Sony PC Remote not working over USB with your phone: fixes

By the CloudTether team · Updated

Short answer: a Sony Alpha or ZV body has to be in PC Remote (called Remote Shooting on newer menus) to tether. In mass storage, MTP or USB streaming it looks like a card reader or a webcam, and no tethering app can take shots from it. Switch the USB mode, end any smartphone connection, and use a data cable with the right plug for your body.

Likely causes

  • USB mode set to mass storage, MTP or USB streaming — the ZV-E10 and ZV-1 default to streaming.
  • On newer menus, Remote Shooting chosen but the remote shoot function still off.
  • A smartphone connection (Imaging Edge Mobile or Creators' App) still active.
  • A Micro-USB body (α6400, α6600, ZV-E10) on the wrong cable, or a charge-only cable.
  • The camera asleep, or a Lightning iPhone without Apple's camera adapter.

How to fix it, step by step

  1. Older menus: switch USB Connection to PC Remote

    On bodies such as the α7 III, α6400, α6600 and ZV-E10, turn off the smartphone control and set USB Connection to PC Remote. The ZV-E10 route is below.

    1. MENU
    2. Network
    3. Ctrl w/ Smartphone
    4. Off
    1. MENU
    2. Setup
    3. USB Connection
    4. PC Remote

  2. Newer menus: Remote Shooting, then switch the function on

    On the α7 IV, α7R V, α7C II, α9 III and α1, set USB Connection Mode to Remote Shooting (PC Remote on some firmware), then turn the remote shoot function on in the Network menu — it's called PC Remote Function on some bodies. The α7 IV route is below.

    1. MENU
    2. Setup
    3. USB
    4. USB Connection Mode
    5. Remote Shooting
    1. MENU
    2. Network
    3. Cnct./Remote Sht.
    4. Remote Shoot Function
    5. Remote Shooting
    6. On

  3. Disconnect any smartphone connection

    If Imaging Edge Mobile or the Creators' App is connected, end it. Otherwise the camera keeps its connection for the app and PC Remote never starts.

  4. Keep a copy on the card

    In the remote shooting settings, set Still Img. Save Dest. to PC+Camera so every frame is also written to the card as a backup.

  5. Use the right data cable

    Full-frame Alphas have USB-C; the α6400, α6600 and ZV-E10 use Micro-USB, so use a Micro-USB to USB-C cable (or Apple's Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter for a Lightning iPhone). Where a body has both ports, use USB-C. Make sure it's a data cable, not a charge-only one.

  6. Connect and take a test shot

    Turn the camera on, open CloudTether, tap Connect a camera on Home and plug in. On Android, accept the USB prompt for CloudTether. Take a test shot and check it arrives.

Photos or Files can see it, but the tethering app can't

That's the classic sign of mass storage mode. The phone's Photos or Files app can read a camera that's acting as a card reader, so it looks as if the connection works. But a card reader only offers the files already on the card; it can't tell an app when you've taken a new shot. Switch to PC Remote and the camera starts announcing each capture instead.

Sony-specific behaviour once it's tethered

Over Sony tethering every shot is sent: in PC Remote the phone can't read ratings from the card, so rated send isn't available. Turn on JPEG only or choose a smaller delivery size to keep uploads light. ARW files go to storage destinations as the camera wrote them; gallery services take the JPEGs.

FAQ

Which USB mode should a Sony use to tether to a phone?

PC Remote, called Remote Shooting on newer menus. Mass storage, MTP and USB streaming won't tether.

Why isn't my ZV-E10 recognised over USB?

It defaults to USB streaming, which looks like a webcam. Set Ctrl w/ Smartphone to Off and USB Connection to PC Remote.

Why do shots appear on the phone but not on the card?

Set Still Img. Save Dest. to PC+Camera in the remote shooting settings so each frame is also saved to the card.

Can I send only rated shots from a Sony?

No. In PC Remote the phone can't read ratings, so every shot is sent. Use JPEG only to keep uploads light.

Can a Sony tether to CloudTether over Wi-Fi?

Only newer bodies offer wireless PC Remote, and we haven't tested it yet. The ZV-E10 is USB only. Use the cable for paid work.

Tether your camera to your phone with CloudTether

Canon, Nikon, Sony and Fujifilm over USB or Wi-Fi, on iPhone, iPad and Android. Every full-resolution shot is copied off the camera and delivered to Dropbox, Google Drive, a client gallery or FTP while you keep shooting.

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