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The full GoPro voice commands list changes from model to model, so if your camera isn't listening, the fix usually starts with the right phrase — or the right setup step in your GoPro user manual. A phrase that wakes a HERO7 Black won't exist on a HERO13, and several commands that still circulate online were retired years ago.
Voice control started with the HERO5 in 2016 and has gone through three distinct command generations. The original HERO5–HERO (2018) vocabulary, the HERO7-era generic capture phrases, and the modern HERO10-and-later set are not interchangeable. Treating them as one list is the most reliable way to make a newer GoPro appear broken.
This guide covers every currently supported model — HERO13, HERO12, HERO11 Mini, the compact HERO (2024), LIT HERO, MAX2, and the MISSION 1 family — alongside the legacy cameras that still appear in used gear. You'll find exact phrases, model-by-model wake-on-voice limits, and fixes for the wind, helmet, and false-trigger situations where voice control underperforms.
Whether you ride with a helmet, shoot on the water, or just want hands-free start/stop, the tables below should make your camera's exact command set clear.
How GoPro Voice Control Works
Voice control uses a spoken wake phrase followed by a command. On modern cameras, the phrase is always GoPro followed by a short action. Commands fall into three groups:
- Capture actions — start/stop recording, take a photo, shoot burst, start/stop time lapse, HiLight.
- Mode changes — Video Mode, Photo Mode, Time Lapse Mode, and on older cameras Burst Mode.
- Power and shutdown — turn off, and on a limited set of models, turn on.
The most misunderstood rule is that a mode command only changes the mode. Saying GoPro, Photo Mode switches the camera to Photo Mode; it does not take a photo. You still need to say GoPro, capture or press the shutter. The same logic applies to Video Mode and Time Lapse Mode. If a capture is already running, stop it before switching modes.
Voice Control and Wake on Voice are separate settings. Voice Control lets a powered-on camera respond to commands. Wake on Voice, when supported, lets the camera listen for GoPro, turn on after it has been powered off. A camera can respond perfectly to normal commands while powered on and still never react to GoPro, turn on because Wake on Voice is disabled — or because the model never supported waking at all. That distinction is the single biggest source of confusion in GoPro forums.
How to Enable Voice Control
The setup path differs by camera generation.
- HERO10 and newer Black cameras, MAX2, compact HERO (2024), and LIT HERO: swipe down to open the Dashboard while the camera is on, tap the voice-control icon, and confirm the language and command list under Preferences > Voice Control.
- HERO9, HERO8, HERO7 Black, HERO6, and HERO5 Black: open the Dashboard or Preferences menu. Voice Control is off by default on HERO5. On HERO6–HERO9, enable Voice Control first, then enable Wake on Voice separately if you want the camera to respond after shutdown.
- HERO11 Black Mini: voice settings are managed through the GoPro Quik app because the Mini has no rear touchscreen.
- HERO5 Session and Fusion: use the physical status-screen and menu button, or the paired companion app. These models don't have a modern touchscreen setup path.
- MISSION 1 family: go to Preferences > Audio & Voice Control > Commands. The same menu lets you select a connected audio device as the voice input where supported.
- Original MAX: Dashboard > Voice Control, with language and command options under Preferences.
For every model, set the correct language and accent before assuming a command is broken. Recognition changes materially across languages and accents, and the configured language doesn't always default to the one you expect. HERO10 and newer Black cameras, plus the MISSION family, specify voice control in 11 languages and six accents; the original HERO5 launched with seven languages.
Quick Reference: Voice Command Compatibility
| Model family | Voice command set | Wake on Voice |
|---|---|---|
| HERO13 Black | 13-command modern set; shutdown phrase is GoPro, off | No |
| HERO12 Black | Confirmed action set: start/stop recording, HiLight, photo, burst, time lapse, off; standard mode commands | No |
| HERO11 Black | 13-command modern set | No |
| HERO11 Black Mini | 6-command video-focused set | No |
| HERO10 Black | 13-command modern set | No |
| HERO9 Black | 13-command set plus GoPro, turn on | Yes, about 1 hour |
| HERO8 Black | 13-command set plus GoPro, turn on | Yes, about 1 hour |
| HERO7 Black | 16-command HERO7-era set | Yes, about 8 hours |
| HERO7 Silver / White | HERO7-era set without turn-on | No |
| HERO6 Black | 14-command pre-HERO7 set plus turn-on | Yes, about 8 hours |
| HERO5 Black / Session, HERO (2018), Fusion | 13-command legacy set, no generic capture | No |
| Original MAX | 12-command 360 set, no shoot burst | No |
| MAX2 | 13-command modern set plus Bluetooth audio | No |
| HERO (2024) / LIT HERO | 8-command reduced set | No |
| MISSION 1 / PRO / PRO ILS | 9-command set | No |
Full Command Lists by Model Generation
Modern Black and 360 Cameras: HERO10, HERO11, MAX2
HERO10 Black, HERO11 Black, and MAX2 share this 13-command set:
- GoPro, capture
- GoPro, stop capture
- GoPro, start recording
- GoPro, stop recording
- GoPro, HiLight
- GoPro, take a photo
- GoPro, shoot burst
- GoPro, start time lapse
- GoPro, stop time lapse
- GoPro, turn off
- GoPro, Video Mode
- GoPro, Photo Mode
- GoPro, Time Lapse Mode
Check the current HERO11 Black on Amazon and MAX2 on Amazon.
