Insta360 GO 3S User Manual

Product Introduction

Introduction

The Insta360 GO 3S is a compact action camera designed for versatile shooting. This section details the components of the camera and its Action Pod.

Action Pod Components:

• 1. Flip Touchscreen: The interactive display for controlling the camera.
• 2. Indicator Light: Provides status information about the camera and Action Pod.
• 3. Shutter Button: Used for taking photos or starting/stopping video recording.
• 4. Power Button: Turns the camera and Action Pod on or off.
• 5. Charging Point: Connection point for charging the device.
• 6. Quick Button: Allows quick access to preset shooting modes and parameters.
• 7. Mounting Latch: Secures the camera to the Action Pod or other mounts.
• 8. Release Switch: Used to detach the camera from the Action Pod.
• 9. Type-C Charging Port: For charging the Action Pod and camera.

GO 3S Camera Components:

• 1. Microphone: Captures audio.
• 2. Lens: The primary optical component for capturing images and video.
• 3. GO 3S Button: Controls the camera when it is detached from the Action Pod.
• 4. Indicator Light: Provides status information for the GO 3S camera.
• 5. Charging Point: Connection point for charging the GO 3S camera.
• 6. Speaker: Outputs audio prompts and sound.

Standard Accessories

The Insta360 GO 3S and Action Pod can be mounted on various accessories for flexible shooting.

Magnet Pendant

How to Use:

1. Wear the Magnet Pendant under your clothing, with the camera icon facing outwards.
2. Mount GO 3S horizontally or vertically onto the Magnet Pendant over your clothing. Horizontal mounting provides a 16:9 aspect ratio, while vertical mounting switches it to 9:16.

Notes: If you have a pacemaker, do not use this accessory due to its magnetism.

Pivot Stand

How to Use:

1. Screw the Pivot Stand to the sticky base.
2. Press the two buckles on the sides of the Pivot Stand, and mount GO 3S (with or without the Action Pod). Ensure the camera faces the same direction as the icon on the Pivot Stand.
3. Stick it onto a clean and dry surface (flat or curved). Press and hold for 10 seconds to install securely.
4. The Pivot Stand base can be removed to connect other accessories via the 1/4" mounting point, such as a selfie stick.

Notes:

1. The sticky base is suitable for temperatures between 0°C-40°C (32°F-104°F). It reaches maximum strength 30 minutes after application.
2. The sticky base is reusable. Clean it with water and air-dry to reuse.

Easy Clip

How to Use:

1. Mount GO 3S onto the Easy Clip in the same direction as the icon on the Easy Clip. Ensure it is secure.
2. Attach the Easy Clip to the edge of a hat or other object and adjust it to the desired angle. For flexible angle adjustment, it can also be attached to the Magnet Pendant over your clothes.

First Use

Charging

Place the GO 3S inside the Action Pod and connect the official Type-C cable. While charging, both the camera and Action Pod indicator lights will be solid red. The lights turn off when the devices are fully charged.

Notes:

• Remove the red sticker on the back of GO 3S before first use.
• It is recommended to use a dedicated charger. USB ports on computers or portable power sources may not provide sufficient power to charge both devices simultaneously.

GO 3S Charging Time:

• 23 minutes - 80%
• 35 minutes - 100%

Action Pod Charging Time:

• 47 minutes - 80%
• 65 minutes - 100%

Find Your Serial Number

The serial number is a unique code to identify your camera. You can find it in the following ways:

• Product Box: The GO 3S and Action Pod serial number is on the back of the original product box. (The box label may contain manufacturer information in Chinese, such as '影石创新科技股份有限公司' for Arashi Vision Inc.)
• Camera Settings: Power on the camera, swipe down on the touchscreen to access the Shortcut Menu, then go to [Settings] > [Camera Info] to view the serial number.
• Insta360 App: Connect your camera to the Insta360 app, then go to app Settings > [Device Information] to view the serial number.
• Insta360 Studio: Launch Insta360 Studio on your computer, import footage, select the footage, and click the info icon to access File Properties and view the serial number.

Activation

You need to activate the camera in the Insta360 app before first use.

Steps:

1. Download the Insta360 app from your app store or scan the QR code on the box.
2. Press the Power Button to turn on the camera.
3. Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your phone.
4. Open the Insta360 app, tap the camera icon, select your device, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the connection. The camera name defaults to "GO 3S ******", where ****** represents the last six digits of the serial number. Confirm the connection on the touchscreen for the first time.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate the camera. If a new firmware version is available, the app will prompt you to update it.

