Here’s how to view and download dashcam video footage

When you are involved in an accident or other traffic accident, it is helpful to share your dash cam footage. Police, insurance companies, maybe even news channels should take a look. Or you just want to share it on social media or upload it to YouTube.

But how do you view the footage recorded on your dash cam? Is special software required to view and download dash cam videos?

Here’s everything you need to know about viewing, downloading, editing and uploading dash cam footage.

Most of the time, videos recorded by your dash cam are automatically deleted. Whether your camera is capable of 4K, 2K, standard HD, or even time-lapse, storage space is finite. Consequently, footage is overwritten.

Luckily, records of emergency events (usually triggered by gyro sensors) are kept in a separate folder, and it’s usually these that need reviewing.

However, viewing dash cam footage is difficult. In some cases, it can take hours to get through, especially if the event you’re looking for hasn’t been saved to the emergency folder.

The first thing you should try is to play the video on the dashcam display. Most devices have a built-in display (some don’t) and controls to help you navigate through the recordings.

In many cases, this should be enough to find what you’re looking for, although while the footage is on your dashcam there’s nothing else you can do with it. However, by reviewing the recording in this way, you can at least tell if the footage exists.

One downside to viewing the dashcam footage on the device’s display is that dashcam screens are typically tiny. Small displays lack the necessary details to check a traffic accident.

Note that you may need to keep your vehicle’s engine running (depending on how the dash cam is wired) while watching the video.

Many dash cams have companion apps that sync over Bluetooth or an ad hoc Wi-Fi connection. Such an app can be used to review the dashcam footage and download it for sharing.

As with checking the dash cam on the device itself, this requires the car engine to be running.

Does your dash cam have a companion app? To find out, read the device’s documentation. You should also check the manufacturer’s website and even your smartphone’s app store. With an app, reviewing footage is a lot easier than squinting at a tiny display.

Depending on what other apps you use on your device, you may be able to edit and share the footage. (More on that later.)

Copy the dash cam video to your computer

If no companion app is available, you will need to copy the video from your dash cam to your computer. You have two options here:

Let’s look at both in turn.

Probably the easiest way to copy footage from a dash cam to your computer is with a USB cable. Dash cams have a micro-USB or USB Type-C data port that allows the device to be connected to a computer. All you need is a suitable USB cable.

After copying the video to your computer, you should be able to watch it using the native video player. If not, consider a universal video player like VLC Player.

To view the footage:

1. Detach the dash cam from its mount
2. Connect the dash cam to the computer using a suitable USB cable
3. Browse your computer’s file manager for a new USB drive
4. Open this to browse the videos stored on the dash cam

After playing or copying the video to your computer, remember to safely remove the USB device (ie your dash cam).

If detaching the dash cam is inconvenient or you don’t have a suitable USB cable, ejecting the SD card is your last option. Aside from using a mobile app, this is perhaps the most convenient way to view dash cam videos.

To view dash cam footage on your computer:

1. With the dash cam powered off, eject the SD card
2. Insert the SD card into your computer’s card reader
3. Open your computer’s file manager to find the SD card
4. Browse the videos from the dash cam

When you find the relevant footage, copy it to your computer.

Watch the dash cam video with GPS data

Some dashcams have built-in GPS units. Others support adding a GPS module. The result is that GPS data is recorded along with video; If they are time-stamped, it is possible to match the location to the footage.

To do this, however, you need a dedicated app that can both play dashcam video material and display the GPS data in a user-friendly manner. That would normally be a map.

If your dash cam has a recommended companion app for this purpose (probably developed by or for the manufacturer), you should use that. It’s probably free to use and designed to play back the video and GPS data from your particular camera.

If you use multiple dashcams from different manufacturers or don’t have a GPS player available, consider Dashcam Viewer. This is a paid app for Windows 10 and macOS that comes with a free trial and a base price of $35 (other options are available).

In the event of an accident, the police want to see dash cam footage. However, if you are unable to copy the data from the dash cam, it may mean that you have to give up the device or microSD card.

Instead of rendering your dashcam useless (or driving without it), you need to know how to share it.

After identifying the file that recorded the incident, decide if it needs editing. While this takes longer, it also results in a smaller file. An edited video should show the events leading up to the incident and its aftermath. If editing is not possible, make a note of the timestamp and share it with the video.

Police officers should give you a dedicated email address or website to upload dash cam videos. Insurers offer a similar scheme.

Some police departments and law enforcement agencies actively encourage you to send footage. To find out if this applies in your area, visit the relevant agency’s website.

Can you upload dash cam videos to YouTube?

Suppose you captured something amazing with your dash cam, like a stunning RTA that everyone miraculously survived. You want to share it far and wide, don’t you?

While you can easily upload videos to Facebook, shorter clips are required if you plan to share footage on Twitter. Other networks have similar limitations. But if you have a YouTube account, you can upload your dash cam video. Just make sure the video doesn’t reveal any identifiable information like faces or license plates.

Our guide to uploading videos to YouTube will help you with that. You can upload dash cam videos to YouTube from a desktop or mobile device.

You can watch it on the dash cam, maybe sync it to an app. Dashcam recordings can be opened on a PC, viewed in a standard media player, or even in an app that displays GPS information (where available).

Whether you edit the footage or not, you can also share it with the police, your insurer, and even upload it to YouTube.