HERO13 Black
HERO13 Black keeps the same modern framework, but its official shutdown phrase is GoPro, off rather than the older GoPro, turn off. The documented set includes:
- GoPro, capture
- GoPro, stop capture
- GoPro, start recording
- GoPro, stop recording
- GoPro, take a photo
- GoPro, shoot burst
- GoPro, start time lapse
- GoPro, stop time lapse
- GoPro, HiLight
- GoPro, off
- GoPro, Video Mode
- GoPro, Photo Mode
- GoPro, Time Lapse Mode
After selecting a mode by voice, GoPro directs you to say GoPro, capture to start the capture. Check the current HERO13 Black on Amazon.
HERO12 Black
HERO12 Black's confirmed official action phrases are:
- GoPro, start recording
- GoPro, stop recording
- GoPro, HiLight
- GoPro, take a photo
- GoPro, shoot burst
- GoPro, start time lapse
- GoPro, stop time lapse
- GoPro, off
The camera uses the standard Video, Photo, and Time Lapse mode commands shared by its generation. HERO12 also supports compatible Bluetooth earbuds and headsets — including devices such as AirPods — as a remote microphone for voice commands while playing camera alerts in the earpiece. Check the HERO12 Black on Amazon. If the camera is mounted out of reach, a GoPro remote comparison can help you choose a more practical way to control it.
Compact and Mini Models: HERO (2024), LIT HERO, HERO11 Mini
The compact HERO (2024) and LIT HERO intentionally use a reduced 8-command set. Neither supports HiLight, burst, voice-controlled time-lapse mode, or Wake on Voice.
- GoPro, capture
- GoPro, stop capture
- GoPro, start recording
- GoPro, stop recording
- GoPro, take a photo
- GoPro, turn off
- GoPro, Video Mode
- GoPro, Photo Mode
Check the current HERO (2024) on Amazon and LIT HERO on Amazon.
HERO11 Black Mini has an even smaller video-focused set:
- GoPro, capture
- GoPro, stop capture
- GoPro, start recording
- GoPro, stop recording
- GoPro, HiLight
- GoPro, turn off
It does not expose photo, burst, photo-mode, or time-lapse voice commands. Voice settings are managed through GoPro Quik. Check the HERO11 Black Mini on Amazon.
MISSION 1 Family
MISSION 1, MISSION 1 PRO, and MISSION 1 PRO ILS share this 9-command voice interface:
- GoPro, capture
- GoPro, stop capture
- GoPro, start recording
- GoPro, stop recording
- GoPro, take a photo
- GoPro, shoot burst
- GoPro, turn off
- GoPro, Video Mode
- GoPro, Photo Mode
There is no voice HiLight, no dedicated time-lapse voice command, and no Wake on Voice. Settings live under Preferences > Audio & Voice Control > Commands. Check availability for MISSION 1 on Amazon, MISSION 1 PRO on Amazon, and MISSION 1 PRO ILS on Amazon.
Original MAX
The original MAX uses this 12-command set. It does not expose GoPro, shoot burst and has no Wake on Voice.
- GoPro, capture
- GoPro, stop capture
- GoPro, start recording
- GoPro, stop recording
- GoPro, HiLight
- GoPro, take a photo
- GoPro, start time lapse
- GoPro, stop time lapse
- GoPro, turn off
- GoPro, Video Mode
- GoPro, Photo Mode
- GoPro, Time Lapse Mode
Voice cannot directly choose every MAX lens or view state — for example, switching between 360 and HERO mode by voice is outside the documented command list. Check the MAX on Amazon.