Basic Use

Action Pod Button Instructions

Power Button

Quick Button

Shutter Button

GO 3S Button Instructions

Control GO 3S when it is detached from the Action Pod.

GO 3S Camera Button Customization

Customize GO 3S buttons via the Action Pod or the app settings page.

• Action Pod: Swipe down on the touchscreen, go to Settings, then tap "GO 3S Button Settings" to customize.
• Insta360 App: Connect the camera to the Insta360 app, go to Settings > Button Settings to customize.

Using GO 3 and Action Pod

• Using GO 3S and Action Pod together: When GO 3S is in the Action Pod, it functions as a single action camera, and the GO 3S buttons are disabled. Control the camera using the Action Pod buttons or the app.
• Using them separately: When GO 3S is removed from the Action Pod, it can be used for remote control and live preview up to 16ft (5m) away. The GO 3S buttons are enabled.

Note: When using the Action Pod for remote preview, data is transmitted via Bluetooth, reducing preview footage quality. Remote use does not affect the actual footage.

Using the Touchscreen

The touchscreen displays the current shooting mode, battery level, storage capacity, and shooting parameters. Gestures allow for various operations:

• Tap the screen: Hide/show information on the touchscreen.
• Swipe down from the top: View Shortcut Menu.
• Swipe left and right in the center: Switch shooting mode.
• Swipe from the left: Enter the album page.
• Swipe from the right: Enter shooting parameter settings.
• Swipe up from the bottom: Access more shooting parameter settings.

Shooting Interface

The shooting interface displays:

• 1. Storage: Remaining photos or video footage length on the microSD card.
• 2. GO 3S Battery Status: Current battery level of GO 3S.
• 3. Action Pod Battery Status: Current battery level of Action Pod.
• 4. Tilt Fix: Turn on/off.
• 5. Shooting Mode: Tap the icon and swipe to select a shooting mode.
• 6. Shooting Specifications: Current shooting mode settings.
• 7. Field of View: Change the Field of View.
• 8. Clarity Zoom: Toggle between 1-2x focus; long press to slide zoom.
• 9. Jitter Blur Reduction: Automatically activates in low light to improve motion blur and image stabilization. In extreme low light, brightness may decrease, and anti-flickering may be ineffective.

Shooting Mode

Tap the shooting mode icon and swipe to select a different mode.

Shortcut Menu

Swipe down on the touchscreen to view the Shortcut Menu. Options include:

• 1. Rotation Lock: Turn on/off.
• 2. Lock Screen: Tap to lock touchscreen. Swipe up or press Power Button to unlock.
• 3. Indicator Light Brightness: Adjust GO 3S Indicator Light brightness.
• 4. Prompt Sound: Set camera speaker volume (High, Medium, Low, Mute).
• 5. Adjust Brightness: Slide bar to adjust screen brightness.
• 6. Pre-recording: Saves 10-30 seconds of video before pressing the Shutter Button (supported in Video and FreeFrame Video).
• 7. Interval Recording: Automatically powers on, records, and powers off at set intervals when powered off.
• 8. Kids Mode: Disables buttons, silences prompts, and dims indicator lights for child use.
• 9. Grid: Turn on/off.
• 10. Level Indicator: Displays a horizontal reference line to check if the shot is level.
• 11. Voice Control: Turn on/off.
• 12. Gesture Control: Turn on/off.
• 13. QuickCapture: Press Shutter Button when powered off to turn on and start recording.
• 14. Timed Capture: Use in current shooting mode (supported in Video, FreeFrame Video, Photo, Interval Photo, Timelapse).
• 15. Audio Settings: Switch audio mode (Wind Reduction, Stereo, Direction Focus).
• 16. Settings: Access camera settings.

Shooting Specification Settings

Swipe up from the bottom of the touchscreen to view shooting specification settings.

Shooting Parameter Settings

Swipe left from the right edge of the touchscreen to see shooting parameter settings.

Parameters and Descriptions:

• Shutter Speed: Controls light entry time. Faster speed for clearer images, higher for dynamic shots, lower for low light.
• Sensitivity (ISO): Sensor's sensitivity to light; higher sensitivity captures more light for a brighter image.
• Exposure Compensation Value (EV): Adjusts exposure in Auto Mode to prevent overexposure or underexposure.
• White Balance (WB): Removes unrealistic colors for accurate capture. Higher WB produces warmer tones; lower results in cooler tones.
• Jitter Blur Reduction: Improves motion blur and stabilization in low light. May darken image and cause flickering in extreme conditions.
• Filters: Add different color tones and effects.
• Metering Mode: Face Priority prioritizes face brightness; Matrix ensures accurate overall exposure.
• Sharpness: Adjusts video screen clarity and image edge sharpness.

