How to Delete Dash Cam Recordings

Dash cam recordings can be incredibly beneficial, but most often than not, you’ll find yourself struggling to delete old and useless footage.

Since there are two ways a dash cam can store recordings, there is also more than one way to delete those recordings. 

Let’s take a closer look at how to delete dash cam recordings using different methods and devices.

How to Delete Dash Cam Recordings

Dash cams have a video-saving mechanism that stores all the footage on the internal memory card or uploads it to a cloud service. You can delete the recordings:

• Directly from the SD card
• From the cloud-based storage
• By performing a factory reset of the dash cam
• By setting the dash cam to record in a loop

You can also delete specific files from the dash cam, but only from the SD card and the cloud-based storage. 

Let’s talk a little more about how to delete dash cam recordings from all the different storage sources.

4 Ways You Can Delete Dash Cam Recordings

Delete dash cam recordings directly from the SD card

You can delete SD card recordings from the dash cam or access the card from a computer. This depends on your personal preference.

There are many different dash cam models, but they all allow you to delete SD card recordings directly from their menu. Select the recording you want to delete and look for the delete function. 

It should be located somewhere in the additional options of the menu, and it’s often indicated by a small recycle bin icon, depending on the dash cam’s model.

If you decide to use a computer, remove the SD card from the dash cam, and plug it into the SD card reader on your laptop or desktop. 

Also read: Do You Need Cloud Storage For Dash Cam?

Almost all modern laptop models have a built-in SD card reader, but you need to use an SD card reader for a desktop. To access the files on a Windows computer:

1. Go to “My Computer”.
2. Locate the SD card drive and open it.
3. Select all the files you want to delete.
4. Right-click and press “Delete”, or press “CTRL + D” together.
5. Don’t forget to permanently erase all the files from the “Recycle Bin”.

Delete dash cam recordings from the cloud-based storage

If your dash cam supports Wi-Fi connectivity, it can also be set up to record and upload video files to a cloud-based service. 

Many dash cam brands and manufacturers provide cloud-based services, like the Nextbase brand. To delete dash cam recordings stored on a cloud service, you need to:

1. Access your cloud service account.
2. Locate the video file and delete it.
3. You can even select multiple files and delete them all at once.

Deleting files on cloud storage is permanent. However, multiple cloud services also allow for a 30-day period in which you can decide to restore your files, should you need them. 

Delete dash cam recordings by performing a factory reset

A factory reset with almost any electronic device that stores data will permanently delete and lose that data. 

The same goes for dash cams, which is another useful way to delete recordings if the previous options give you a hard time.

The factory reset option is frequently located inside the settings menu of any dash cam, regardless of the model. 

You should often look for it at the bottom, which could also be hidden inside a general restore option. 

Note that if you select a simple reset of your dash cam, that might only restart your camera without deleting any files. You should use this function if the dash cam has become slow or unresponsive. 

Make the dash cam automatically delete recordings (loop recording)

A great thing about dash cams is that you can “set and forget” them. Models that support loop recording can automatically delete and rewrite new footage over an old one without worrying about deleting the recordings manually to clear space. 

This function is available on most modern dash cam models, and you can easily enable it through the settings menu.