Connect a Sony camera
Sony Alpha, ZV and APS-C settings for VowPix, step by step with pictures.
Sony menus differ between models, so find yours below. Set everything before plugging in: some items are greyed out while the cable is connected.
Find your camera:
- A7 III, A7R III, A9, A6100/A6400/A6600 (older menu) · A7 III (ILCE-7M3), A7R III / A7R IIIA (ILCE-7RM3 / ILCE-7RM3A), A9 (ILCE-9), A6100 (ILCE-6100), A6400 (ILCE-6400), A6600 (ILCE-6600)
- A7R IV, A9 II, A7C (PC Remote in Network menu) · A7R IV / A7R IVA (ILCE-7RM4 / ILCE-7RM4A), A9 II (ILCE-9M2), A7C (ILCE-7C)
- ZV-E10 (first generation) · ZV-E10
- ZV-1, ZV-1A (Micro-USB) · ZV-1 (DSC-ZV1), ZV-1A
- A7S III, system software before 3.00 · A7S III (ILCE-7SM3), system software earlier than 3.00
- A1, system software before 2.00 · A1 (ILCE-1), system software earlier than 2.00
- A7 IV, A7R V, A7S III 3.00+, A1 2.00+, A1 II, A9 III, ZV-E1, ZV-E10 II (new menu) · A7 IV (ILCE-7M4), A7R V (ILCE-7RM5), A7S III (ILCE-7SM3), system software 3.00 or later, A1 (ILCE-1), system software 2.00 or later, A1 II (ILCE-1M2), A9 III (ILCE-9M3), ZV-E1, ZV-E10 II (ZV-E10M2)
- A7C II, A7CR, A6700 (new menu, PC Remote wording) · A7C II (ILCE-7CM2), A7CR (ILCE-7CR), A6700 (ILCE-6700)
- A7 V, A7R VI (two USB-C ports) · A7 V (ILCE-7M5), A7R VI (ILCE-7RM6)
A7 III, A7R III, A9, A6100/A6400/A6600 (older menu)
A7 III (ILCE-7M3), A7R III / A7R IIIA (ILCE-7RM3 / ILCE-7RM3A), A9 (ILCE-9), A6100 (ILCE-6100), A6400 (ILCE-6400), A6600 (ILCE-6600)
1. Turn off smartphone control
Set Ctrl w/ Smartphone to Off. Sony requires this before USB Connection can be set to PC Remote.
2. Set USB Connection to PC Remote
Choose PC Remote. Auto, Mass Storage and MTP are file-transfer modes, not tethering; Mass Storage triggers the wrong-USB-mode message.
3. Keep every shot on card
Set Still Img. Save Dest. to PC+Camera so each photo is saved to the card and also sent to the phone.
4. Stop the camera dozing off
Set Pwr Save Start Time to 30 Min, the longest option. A9 and A6100/A6400/A6600 label it Power Save Start Time.
5. Switch to photo mode
Turn the mode dial to a still-photo mode such as AUTO, P, A, S or M, not Movie or S&Q.
6. Plug the camera into the phone
With the camera on, cable its USB-C port to the phone (A6100/A6400: Micro-B to USB-C data cable). No hub; OTG on.
7. Choose VowPix and tap OK
If Android asks which app should open the camera, pick VowPix and tick Always (never Files or Gallery). Then tap OK to allow USB access.
A7R IV, A9 II, A7C (PC Remote in Network menu)
A7R IV / A7R IVA (ILCE-7RM4 / ILCE-7RM4A), A9 II (ILCE-9M2), A7C (ILCE-7C)
1. Turn off smartphone control
Set Ctrl w/ Smartphone to Off. Sony requires this before using PC Remote Function.
2. Turn on PC Remote over USB
In PC Remote Function, set PC Remote Cnct Method to USB, then set PC Remote to On.
3. Keep every shot on card
Set Still Img. Save Dest. to PC+Camera so each photo is saved to the card and also sent to the phone.
4. Stop the camera dozing off
Set Power Save Start Time to 30 Min so the camera stays awake between moments.
5. Switch to photo mode
Turn the mode dial to a still-photo mode such as P, A, S or M, not Movie or S&Q.
6. Plug the camera into the phone
With the camera on, cable its USB-C port directly to the phone's USB-C port. No hub; phone OTG on.