Parameters by Shooting Mode:

Album Page

Swipe right from the left of the touchscreen to enter the Album page to view clips.

Apple Find My

GO 3S is compatible with Apple Find My for locating your device.

Steps:

1. Turn on the camera.
2. In camera settings, select "Apple Find My " and tap "Start Pairing".
3. Open the Find My app on your Apple device, connect, and add Insta360 GO 3S to your Items.
4. After connecting, you can locate your GO 3S with the Find My app.

Note:

• Requires GO 3S to have battery remaining, even when powered off.
• Supports finding the GO 3S standalone camera only, not the Action Pod.
• Available only for Apple devices with the Find My app.

Indicator Lights

The camera has two LED Indicator Lights (one on the GO 3S body, one on the Action Pod) that display status information. Indicator lights can be turned on/off in Settings > General.

Storage

The camera offers internal storage capacities of 64GB and 128GB. Usable space may be slightly less than the total capacity due to system usage.

GO 3S And GO 3 Action Pod

The GO 3S camera is compatible with the GO 3 Action Pod (requires updated firmware).

1. Place GO 3S into the GO 3 Action Pod.
2. Download or connect to the Insta360 app to upgrade the GO 3 Action Pod to the latest firmware version.
3. After the upgrade, press and hold the GO 3S button to turn on the device and wait for it to connect to the GO 3 Action Pod.
4. Once connected, the camera can be used normally.

Insta360 App

Connect to the Insta360 App

Follow these steps to connect your camera to the Insta360 app:

1. Download the Insta360 app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Press the Power Button to turn on the camera.
3. Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your smartphone.
4. Open the Insta360 app, tap the camera icon, and follow the on-screen instructions to activate your camera.
5. For the first connection, authorize it on the touchscreen or by pressing the Shutter Button.

If you cannot connect, check your smartphone's Wi-Fi settings, enter the password, and return to the app. You can change the camera's Wi-Fi password in the app settings.

Still can't connect to the Insta360 App?

• Check if the Insta360 app has network, Bluetooth, or local network permissions.
• Ensure Wi-Fi is enabled on your camera.
• Make sure the camera is close enough to your phone.

Editing

View and edit footage using the Insta360 app or Insta360 Studio.

• Insta360 App:
• Edit Page: Connect your camera, go to the Edit page, and use "Create a Video" or "Auto Edit" for AI-assisted editing. Explore AI templates, themes, and effects with FlashCut and Shot Lab.
• Album Page: Connect your camera, enter the Album page to view clips, and open footage for editing in the player.
• Insta360 Studio: Download and open Insta360 Studio from the Insta360 website. Connect your camera, import footage, and edit using its tools or the Adobe Premiere plugin.

File Transfer

Download camera files to your phone or computer for editing and exporting.

File transfer from camera to phone (iOS/Android)

1. Connect the camera to the Insta360 app.
2. Open the app's album page.
3. Tap the top right icon to select files for transfer.
4. Tap the export icon to save to your phone's album.
5. Do not exit the app or lock your phone during export. Tap the download icon to save files to the app's gallery.

If your camera cannot connect to the Insta360 app:

• Update the camera and app to the latest version.
• Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings. If not connected, enter the Wi-Fi password and restart both devices. If connection issues persist, forget the camera's Wi-Fi network in your phone settings and reconnect.
• Ensure the Insta360 app has GPS and Bluetooth permissions enabled. On Android, disable WLAN+ or auto-switch Wi-Fi. On iOS, go to system settings, select Insta360, and turn on "Local Network."

File transfer from camera to computer (Mac/Windows)

1. Connect the camera to your computer using the official Type-C cable.
2. Power on the camera and select 'USB Drive Mode'. Wait for the computer to recognize the drive.
3. Open the DCIM > Camera01 folder and copy photos/videos to your computer.

If your camera cannot connect:

• Ensure the camera's firmware is up to date.
• Use the official data cable for transfer; unofficial cables may cause compatibility issues.
• Make sure the camera is powered on.

Transfer files between the Insta360 app and your Mac (iPhone)

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac.
2. In Finder, select your iPhone.
3. Click Files, then either:
   • Transfer from Mac to iPhone: Create an "IMPORT" folder on your desktop, drag files into it, then into the Insta360 app folder on your device.
   • Transfer from iPhone to Mac: Click the triangle next to the Insta360 app to see the DCIM folder, then drag desired files to a folder on your Mac.

