How to Connect Canon Camera to iPhone

Connecting a Canon camera to your iPhone lets you transfer photos wirelessly and control the camera remotely. Here’s how to set it up, what to watch out for, and how to troubleshoot common issues.

Before you start

• Make sure your Canon camera has WiFi (most cameras released after 2014 do).
• Download Canon Camera Connect from the App Store.
• As of 2025, Canon Camera Connect requires a Canon ID to use. You’ll need to create an account before connecting.
• Charge your camera battery — WiFi drains it faster than normal use.

Connecting via Bluetooth + WiFi (recommended)

This method is available on newer cameras (EOS R-series, M50, Rebel T7i and newer). Bluetooth enables automatic reconnection — you just open the app and the camera connects.

1. On the camera, go to the wireless/network menu and find Connect to smartphone.
2. Select Add a device to connect to.
3. Choose Pair via Bluetooth and press SET.
4. Open Canon Camera Connect on your iPhone. Your camera should appear.
5. Tap the camera name and confirm the pairing dialog on your iPhone.
6. Press SET on the camera to complete.

The camera will use Bluetooth to initiate a WiFi connection automatically when you open the app.

Connecting via WiFi only

For older cameras without Bluetooth (Rebel T6, T7, 6D, PowerShot SX-series), or if Bluetooth pairing fails:

1. On the camera, go to the wireless/network menu and find Connect to smartphone.
2. Select Add a device or Register a device for connection.
3. Choose Connect via Wi-Fi (or Easy connection on older models).
4. The camera will display a network name (SSID) and password.
5. On your iPhone, go to Settings → Wi-Fi and connect to the camera’s network.
6. Open Canon Camera Connect.

Troubleshooting connection issues

The app can’t find the camera

• Make sure you’re connected to the camera’s WiFi network, not your home WiFi. Check in Settings → Wi-Fi.
• If using Bluetooth, make sure Camera Connect has Bluetooth permission: Settings → Privacy & Security → Bluetooth.
• Try restarting both the camera and the Camera Connect app.

The connection drops immediately

This is often caused by iOS switching away from the camera’s WiFi (which has no internet). To fix it:

• Turn on Airplane Mode, then re-enable WiFi and connect to the camera’s network. This prevents iOS from switching to cellular or another network.
• Disable Wi-Fi Assist in Settings → Cellular (scroll to the bottom).
• If you’re at home, your iPhone may prefer your home WiFi. Try forgetting your home network temporarily.

For a detailed walkthrough, see our Canon Camera Connect not connecting guide.

Photos transfer slowly

If photo transfers are painfully slow, turning Bluetooth off can help significantly. The iPhone shares an antenna between Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz WiFi, and Bluetooth can interfere with transfer speeds.

Go to Settings → Bluetooth (not Control Center) and turn it off. You’ll need to connect to the camera’s WiFi manually each time, but transfers will be much faster.

The app requires a Canon ID

Since April 2025, Canon Camera Connect v3.4.0 requires signing in with a Canon ID. If you’re getting a login error (including error 403), see our Canon Camera Connect login guide.

Quick reference by camera model

Camera	Connection method	Bluetooth?
EOS R5, R5 II, R6, R6 II, R7, R8	Bluetooth + WiFi	Yes
EOS R, RP	Bluetooth + WiFi	Yes
EOS R10, R50, R100	Bluetooth + WiFi	Yes
EOS M50, M50 II, M6 II	Bluetooth + WiFi	Yes
Rebel T7i/800D, T8i/850D	Bluetooth + WiFi	Yes
PowerShot G7 X III, V1, V10	Bluetooth + WiFi	Yes
Rebel T6, T7	WiFi only	No
EOS 6D, 6D II	WiFi only (6D) / BT+WiFi (6D II)	Varies
PowerShot SX-series (older)	WiFi only	No

A simpler alternative

If you find Canon Camera Connect frustrating to set up or unreliable, Shutter is a third-party Canon remote control app that takes a different approach to connections.

Instead of relying on the app to manage WiFi automatically (which is where most Camera Connect problems come from), Shutter guides you to connect to the camera’s WiFi network in iOS Settings first. Once the WiFi connection is established, you open Shutter and it’s immediately connected — no waiting, no failed handshakes.

Shutter stays connected even when you switch apps or lock your screen. It also includes a shortcut that automatically manages Bluetooth for best WiFi performance, so you don’t need to toggle it manually.

No Canon ID or account required. Try Shutter free for 7 days.