7. Choose VowPix and tap OK
If Android asks which app should open the camera, pick VowPix and tick Always (never Files or Gallery). Then tap OK to allow USB access.
ZV-E10 (first generation)
ZV-E10
1. Turn off Smartphone Connection
Set Smartphone Connection to Off. While it is On the camera says Smartphone connected and PC Remote stays greyed out.
2. Turn on PC Remote over USB
In PC Remote Function, set PC Remote Cnct Method to USB, then set PC Remote to On.
3. Keep every shot on card
Set Still Img. Save Dest. to PC+Camera so each photo is saved to the card and also sent to the phone.
4. Stop the camera dozing off
Set Power Save Start Time to 30 Min (Off also works) so the camera stays awake between moments.
5. Switch to still photos
Press the Still/Movie/S&Q button until the still-photo mode shows. Do not start USB Streaming.
6. Plug the camera into the phone
With the camera on, cable its USB-C port directly to the phone's USB-C port. No hub; phone OTG on.
7. Choose VowPix and tap OK
If Android asks which app should open the camera, pick VowPix and tick Always (never Files or Gallery). Then tap OK to allow USB access.
ZV-1, ZV-1A (Micro-USB)
ZV-1 (DSC-ZV1), ZV-1A
1. Turn off smartphone control
Set Ctrl w/ Smartphone to Off. Sony requires this before using PC Remote Function.
2. Turn on PC Remote
Set PC Remote to On. These cameras have no connection-method setting; PC Remote runs over the USB port.
3. Keep every shot on card
Set Still Img. Save Dest. to PC+Camera so each photo is saved to the card and also sent to the phone.
4. Stop the camera dozing off
Set Power Save Start Time to 30 Min, the longest option, so the camera stays awake between moments.
5. Switch to still photos
Select a still-photo shooting mode, not a movie or S&Q mode, before plugging in.
6. Plug the camera into the phone
Camera on, connect its Micro-USB port using a Micro-B to USB-C data cable, or the supplied cable plus an OTG adapter.
7. Choose VowPix and tap OK
If Android asks which app should open the camera, pick VowPix and tick Always (never Files or Gallery). Then tap OK to allow USB access.
A7S III, system software before 3.00
A7S III (ILCE-7SM3), system software earlier than 3.00
1. Turn off smartphone control
Set Ctrl w/ Smartphone to Off. Sony requires this before using PC Remote Function.
2. Turn on PC Remote over USB
In PC Remote Function, set PC Remote Cnct Method to USB, then set PC Remote to On.
3. Keep every shot on card
Set Still Img. Save Dest. to PC+Camera so each photo is saved to the card and also sent to the phone.
4. Stop the camera dozing off
Set Power Save Start Time to 30 Min so the camera stays awake between moments.
5. Switch to photo mode
Turn the mode dial to a still-photo mode such as P, A, S or M, not Movie or S&Q.
6. Plug the camera into the phone
With the camera on, cable its USB-C port directly to the phone's USB-C port. No hub; phone OTG on.
7. Choose VowPix and tap OK
If Android asks which app should open the camera, pick VowPix and tick Always (never Files or Gallery). Then tap OK to allow USB access.
A1, system software before 2.00
A1 (ILCE-1), system software earlier than 2.00
1. Turn off Smartphone Connection
Set Smartphone Connection to Off. Sony requires this before using PC Remote Function on the A1.
2. Turn on PC Remote over USB
In PC Remote Function, set PC Remote Cnct Method to USB, then set PC Remote to On.
3. Keep every shot on card
Set Still Img. Save Dest. to PC+Camera so each photo is saved to the card and also sent to the phone.
4. Stop the camera dozing off
Set Power Save Start Time to 30 Min so the camera stays awake between moments.
5. Switch to photo mode
Turn the mode dial to a still-photo mode such as P, A, S or M, not Movie or S&Q.
6. Plug the camera into the phone
With the camera on, cable its USB-C port directly to the phone's USB-C port. No hub; phone OTG on.
7. Choose VowPix and tap OK
If Android asks which app should open the camera, pick VowPix and tick Always (never Files or Gallery). Then tap OK to allow USB access.
