efficient enough to handle all the remaining tasks for you, be it conversion to a different format, basic trimming and cropping the videos, or even adding transition effects, watermarks, or subtitles to the footage. Since Wondershare UniConverter can also do bulk conversions, you can import multiple GoPro videos to it, use the tools explained above to edit the clips as needed, and select your preferred output format and video quality, and click Convert All from the bottom-right area of the main window.

Christine Smith

Christine Smith

chief Editor

Resource > GoPro Tips > [2024] How to Connect GoPro to Mac with 3 Easy Methods