HERO9 and HERO8 Black
HERO9 Black and HERO8 Black share this 14-command set. The difference from HERO10+ is the presence of GoPro, turn on.
- GoPro, capture
- GoPro, stop capture
- GoPro, start recording
- GoPro, stop recording
- GoPro, HiLight
- GoPro, take a photo
- GoPro, shoot burst
- GoPro, start time lapse
- GoPro, stop time lapse
- GoPro, turn on
- GoPro, turn off
- GoPro, Video Mode
- GoPro, Photo Mode
- GoPro, Time Lapse Mode
HERO8 is also the generation where GoPro, that was sick and the GoPro, Burst Mode mode-change command disappear. Both HERO8 and HERO9 keep Wake on Voice for roughly one hour after shutdown. Check the HERO9 Black on Amazon and HERO8 Black on Amazon.
HERO7 Family
HERO7 Black is the first generation with generic capture commands. It supports this 16-command set:
- GoPro, capture
- GoPro, stop capture
- GoPro, start recording
- GoPro, stop recording
- GoPro, HiLight
- GoPro, that was sick
- GoPro, take a photo
- GoPro, shoot burst
- GoPro, start time lapse
- GoPro, stop time lapse
- GoPro, turn on
- GoPro, turn off
- GoPro, Video Mode
- GoPro, Photo Mode
- GoPro, Burst Mode
- GoPro, Time Lapse Mode
HERO7 Black's Wake on Voice listens for roughly eight hours after shutdown. During that period, either GoPro, turn on or GoPro, start recording can wake it.
HERO7 Silver and HERO7 White use the same HERO7-era phrases but do not support Wake on Voice or GoPro, turn on. They must be powered on conventionally before commands are recognized. Check the HERO7 Black on Amazon.
HERO5, HERO6, HERO (2018), and Fusion
HERO6 Black uses this 14-command vocabulary. It predates generic GoPro, capture and GoPro, stop capture.
- GoPro, start recording
- GoPro, HiLight
- GoPro, that was sick
- GoPro, stop recording
- GoPro, take a photo
- GoPro, shoot burst
- GoPro, start time lapse
- GoPro, stop time lapse
- GoPro, turn on
- GoPro, turn off
- GoPro, Video Mode
- GoPro, Photo Mode
- GoPro, Burst Mode
- GoPro, Time Lapse Mode
HERO6 Black's Wake on Voice also listens for about eight hours after shutdown. Older HERO6 documentation included GoPro, edit my story, tied to the old QuikStories workflow; treat that as historical rather than a current Quik command.
HERO5 Black, HERO5 Session, HERO (2018), and Fusion use the older vocabulary without GoPro, capture or GoPro, stop capture, and with no native Wake on Voice. The command set is:
- GoPro, start recording
- GoPro, HiLight
- GoPro, that was sick
- GoPro, stop recording
- GoPro, take a photo
- GoPro, shoot burst
- GoPro, start time lapse
- GoPro, stop time lapse
- GoPro, turn off
- GoPro, Video Mode
- GoPro, Photo Mode
- GoPro, Burst Mode
- GoPro, Time Lapse Mode
GoPro, that was sick is a genuine alternate HiLight phrase from official HERO5–HERO7 documentation, not an internet myth. By contrast, the frequently repeated GoPro, oh shit has not been found in any official GoPro command list and should be treated as folklore. Check the HERO5 Black on Amazon and HERO6 Black on Amazon.
Wake on Voice: What Still Works and What Doesn't
Native Wake on Voice belongs to only four GoPro camera models: HERO6 Black, HERO7 Black, HERO8 Black, and HERO9 Black. The wake window is not the same across them.
- HERO6 Black and HERO7 Black: about eight hours after shutdown.
- HERO8 Black and HERO9 Black: about one hour after shutdown.
- HERO7 Silver and HERO7 White: no Wake on Voice, even though HERO7 Black has it.
- HERO10 and newer: Wake on Voice was removed. There is no GoPro, turn on setting to repair.
If your camera won't respond to a wake phrase or won't power on at all, start with the GoPro Won't Turn On troubleshooting guide rather than assuming voice control is the culprit. On HERO6–HERO9, Voice Control and Wake on Voice are two separate toggles; a common HERO8 mistake is having normal commands working while GoPro, turn on still fails because Wake on Voice is disabled.