Notes:

• The folder must be named IMPORT (all caps).
• Transfer progress may not be visible; wait for completion.
• Restart the Insta360 app on your phone after transferring to see files.

Transfer files between the Insta360 app and your Windows PC (iPhone)

1. Install iTunes on your Windows PC. Connect your iPhone, open iTunes, and complete the authorization process.
2. After authorization, click the iPhone icon and navigate to its files.
3. Click "File Sharing", choose "Insta360", then either:
   • Transfer from iPhone to Windows PC: Find the DCIM folder, click Save, choose a path, and save.
   • Transfer from Windows PC to iPhone: Create an "IMPORT" folder, copy photos/videos into it, and replace the IMPORT folder in the Insta360 app.

Notes:

• The folder must be named IMPORT (all caps).
• Restart the Insta360 app on your phone after transferring to see files.

Transfer files between the Insta360 app and your Android (PC)

1. Install Android File Transfer on your Mac. Connect your phone and open Android File Transfer.
2. Navigate to "data > com.arashivision.insta360akiko > files > Insta360OneR > galleryOriginal".
3. Copy and paste or drag files and folders to a folder on your Mac.

Transfer files between the Insta360 app and your Windows PC (Android)

1. Connect your Android phone to your PC. Choose "Manage Files" under "USB Connected" if prompted.
2. Click "My Computer/This Computer", find your phone model, and click "Internal Storage".
3. Navigate to "data > com.arashivision.insta360akiko > files > Insta360OneR > galleryOriginal", then either:
   • Transfer from Android to Windows PC: Copy the folder or files to your PC.
   • Transfer from Windows PC to Android: Copy files to this folder from your PC.

Maintenance

Firmware Update

Firmware updates are available to ensure efficient camera operation. Update to the latest version for optimal results. Ensure the camera has at least 20% battery before updating.

Update via Insta360 App:

Connect the camera to the Insta360 app. The app will notify you of new firmware updates; follow the on-screen instructions.

If the firmware update fails:

• Ensure the camera is close to your phone.
• Keep the Insta360 app running and do not minimize it.
• Ensure your phone has a strong and stable network connection.

Update via Computer

1. Ensure the camera is powered on.
2. Connect the camera to the computer using a USB Type-C cable and select USB Mode.
3. Download the latest firmware from the official Insta360 website.
4. Once the computer recognizes the camera, copy the "Insta360GO3SFW.pkg" file to the camera's root directory.

Note:

• Do not change the file name.
• Disconnect the camera; it will power off automatically.
• Power on the camera and wait for the firmware update to start. Indicator lights will slowly flash blue.

Waterproofing

1. GO 3S (when detached from the Action Pod) is waterproof up to 33ft (10m). The included Lens Guard must be installed for underwater use; otherwise, waterproofing and shooting effects will be compromised. The Lens Guard is installed by default.
2. The Action Pod is IPX4 water resistant only when GO 3 is installed, protecting against light rain and snow. It should not be submerged or used for high-velocity water activities like surfing or waterskiing in rainy weather.
3. For extended underwater use, use the GO 3S Dive Case. With the Dive Case, GO 3S and the Action Pod are waterproof to 197ft (60m).
4. Before underwater use, ensure the charging points on the GO 3S and Action Pod are not damaged or oxidized.
5. After using the GO 3S (without the Action Pod) in seawater:
   • Rinse the camera with fresh water.
   • Soak it in fresh water for 10 minutes.
   • Dry with a soft cloth and place in a ventilated area to dry naturally. Ensure it is completely dry before reuse.

To maintain the waterproofing of GO 3S:

• Do not use a hair dryer; it may affect the microphone/speaker and internal waterproofing.
• Avoid operating GO 3S for extended periods (>1 hour) outside the recommended temperature range (-4°F to 104°F / -20℃ to 40℃) or in humid environments.
• Do not store in high-temperature or high-humidity environments, or with items like perfume and cosmetics to prevent corrosion.
• Avoid entering water at high speeds, as water impact and pressure can damage the device.
• Try to avoid serious drops and impacts.
• Do not disassemble the camera.

Cleaning

• If foreign objects (dirt, hair) are on the Lens Guard, clean with clean water, a lens pen, air blower, or cloth.
• If the lens contains foreign objects, clean with a lens pen, air blower, or cloth.

Company Information

Arashi Vision Inc.

ADD: 11th Floor, Building 2, Jinlitong Financial Center, Bao'an District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

WEB: www.insta360.com

TEL: 400-833-4360 / +1 800 6920 360

EMAIL: service@insta360.com

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