Bluetooth pairing with Canon Camera Connect can be surprisingly finicky. If your camera and iPhone won’t pair, or if pairing seems to succeed but the connection doesn’t work, here’s how to fix it.
Common reasons pairing fails
- Old pairing records. Your camera or iPhone remembers a previous Bluetooth pairing that conflicts with the new one. This is the most common cause.
- Pairing from the wrong place. You cannot pair your Canon camera from the iPhone’s Bluetooth settings. Pairing must be initiated through the Camera Connect app.
- iOS revoked Bluetooth permission. After an iOS update, Camera Connect may lose its Bluetooth permission without notifying you.
- Camera already paired to another phone. Most Canon cameras can only maintain one active Bluetooth pairing at a time.
How to fix Bluetooth pairing
Step 1: Clear old Bluetooth records on your iPhone
- Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
- Look for your camera’s name in the list of paired devices.
- Tap the (i) icon next to it.
- Tap Forget This Device.
Step 2: Clear old records on your camera
The exact steps depend on your camera model:
- EOS R5/R6/R7/R8 (zig-zag icon): Menu → Network function tab → Connect to smartphone(tablet) → Delete connection information.
- EOS R6/850D (antenna icon): Menu → Network tab → Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connection → Connect to smartphone → Delete connection information.
- Older models (wrench icon): Menu → Wi-Fi function → Connect to smartphone → Clear connection settings.
Step 3: Check Bluetooth permission
Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Bluetooth and make sure Canon Camera Connect is listed and enabled. If it’s not listed, you may need to reinstall the app.
Step 4: Pair again from Camera Connect
- On the camera, navigate to the smartphone connection menu and select Add a device to connect to.
- Follow the prompts to start Bluetooth pairing.
- Open Canon Camera Connect on your iPhone. The camera should appear in the app.
- Tap the camera name to pair.
- Confirm the Bluetooth pairing dialog on your iPhone.
- Press SET on the camera to complete.
Important: Do not try to pair from Settings → Bluetooth on your iPhone. It must be done through the Camera Connect app.
If pairing still fails
- Restart both devices. Turn the camera off and back on. Force-quit Camera Connect and reopen it.
- Reinstall Camera Connect. Delete the app and reinstall it from the App Store. This resets all Bluetooth permissions and stored connection data.
- Check for iOS updates. Some iOS versions have known Bluetooth compatibility issues with Canon cameras. Make sure you’re on the latest version.
You don’t always need Bluetooth
If Bluetooth pairing just won’t work, you can still connect to your camera via WiFi only:
- On your camera, look for a Connect via Wi-Fi option (instead of Pair via Bluetooth) in the smartphone connection menu.
- The camera will display a network name (SSID) and password.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings → Wi-Fi and connect to that network.
- Open Canon Camera Connect.
The downside of WiFi-only is that you’ll need to manually connect each time — there’s no automatic reconnection like with Bluetooth.
An easier pairing experience
Shutter+ supports both Bluetooth and WiFi connections with Canon cameras. Bluetooth pairing follows the same process (it’s a camera-side limitation), but Shutter+ includes a built-in shortcut that automatically manages the Bluetooth connection for best performance — toggling it as needed so you don’t have to think about it.
If you set up a WiFi-only connection, Shutter+ makes reconnection simple: join the camera’s network in iOS Settings, open Shutter+, and you’re connected. No re-pairing, no account required.
Try Shutter+ free for 7 days to see if it works better with your camera.