Does the GoPro Hero 12 have GPS? (and what to do about it)
No, the GoPro Hero 12 Black does not have GPS. GoPro removed the GPS hardware to improve battery life, so there's no setting that turns it on. If you want lap times, speed or a racing line from your footage, you'll need a Hero 11 or Hero 13, both of which have GPS.
Straight answer: no. The GoPro Hero 12 Black has no GPS. And unlike a setting you forgot to switch on, there's nothing you can do about it. GoPro took the hardware out.
This catches a lot of racers off guard. You upgrade from a Hero 11 expecting more of everything, and your telemetry quietly stops working. No speed, no lap times, no racing line. Here's what happened and what to do about it.
Why GoPro removed GPS from the Hero 12
GoPro dropped the GPS module to squeeze out more battery life. The Hero 12 runs noticeably longer than the 11, and that's part of how they did it. For users who just want longer recording, it was a fair trade. For anyone using the camera as a lap timer, it was a step backward.
The key thing: it isn't hidden in a menu. The chip simply isn't in the camera. Any location tag the Hero 12 adds comes from your phone, not the camera, so it's no use for telemetry.
What this means for telemetry
No GPS means no speed trace, no position data, and nothing for software to turn into lap times or a racing line. The footage still looks great. It just doesn't carry the data that makes it useful for going faster. If telemetry is why you bought a GoPro, the Hero 12 isn't the one.
Your options
Use a Hero 11 or Hero 13
Both have proper GPS. The Hero 11 is the value pick, often cheap second-hand now, with the same GPS chip the Hero 13 uses. The Hero 13 is the current model, and GPS is back on it. Either gives you the data the 12 can't. Here's our full take on the Hero 13, and on why the Hero 11 is the value choice.
Keep the Hero 12 for footage, time laps another way
If you're set on the Hero 12 for video, you'd need a separate GPS source, which rather defeats the point of using the camera's own data. For most people the simpler answer is to run a Hero 11 or 13 for the sessions where you want the numbers.
Once you've got a GPS GoPro
Switch GPS on, get a solid satellite lock before you record, and upload the footage to Race Ninja. It reads the GPS, detects each lap and splits it into sectors, then draws your racing line and points out where you're losing time. All from the camera, no extra hardware. The Hero 12 just isn't invited to that party.
So if you're shopping for a GoPro to use as a lap timer, skip the 12. The 11 and 13 are the ones you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the GoPro Hero 12 have GPS?
Can I get lap times from Hero 12 footage?
Why did GoPro take GPS out of the Hero 12?
Which GoPro should I buy for telemetry instead?
Does the Hero 12 have any location data at all?
Step-by-Step Guide
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1
Check which GoPro you have
The Hero 12 has no GPS. The Hero 9, 10, 11 and 13 do. For telemetry you need one of those.
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2
Get a GPS-capable GoPro
A used Hero 11 is the value option and shares the Hero 13 GPS chip.
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3
Enable GPS and lock on
Switch GPS on and wait for a solid satellite lock outdoors before recording.
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4
Upload to Race Ninja
Send the footage in for automatic lap times, sectors and your racing line.
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