Voice Commands in Wind, on a Motorcycle, or in Noisy Environments
Official GoPro manuals consistently warn that wind, distance, and background noise impair recognition. Motorcyclists, motovloggers, and water-sports shooters report the most failures because engine, helmet, and wind noise sit directly on top of the command phrase.
For any capture where missing the shot matters, a physical shutter button or GoPro remote is more dependable than relying exclusively on speech. When you do use voice in a helmet, speak the full phrase naturally, keep the camera as close to your mouth as practical, and don't insert a theatrical pause between GoPro and the command. For a deeper setup that handles wind and vibration, see the GoPro motorcycle settings guide.
Bluetooth audio changes the equation on two current models. HERO12 Black lets compatible Bluetooth earbuds or headsets — including AirPods — serve as a remote voice-command microphone while playing camera alerts in the earpiece. MAX2 documents the same Bluetooth-audio command workflow. That can bypass poor camera-microphone placement, although background noise still matters.
Troubleshooting: When Your GoPro Doesn't Listen
Walk through this order before replacing anything.
- Confirm Voice Control is enabled on the camera or, for HERO11 Mini, in GoPro Quik.
- Check the configured language and accent under Voice Control. Recognition changes significantly across them; a mismatched accent can make the camera ignore you.
- Speak the phrase naturally as one sentence. Community experience suggests GoPro, start recording works better than GoPro … start recording with a long pause.
- Move closer and reduce ambient noise. Wind and distance are the two most common physical blockers.
- Stop the current recording before trying to switch modes. A mode command won't be processed cleanly while capture is running.
- If you're testing GoPro, turn on, verify the model actually supports Wake on Voice and that the separate Wake setting is enabled.
- If the camera stops recording randomly, ordinary speech or playback of a recorded voice command near an enabled camera can cause a false trigger. Disable Voice Control for that session when zero accidental interruptions are required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which GoPro models support GoPro, turn on?
Only HERO6 Black, HERO7 Black, HERO8 Black, and HERO9 Black. HERO7 Silver and White do not, and HERO10 and newer removed Wake on Voice entirely. HERO6 and HERO7 listen for about eight hours after shutdown; HERO8 and HERO9 about one hour.
Q: Why does my GoPro stop recording by itself?
The most likely explanation is a false voice-command trigger. Ordinary speech can be phonetically close enough to a stop command, and playing back footage where someone says GoPro, stop recording near an enabled camera can retrigger it. Disable Voice Control for sessions where accidental stops are unacceptable.
Q: Can I use Bluetooth earbuds for GoPro voice commands?
Yes on HERO12 Black and MAX2. Compatible Bluetooth earbuds or headsets can act as a remote microphone for voice commands while also playing camera alerts in the earpiece. This isn't documented as a universal feature across all current models, so check your camera's Bluetooth audio settings.
Q: Is GoPro, that was sick a real command?
Yes. It is an official alternate HiLight phrase found in HERO5, HERO6, and HERO7 documentation. It was removed starting with HERO8. By contrast, the commonly repeated GoPro, oh shit has not been found in official GoPro documentation and should be treated as folklore.
Q: Does saying GoPro, Photo Mode take a photo?
No. It only switches the camera to Photo Mode. You still need to say GoPro, capture or press the shutter. The same is true for Video Mode and Time Lapse Mode.
Q: How many languages does GoPro voice control support?
The original HERO5 launched with voice support in seven languages. HERO10 and newer Black cameras, plus the MISSION 1 family, specify 11 languages and six accents. Always set the language and accent before troubleshooting recognition problems.
Conclusion
GoPro voice control is genuinely useful when your hands are busy, but it only works well when you match the phrase to the specific model. The biggest practical wins are hands-free start/stop, HiLight tags, and the Bluetooth-audio remote-mic support on HERO12 and MAX2. The biggest realistic limitation remains wind and helmet noise, where a physical remote or shutter button is still the safer call for important footage.
If you're coming from an older HERO7 or earlier camera, don't expect GoPro, turn on to follow you. Wake on Voice ended with HERO9, and the compact HERO (2024) and LIT HERO intentionally use a reduced command set. The current HERO13 Black and MAX2 offer the most complete modern voice-command experience, while the MISSION 1 family keeps a focused 9-command set aimed at hands-busy professional use.
For exact model settings, consult the GoPro user manuals. For wind and helmet scenarios, see the motorcycle settings guide. And if time-lapse commands are part of your workflow, the Time Lapse & TimeWarp guide covers the capture side in detail.
