If you’re trying to control your GoPro with a remote control, there are newer, better options than using the old, discontinued GoPro WiFi Remote. The newer GoPro Smart Remote is a good place to start, as is the GoPro mobile app.
GoPro HERO7 Black for $329.99
GoPro will be revealing their new cameras, including the HERO8, on October 1. In the meantime, they've cut the price of the HERO7 Black to $329.99, which is $70 off the regular price. They're also throwing in an SD card (64GB SanDisk Extreme) and free 2-day shipping.
You can find the deal at GoPro.com.
But if you want to use the GoPro WiFi Remote with your HERO7 Black or HERO6 Black, you can. It’s mostly straightforward, but there is one trick to look out for. So here’s a quick guide.
Put the GoPro WiFi Remote in Pairing Mode
With the remote powered off, hold down the shutter button (red circle). Briefly touch the power/mode button.
The remote will power up, and you should see the pairing animation, which consists of a camera icon and two arrows moving toward each other. Like this:
Change the Camera’s WiFi Band to 2.4GHz
To the extent there’s a trick to making this work, this is it. The GoPro WiFi Remote uses what used to be the standard wifi band: 2.4GHz. The newer GoPros come set to 5GHz by default. So you need to get them speaking on the same wavelength (pun intended). The good news is that on the HERO7 Black and HERO6 Black, you have the option of choosing either 5GHz or 2.4GHz.
To do it, go into the camera’s Connections options and change the WiFi band from the default 5GHz to 2.4GHz. Here’s the specific place you find that setting on each model:
- HERO7 Black: Preferences > Connections > Wi-Fi Band
- HERO6 Black: Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > Wi-Fi Band
Put the Camera in Pairing Mode
Make sure that you’ve got the camera’s wireless functions are enabled:
- HERO7 Black: Preferences > Connections > Wireless Connections > ON
- HERO6 Black: Settings > Connections > Wireless Connections > Icon to White
Then move onto the pairing mode. You won’t see the option specifically for the WiFi Remote on the newer cameras; use the Smart Remote option instead.
- HERO7 Black: Preferences > Connections > Connect Device > Smart Remote
- HERO6 Black: Settings > Connections >Connect New Device > Smart Remote
They should start talking to each other within 10 seconds or so. Sometimes it can take a bit longer, so give it some extra time. If it doesn’t connect, the camera’s pairing mode function will eventually time out after a few minutes and display a message saying that the pairing has failed.
Things to Know
Once connected, you can use all the usual functionality of the Wifi Remote. That includes being able to control multiple cameras and switch shooting mode.
The HERO5 Black should also work with the wifi remote without any extra effort. That’s because it uses dual band 5GHz and 2.4GHz b/g/n wifi frequency–in other words, both at once–and should automatically detect and use the appropriate one. But in practice, I’ve had more trouble getting it to pair with the wifi remote than I have had with the HERO6 Black and HERO7 Black.
Not all GoPros are compatible with GoPro remote controls, even if they have some wireless functionality and work with the GoPro mobile app. Examples are the HERO7 Silver and HERO7 White. Both work with the mobile app, but you can’t connect a remote to them.
When you’re controlling multiple cameras, you can mix and match camera models–they don’t all have to be the same model.
Chris Sansevere says
do you have to switch back to 5GHz to use the iphone app again?
David says
I was about to write no, but then I thought I’d try it to confirm. It does connect, but I’m getting some odd behavior such as it hanging for a long time, delayed response, and only partial image previews. I don’t know if that’s a built-in limitation, a bug in the software, or some either glitch specific to the combination (H7 Black with firmware v.01.80.00, GoPro App v.6.0 (3144), and IOS 12.4 on an iPhone 7). I don’t see those issues when I switch the camera back to 5GHz.
David says
By battery saving mode, do you mean auto off or just turning the back touchscreen off (they’re two different settings on the HERO7 Black). If it’s only the back screen, that shouldn’t affect the wireless connection.
From your description, it sounds like the wifi is turning off on the camera. And because the remote uses a wifi-only signal, there’s no way to wake the camera with it. You can, however, wake it with a smartphone, because that also uses Bluetooth. When the camera turns off wifi, it keeps low-consumption Bluetooth running, and that can be used from your smartphone to wake the camera up and restore the wifi connection–it serves as a kind of handshake protocol, with the actual control signals going over wifi.
So long as the camera is not turning off, the wifi connection should be maintained even if the back screen turns off. And if you’re using the GoPro Smart Remote, when you have it connected, it should disable the auto-off feature so that you don’t run into this issue. If you’re using an aftermarket remote, it’s possible that the auto-off feature stays enabled (but I haven’t tried that specifically with an aftermarket remote).
So if you’re using an aftermarket remote, something worth trying might be to set the auto-off setting to Never (Preferences > General > Auto Power Off). That should prevent the wifi turning off (but will drain your battery more quickly). Or use the GoPro app on a smartphone to wake it, although that’s probably not very convenient while you’re riding.
Another option might be the GoPro Remo voice remote. It does use Bluetooth (only), but it has other issues that make me hesitant to recommend it.
Antonio Antunes says
I have a GoPro Hero 7 Black and sometimes I put it on my bike with a suction cup.
To start and stop shooting, I use a remote control (indicated for Hero 7) on my wrist (because I can not access the camera) and I’m having the following problem: if I let the camera go into battery saving mode … I can no longer activate the camera to do more shooting and normally the camera is blocked … just by removing the battery I can work with it again.
Is it a product problem or is there some trick that will solve this situation? I’ll appreciate your answers.
Malcolm Parker says
Can I use a remote from a Go pro 3 with a new Go pro 7 black
If so is it a simple set up ?
David says
Assuming you mean the Wifi Remote, which was the standard remote when the HERO3 models were available, then yes. Instructions above. It’s much the same as usual–just make sure to change the wifi band on the HERO7 Black.
Parker Malcolm says
David
Many thanks for very prompt reply!
Will hopefully try it today
Malc
edward bunich says
thanks a lot for let me know about change the Camera’s WiFi Band to 2.4GHz.You are only one who give this recomendation.now everything works
David says
Gald it’s useful!