Connect over USB

The most reliable way to tether — a direct cable from camera to phone.

By the CloudTether team · Updated

USB is the simplest and most dependable connection: no pairing, no radio interference, and in our app logs it was about three times faster than Wi-Fi on the same camera (a Canon EOS R5 Mark II JPEG reached the phone in a median 0.06 s over USB vs 0.20 s over Wi-Fi). Use it whenever a cable is practical.

What you need

  • A data cable. Many USB-C cables only carry power. If the camera charges but never appears, swap the cable — the one that came with the camera is a safe bet.
  • The right ends. Check the camera's port:
    • USB-C (most current bodies): a USB-C to USB-C cable plugs straight into a USB-C iPhone (iPhone 15 and later), a USB-C iPad or an Android phone.
    • Micro-B USB 3 (e.g. Canon 5D Mark IV, Nikon D850): a Micro-B to USB-C cable.
    • Micro-USB (e.g. Sony α6400, α6600, ZV-E10) or Mini-B (older bodies): a Micro-USB or Mini-B to USB-C cable.
  • A Lightning iPhone (iPhone 14 and earlier) needs Apple's Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, plus a cable from the camera ending in USB-A. The adapter's Lightning port lets you charge while you tether.
  • Android phones act as the USB host (USB OTG), which almost every current phone supports. If your cable ends in USB-A, add a USB-C OTG adapter.

Not sure? The tether cable picker tells you the exact cable for your camera and phone.

Length: the phone travels with you — on the strap, a belt clip or a cold-shoe mount — so the shortest cable that reaches (30 cm to 1 m) is the most reliable. Keep a spare in a pocket.

Set the camera's USB mode

The camera must talk PTP (picture transfer), not act as a card reader or webcam:

  • Canon: nothing to set — but turn the camera's Wi-Fi off, as several EOS bodies disable USB while wireless is on, and make sure it isn't in a webcam/streaming mode.
  • Nikon: nothing to set on current bodies. If an older body mounts as storage, choose MTP/PTP.
  • Sony: set USB Connection to PC Remote (called Remote Shooting on newer menus). The ZV-E10 defaults to USB streaming and must be switched.
  • Fujifilm: set the connection mode to USB TETHER SHOOTING AUTO (or FIXED).
  • Panasonic Lumix: USB Mode → PC(Tether), then choose Other in CloudTether. Other PTP cameras (OM System, Leica) also connect through Other.

The brand guides have the exact menus: Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm.

Connect

  1. Turn the camera on and lengthen its auto power-off / standby timer so it doesn't sleep mid-shoot.
  2. Open CloudTether and, on Home, tap Connect a camera.
  3. Plug the cable in. Over USB the camera connects by itself — no brand to pick.
  4. Android: when asked "Allow CloudTether to access the USB device?", tap OK and tick Use by default so you're not asked again. iPhone: keep the app open the first time you connect.
  5. The Send its shots to… sheet shows where shots will go. Change it if needed, then take a test shot — "Test shot delivered" means you're set.

Tips for a long shoot

  • Add strain relief (a cable clamp on the camera, cage or tripod) so a tug doesn't pull the plug; a right-angle plug helps next to a grip or flash.
  • Keep the phone charged, and use Pocket mode to darken the screen while the tether keeps running.
  • Don't run the camera maker's app or other tethering software on the same phone at the same time.
  • On iPhone, a Nikon with a CFexpress card may need the card formatted in the camera before USB connects.

If nothing happens, see Camera not detected or, on Android, Camera not detected on Android (USB).

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

  1. CloudTether 1.1 Connect a camera screen with USB cable and Wi-Fi options and a list of camera brands

    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).

  2. 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).

  3. CloudTether 1.1 Send its shots to sheet after a Canon EOS R5 Mark II connects over USB, with a test shot delivered to Dropbox and Google Drive

    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.

  4. CloudTether 1.1 Home screen during a live shoot sending to Dropbox and Google Drive, with 18 shot, 4 sending and 14 delivered

    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.