How to control your GoPro with your Apple Watch

If you’re lucky enough to afford two of the world’s priciest gadgets, it would be nice if they could work together. I’m referring, of course, to the Apple Watch and the GoPro action camera. Thankfully, it’s now possible to use the former as a remote for the latter.

Typically, operating a GoPro requires fiddling with a fairly unintuitive set of buttons or using one of the GoPro companion apps (available for Android and iOS). Of course, when you’re about to leap off a bridge, careen down a mountain or do something else action cam-worthy, it’s probably not convenient to pull out your phone.

Ah, but a tap of your wrist? Much easier. That’s why GoPro and various third-party vendors offer dedicated wrist-friendly remotes for the camera. But if you own an Apple Watch, skip that accessory and just go the app route. Here’s how:

1. Make sure your Apple Watch has the latest version of WatchOS. (Mine required an update to 2.1; without it, the GoPro Watch app wouldn’t appear.)

2. Install GoPro 2.11 for iOS on your iPhone (or check the App Store for the update if you already have the app).

3. If you haven’t already done so, run the app and follow the instructions to pair it with your GoPro.

4. Run the GoPro app on your Apple Watch.

gopro-apple-watch-hilight-tag.jpggopro-apple-watch-hilight-tag.jpgEnlarge Image

Tap to quickly add a HiLight tag while you’re recording.


GoPro

The app consists of two screens. The first is start/stop button (if you’re recording video — otherwise it’s a shutter release). Use the Crown to cycle through the GoPro’s mode options: Video, Photo, Burst and Time-Lapse. And when you’re recording video, a simple tap of the yellow icon adds a HiLight Tag.

Swipe left to access the shot-preview screen, which gives you a live feed straight from the camera.

For now there’s no way to review or manage media on the watch, but you can still do that within the phone app.

And that’s all there is to it.

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