USB OTG
USB On-The-Go
USB On-The-Go lets a phone or tablet act as the USB host, so it can control and receive files from a camera, drive or keyboard plugged into it.
A USB link has a host (traditionally a computer) and a device (the camera). Phones were designed as devices, so to plug a camera into a phone, the phone has to take the host role. USB On-The-Go (OTG) is the standard that allows it. On Android it's often listed as OTG support; USB-C phones generally handle the host role automatically.
With OTG, a phone can tether a camera, read a card reader or use a USB drive.
How it works
On older micro-USB phones, a special OTG adapter told the phone to become the host. With USB-C, the two ends negotiate roles when connected, so a plain USB-C cable from camera to phone usually works. iPhones with Lightning need Apple's Lightning to USB Camera Adapter; USB-C iPhones connect directly. Once the phone is host, the camera talks PTP as it would to a computer.
An example: an Android phone and a Sony
A photographer plugs a Sony into an Android phone with a USB-C cable. The phone asks whether to allow the app to access the USB device; they allow it and choose the tethering app, and the camera appears.
OTG and CloudTether
On Android, CloudTether needs a phone that can act as USB host (Android 6.0 or later); allow the access this USB device prompt and choose CloudTether. On iPhone, USB-C models plug straight in and Lightning models need Apple's camera adapter. If nothing happens, check the camera's USB mode and use a data cable — see camera not detected on Android.
Power on the host
As host, the phone may supply power to whatever is plugged in, which drains its battery. Some cameras charge from the phone — watch battery levels on long shoots.
Tips and common mistakes
- Some Android phones have an OTG switch in settings that turns itself off — check it if a camera stops appearing.
- Use a short data cable; charge-only cables won't work.
- On some Samsung phones, a security setting can block USB while the phone is locked.
Put it into practice
CloudTether tethers your camera to your phone and delivers every shot to the cloud, live as you shoot — no laptop.