How to tether your camera to your phone wirelessly
Connect your camera to your phone over USB or Wi-Fi and have every shot transfer automatically — here's the full setup.
What you need
A camera that supports USB tethering or Wi-Fi (PTP/IP) — Canon, Sony, Nikon and Fujifilm bodies all qualify — a phone, and either a USB cable (USB-C or the right adapter) or the camera's Wi-Fi. No laptop required.
Option 1: USB tethering
Set the camera to its PC/tether mode (PC Remote on Sony, PC connection on Nikon), connect it to your phone with a cable, and the app detects it. USB is the fastest, most reliable link — ideal for studio and long shoots where you can stay connected.
Option 2: Wi-Fi tethering
Enable the camera's Wi-Fi (many bodies broadcast their own network) and connect your phone to it, or put both on the same network. Approve the pairing on the camera the first time. On Canon, set the Wi-Fi function to “Remote control (EOS Utility)”, not “Connect to smartphone” — the smartphone mode won't show an approve prompt and the connection stalls. Wireless frees you to move around — useful for events and weddings.
Deliver every shot as you go
With a tethering app like CloudTether, once connected you just shoot. Each frame is detected, downloaded at full resolution, and uploaded to wherever you've pointed the camera — a cloud folder, a client gallery, an FTP server — live, seconds after the shutter.
Connect a camera in the CloudTether app
From opening the app to your first shot arriving — over USB or Wi-Fi.
Not sure which you have? 1.1 has the tabs Home · History · Deliver · More; 1.0 has Home · Playback · Destinations · More. What changed in 1.1
1Open Connect a camera
On Home, tap “Connect a camera” (or “+ Add” under Cameras when one is already connected). Plug in a USB cable and the camera connects by itself, or tap “Wi-Fi” for guided setup — or pick your brand (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, or Other: Panasonic, OM System, GoPro, FTP).
2Confirm on the camera if asked
Over Wi-Fi, many cameras show a pairing or confirm prompt the first time — accept it on the camera. Over USB, set the camera to its PC / tether mode (PC Remote on Sony).
3Choose where its shots go
When the camera connects, the “Send its shots to…” sheet shows the camera and where it is sending — for example “Sending to Dropbox · Google Drive”. Tap “Change” to pick somewhere else, then take a test shot: “Test shot delivered. You’re all set” means it worked.
4Shoot
Home now leads with where shots are going (“Sending to Dropbox · Google Drive”, with “Change”) and a live panel of shot / sending / delivered counts. Turn on Pocket mode to darken the screen while the tether keeps running.
1Open Connect a camera
On Home, tap “Connect a camera” (or “+ Add camera” when one is already connected). Plug in over USB for a zero-tap start, or tap “Choose your camera” to set up Wi-Fi, the camera's own hotspot, FTP or GoPro for your model.
2Confirm on the camera if asked
Over Wi-Fi, many cameras show a pairing or confirm prompt the first time — accept it on the camera (Home shows “Confirm the connection on your camera”). Over USB, set the camera to its PC / tether mode (PC Remote on Sony).
3Choose where shots go
The “Camera connected” sheet asks “Where should shots go?” and shows the camera's current album, e.g. “Live upload → Bennett & Cole Wedding”. Tap “Change” to pick another album, then take a test shot: “Test shot delivered — you’re all set”.
4Shoot
Home shows “This shoot” with captured, uploading, in-the-cloud and delivered counts, and the camera card's “Live upload → album” line. Recent cloud albums are listed below.
FAQ
Is USB or Wi-Fi better for tethering to a phone?
USB is faster and more reliable, so it's best for studio or static setups. Wi-Fi is more convenient when you need to move around, like at weddings and events. Apps like CloudTether support both.
Which cameras can tether to a phone?
Canon, Sony, Nikon and Fujifilm bodies that expose USB tethering or PTP/IP — which covers most modern mirrorless and DSLR cameras.
Tether your camera to the cloud with CloudTether
Deliver every shot to the cloud or a client gallery, live as you shoot — no laptop. Canon, Nikon, Sony and Fujifilm over USB or Wi-Fi, on iPhone, iPad or Android.