The GoPro Hero 3 WiFi password is set through the camera's menu, not through a router or app

The GoPro Hero 3 creates its own wireless network that your phone or tablet connects to — it does not join your home WiFi. To change the password the camera broadcasts, you go into the camera's settings menu, find the WiFi section, and enter a new password there. The camera stores this password and uses it every time the WiFi turns on.

The default password on most Hero 3 cameras is either blank or "goprohero". If you have never changed it, that is what your phone is connecting to. Once you change it in the camera menu, you will need to reconnect your phone using the new password.

Key Takeaways

  • The GoPro Hero 3 WiFi password is changed in the camera's settings menu under WiFi options, not through an app or computer.
  • You must have the camera powered on and the WiFi feature enabled to access the WiFi settings menu.
  • After you change the password, your phone will lose connection and you will need to manually reconnect using the new password.
  • The password must be between 8 and 63 characters and can include letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • If you forget the new password, you can reset the camera to factory settings, which restores the default password.

Turn on the camera and navigate to WiFi settings

Power on your GoPro Hero 3 by pressing the power button on the side. Wait for the camera to fully boot — you will see the GoPro logo and then the main menu screen. The camera is ready when you see the mode icons (photo, video, playback) displayed.

Press the menu button (the wrench icon on the back of the camera). Use the up and down buttons to scroll through the menu options until you see "WiFi". Press the right arrow button to enter the WiFi submenu. You should now see options like "WiFi On/Off" and "WiFi Password".

Select and change the WiFi password

In the WiFi submenu, scroll down until you highlight "WiFi Password". Press the right arrow button to enter the password field. The camera will show the current password (or a blank field if none is set). You can now delete the old password and type a new one.

Use the up and down buttons to cycle through letters, numbers, and symbols. The left and right buttons move between character positions. Create a password that is at least 8 characters long — the camera will not accept anything shorter. You can use uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like hyphens or underscores.

Once you have entered the new password, press the menu button to save it. The camera will return to the WiFi submenu and confirm the change. The new password is now active.

Reconnect your phone to the camera with the new password

On your phone or tablet, open the WiFi settings. You should see the GoPro network name (usually "GoPro Hero 3" or similar) in the list of available networks. Tap it to connect. When prompted for a password, enter the new password you just set on the camera.

If you were previously connected to the old password, your phone may try to reconnect automatically and fail. You may need to "forget" the old network first. On iPhone, go to Settings > WiFi, find the GoPro network, tap the info icon, and select "Forget This Network". On Android, long-press the network name and select "Forget". Then reconnect using the new password.

Verify the connection is working

Once your phone shows "Connected" next to the GoPro network name, open the GoPro app (if you are using one) or take a test photo or video to confirm the camera and phone are communicating. The app should display the camera's live view or allow you to control the camera remotely.

If the connection fails, double-check that you entered the password correctly on both the camera and your phone. Passwords are case-sensitive, so "MyPassword" is different from "mypassword". If you are still unable to connect, power off the camera, wait 10 seconds, and power it back on, then try reconnecting.

What to do if you forget the new password

If you change the password and then forget what you set it to, you can reset the camera to its factory defaults. This will erase all settings and restore the default password (usually blank or "goprohero"). To reset, go to the camera menu, find "Setup" or "Settings", scroll to "Reset", and select "Reset All". Confirm the reset when prompted.

After the reset, the camera will restart with the original password. You can then set a new password that you write down and keep in a safe place. Consider using a password manager or a note in your phone if you tend to forget passwords.

Why change the default password

The default GoPro password is the same on every Hero 3 camera. If you use your camera in a public place — at a beach, a sporting event, or a group activity — anyone nearby with a GoPro app can see your camera's network and connect to it if they know the default password. Changing the password prevents strangers from connecting to your camera and viewing or deleting your footage.

A custom password also protects your camera if you are in a location with multiple GoPro users. Without a unique password, someone else's phone might accidentally connect to your camera instead of theirs, causing confusion and potential interference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the WiFi password from the GoPro app instead of the camera menu?

No. The GoPro app does not have a settings option to change the WiFi password. You must change it directly on the camera using the menu buttons. The app can only connect to the camera once the password is already set.

What happens to my phone's connection when I change the password?

Your phone will when ready lose connection to the camera because the old password no longer works. You will see "Unable to connect" or a similar error. You then need to forget the old network on your phone and reconnect using the new password.

Is there a character limit for the WiFi password?

Yes. The GoPro Hero 3 accepts passwords between 8 and 63 characters. If you try to save a password shorter than 8 characters, the camera will reject it. Passwords longer than 63 characters will be truncated.

Can I use special characters like @ or # in the password?

Most special characters work, including hyphens, underscores, periods, and numbers. However, some symbols may not be available on the camera's character input screen. Stick to letters, numbers, and common symbols like hyphens and underscores if you want to avoid issues.

Do I need to change the password every time I use the camera?

No. Once you set a new password, it stays on the camera until you change it again. You only need to enter the password once on each device you connect. After that, your phone will remember it and reconnect automatically when the camera's WiFi is turned on.