A7 IV, A7R V, A7S III 3.00+, A1 2.00+, A1 II, A9 III, ZV-E1, ZV-E10 II (new menu)
A7 IV (ILCE-7M4), A7R V (ILCE-7RM5), A7S III (ILCE-7SM3), system software 3.00 or later, A1 (ILCE-1), system software 2.00 or later, A1 II (ILCE-1M2), A9 III (ILCE-9M3), ZV-E1, ZV-E10 II (ZV-E10M2)
1. Turn off Wi-Fi remote shooting
Set Remote Shooting to Off. This is the Wi-Fi remote; Sony's own phone-over-USB setup turns it off.
2. Turn on Airplane Mode
Set Airplane Mode to On. Sony blocks remote shooting from a computer while a smartphone is connected; this cuts Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
3. Set USB to Remote Shooting
Set USB Connection Mode to Remote Shooting and USB Power Supply to Off. MSC and MTP only transfer files.
4. Keep every shot on card
Set Still Img. Save Dest. to Dest.+Camera so each photo stays on the card and is also sent to the phone.
5. Stop the camera dozing off
Set Power Save Start Time to 30 Min (Off where offered) so the camera stays awake between moments.
6. Switch to still photos
Set the Still/Movie/S&Q switch, button or mode dial to still photos, not Movie or S&Q.
7. Plug the camera into the phone
With the camera on, cable its USB-C port directly to the phone's USB-C port. No hub; phone OTG on.
8. Choose VowPix and tap OK
If Android asks which app should open the camera, pick VowPix and tick Always (never Files or Gallery). Then tap OK to allow USB access.
A7C II, A7CR, A6700 (new menu, PC Remote wording)
A7C II (ILCE-7CM2), A7CR (ILCE-7CR), A6700 (ILCE-6700)
1. Turn off Wi-Fi PC Remote
Set PC Remote to Off. This is the Wi-Fi remote; Sony's own phone-over-USB setup turns it off.
2. Turn on Airplane Mode
Set Airplane Mode to On. Sony blocks remote shooting from a computer while a smartphone is connected; this cuts Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
3. Set USB to PC Remote
Set USB Connection Mode to PC Remote and USB Power Supply to Off. MSC and MTP only transfer files.
4. Keep every shot on card
Set Still Img. Save Dest. to Dest.+Camera so each photo stays on the card and is also sent to the phone.
5. Stop the camera dozing off
Set Power Save Start Time to 30 Min (Off also works) so the camera stays awake between moments.
6. Switch to still photos
Set the Still/Movie/S&Q switch or dial to still photos, not Movie or S&Q.
7. Plug the camera into the phone
With the camera on, cable its USB-C port directly to the phone's USB-C port. No hub; phone OTG on.
8. Choose VowPix and tap OK
If Android asks which app should open the camera, pick VowPix and tick Always (never Files or Gallery). Then tap OK to allow USB access.
A7 V, A7R VI (two USB-C ports)
A7 V (ILCE-7M5), A7R VI (ILCE-7RM6)
1. Turn off Wi-Fi remote shooting
Set Remote Shooting to Off. This is the Wi-Fi remote; Sony's own phone-over-USB setup turns it off.
2. Turn on Airplane Mode
Set Airplane Mode to On. Sony blocks remote shooting from a computer while a smartphone is connected; this cuts Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
3. Set PORT 1 to Remote Shoot/Trn.
Set USB Cnct Mode (PORT1) to Remote Shoot/Trn. and USB Power Supply to Off. MSC and MTP only transfer files.
4. Keep every shot on card
Set Still Img. Save Dest. to Dest.+Camera so each photo stays on the card and is also sent to the phone.
5. Stop the camera dozing off
Set Power Save to 30 Min (Off also works) so the camera stays awake between moments.
6. Switch to still photos
Set the Still/Movie/S&Q dial or switch to still photos, not Movie or S&Q.
7. Plug the camera into the phone
With the camera on, cable USB PORT 1 directly to the phone's USB-C port. PORT 2 is for power. No hub.
8. Choose VowPix and tap OK
If Android asks which app should open the camera, pick VowPix and tick Always (never Files or Gallery). Then tap OK to allow USB access.
Still not connecting?
Open VowPix → Sync → Fix it step by step, or see Camera app troubleshooting.