Camera not detected over USB on iPhone or Android: fixes
Plugged the camera into your phone and nothing happens? It's almost always one of these.
1. Set the camera's USB mode to tether, not storage
This is the cause most of the time. Tethering needs the camera to talk PTP (picture transfer protocol), not act as a USB card reader or a webcam. Sony bodies need PC Remote (on the ZV-E10 the default is USB streaming, which looks like a webcam — switch it). Fujifilm needs its USB tether shooting mode in the PC connection menu. Nikon and Canon usually work as they come, but avoid any Mass Storage option.
2. Use a data cable, not a charging cable
Many USB-C cables in the drawer only carry power. If the camera charges but the phone never sees it, swap the cable for one that is known to carry data — the one that came with the camera is a good bet. On a Lightning iPhone you need Apple's USB camera adapter; USB-C iPhones and Android phones connect directly with a USB-C cable.
3. Turn the camera's Wi-Fi off
Several Canon bodies disable USB communication while their wireless functions are switched on. If you've been using the camera's Wi-Fi or a manufacturer app, turn wireless off in the camera menu and reconnect the cable.
4. Wake the camera and approve the prompts
Make sure the camera is on and not asleep — power-saving can drop the USB link. On Android, allow the "access this USB device" prompt and choose CloudTether. On iPhone, keep the app open the first time the camera is connected.
5. Card quirks
On iPhone, a Nikon Z6 II with a CFexpress card refused to pass the camera through over USB until the card was formatted in the camera; an SD-only setup connected straight away. If one card misbehaves, back it up, format it in the camera and try again.
Still stuck?
Try the camera's Wi-Fi instead to rule out the cable and port, and check your model on the supported cameras list. If it still won't connect, send us the camera model from the Help Centre and we'll help.
FAQ
Why won't my phone recognise my camera over USB?
Usually the camera's USB mode is set to mass storage or webcam instead of PC tether / PC Remote, or the cable only charges. Set the tether mode, use a data cable, and turn the camera's Wi-Fi off.
Do I need an adapter to connect a camera to an iPhone?
USB-C iPhones connect with a USB-C cable. Lightning iPhones need Apple's Lightning to USB camera adapter.
Which USB mode should a Sony camera use for tethering?
PC Remote. On the ZV-E10 the default USB mode is streaming (webcam), which won't tether.
Tether your camera to the cloud with CloudTether
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