Camera won't connect to your phone over Wi-Fi: fixes
Wireless tethering that won't connect, or keeps dropping — what to check, in order.
Pick one way to connect
There are two set-ups. Either the phone joins the camera's own Wi-Fi network (the camera is the access point), or the camera and phone join the same network, such as your phone's hotspot or a travel router. Both work; mixing them up is the commonest cause of a camera that never appears.
Joining the camera's network
Turn on the camera's Wi-Fi or remote/tether function, then join its network from the phone's Wi-Fi settings. Your phone may warn that the network has no internet and offer to switch away — tell it to stay connected. CloudTether can still upload over mobile data while you're on the camera's Wi-Fi.
Approve the connection on the camera
Many cameras show a confirm or pairing prompt the first time a phone connects, and again after a drop. Watch the camera screen and accept it, or the phone will wait forever.
Same network but not found
Check both devices really are on the same network, and that it isn't a guest or venue network that isolates devices from each other. If discovery still fails, enter the camera's IP address (shown in its network info screen) in CloudTether's connect screen.
Connected but dropping
Keep camera and phone close — bodies and walls between them hurt the signal. Busy venue Wi-Fi is the worst case: switch to the camera's own network or your phone's hotspot. Shots taken during a short dropout queue and transfer once the link is back.
When to use USB instead
If the shoot can't afford dropouts, use a cable. In our field data USB was about three times faster than Wi-Fi on the same camera, and it doesn't depend on radio conditions.
FAQ
Why does my camera's Wi-Fi keep disconnecting from my phone?
Usually distance or interference, or the phone switching away from a network with no internet. Keep the devices close, tell the phone to stay on the camera's network, or use your phone's hotspot instead of venue Wi-Fi.
Can my phone upload to the cloud while it's on the camera's Wi-Fi?
Yes. CloudTether uploads over mobile data while the phone stays joined to the camera's network.
What if the app can't find the camera on the network?
Check both are on the same, non-guest network, approve any prompt on the camera, and enter the camera's IP address manually if discovery still fails.
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