topic Re: Connect with Canon Camera Connect without WiFi in Camera Software

Connect with Canon Camera Connect without WiFi

ddt — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 14:20:05 GMT

Using a 90D

I am unable to get a usable connection with the Canon Camera Connect app. I'm in an area with poor Wi-Fi and going to a place with no Wi-Fi.

I connect my camera to the app but when I try to either download pictures or use the app to remote control the camera it says it's shifting to Wi-Fi for better connection (better than what? Bluetooth?). It fails every time. Again Wi-Fi is not good here. I'm certain Bluetooth is better.

Have tried disabling Wi-Fi connection on the camera to force a Bluetooth connection. Every time it says I have to enable Wi-Fi to proceed. I do and it falls. I tried turning on off Wi-Fi on my phone. The same thing happens.

I've been able to manage a strong enough Wi-Fi connection to make this post. But I'm going to a place where even that won't be an option. I need to be able to use the remote function. Can somebody please help me connect my phone to my camera WITHOUT WiFi!

Thanks

Re: Connect with Canon Camera Connect without WiFi

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 14:32:01 GMT

@ddt wrote:

Using a 90D

I am unable to get a usable connection with the Canon Camera Connect app. I'm in an area with poor Wi-Fi and going to a place with no Wi-Fi.

I connect my camera to the app but when I try to either download pictures or use the app to remote control the camera it says it's shifting to Wi-Fi for better connection (better than what? Bluetooth?). It fails every time. Again Wi-Fi is not good here. I'm certain Bluetooth is better.

Have tried disabling Wi-Fi connection on the camera to force a Bluetooth connection. Every time it says I have to enable Wi-Fi to proceed. I do and it falls. I tried turning on off Wi-Fi on my phone. The same thing happens.

I've been able to manage a strong enough Wi-Fi connection to make this post. But I'm going to a place where even that won't be an option. I need to be able to use the remote function. Can somebody please help me connect my phone to my camera WITHOUT WiFi!

Thanks

The Camera Connect app uses the camera Wi-Fi. I have used the app in areas that don't even have cell service.

Video Overview of the Canon Camera Connect App

Re: Connect with Canon Camera Connect without WiFi

ddt — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 14:38:55 GMT

To be clear:

The phone and camera are able to pair via Bluetooth just fine. But the app just doesn't work without robust Wi-Fi.

Re: Connect with Canon Camera Connect without WiFi

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 14:42:45 GMT

Give Canon support a call at 1-800-OK-CANON.

Re: Connect with Canon Camera Connect without WiFi

shadowsports — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 15:15:59 GMT

Hi @ddt,

I'm not sure you understand the technology. The camera is the host, and broadcasts its own Wi-Fi network that your mobile device can connect to. As John pointed out, It does not rely on any external sources of Wi-Fi, Cellular or Bluetooth.

You must have Wi-Fi enabled on the camera in order for your mobile device to connect to it. While the Canon Connect app does offer the flexibility for your camera and mobile device to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network (example) at your house, this is simply another option.

See my screenshots below this is my camera's Wi-Fi broadcasting it's own network.

In this shot I will select the camera's Wi-Fi broadcast, enter the password and connect my mobile device directly to the camera.

Your 90D operates the same way 😉

Re: Connect with Canon Camera Connect without WiFi

JeffXB — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 17:19:06 GMT

Do you have the latest version of Canon Connect installed on your phone? If none of the above works, try deleting the app and all that’s in the catch from your phone then download it again.

Re: Connect with Canon Camera Connect without WiFi

Peter — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 22:37:42 GMT

If you have a VPN up and running your camera may not be able to connect to your phone.

Re: Connect with Canon Camera Connect without WiFi

ddt — Sat, 02 Aug 2025 01:29:47 GMT

Thank you all. This has been hugely helpful.

Re: Connect with Canon Camera Connect without WiFi

KDC4201 — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 18:48:03 GMT

Hello, very nice reply. Good details.

However I do understand the details. I have been using camera connect for a couple of years. Connected via bluetooth, then wifi without issues. SUDDENLY (like last night) the connection hangs at the wifi connection and eventually times out. When I check the phone (android) wifi settings, it says is connected via Wifi, but the password line is blank. I've never checked this before, but I haven't needed to since it always connected. I have both an RP, and an R6m3. Both worked last time I tried (with in the last month). Wifi on phone connects to home and other networks still. I have unpaired devices from phone, un-installed/re-installed camera connect. And reset wireless setting on both cameras. Then repaired both cameras. Bluetooth pairs fine, but when I attempt to access images or remote control cameras, they both hang one the "Switching to a faster WiFi.." screen with the 3rd light flashing until it times out, all while the phone's wifi indicates that it is connected via wifi to the camera.

Re: Connect with Canon Camera Connect without WiFi

Stephen — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 19:04:05 GMT

Any number of things can cause the handshake to fail.
Your phone must be logged into your Canon Account. When your phone connects to your camera via bluetooth, after it tries to establish the WiFi connection, if your device gives you an error message about not having Internet access, you have to bypass that, since you know your camera doesn't provide your phone with Internet access - all you're doing is transferring images. Once you've bypassed that message, your device and camera should stay connected. If they don't, you'll need to contact support when they're open: weekdays from 9am to 6pm (ET) at 800-OK-CANON (800-652-2666).

Re: Connect with Canon Camera Connect without WiFi

shadowsports — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:25:43 GMT

Greetings,

I've covered this behavior before. The Wi-Fi menus have changed between various hardware releases. There is an old standard and new standard.

Older wireless standard icon

(called wireless settings)

New wireless standard icon

(called communication settings)

How you interact with each depends on the model of the camera you own.

To be clear, you can connect your wi-fi capable phone or tablet to your camera using an adhoc connection. You do not need a wireless network for both devices to connect to and can do so anywhere. Middle of the ocean, on a deserted island, in space, etc. The camera is the hotspot and is the device broadcasting its own network.

Wireless is used for image transfers. It is faster than bluetooth. Bluetooth is used for GPS location tagging.

Its best to review your user manual to understand how to successfully configure and connect to your Camera. When a external network is not present, you should confirm the camera's SSID broadcast name and password (if used) to ensure your mobile device will connect to the camera's broadcast. Once I enable Wi-Fi on the camera, I open the connection settings on my mobile device, choose the camera's SSID and connect to its network. Once this is initiated, the mobile device will prompt you to open the Canon Connect App to complete the connection.

This is where people often get hung up. iPhones are notorious for ignoring you telling them to connect to the camera and if you are within range of a known wireless network, like at your home, the connection will fail. With iOS it will always attempt to connect to a wi-fi network that has an internet connection behind it. Android OS does not have this issue but if you don't have the camera's SSID and broadcast configured prior to making the connection in Canon Connect, wireless pairing will also fail. If your camera is using the new standard (Communications Settings), there is an Advanced options menu on the connection menu that allows you to switch between what the camera does. 1. look for a compatible wi-fi network that both it and a mobile device can connect to for pairing, or 2. configuring it as the host (no wifi networks of any kind) are used and the mobile device connects to the camera's SSID (ahoc) network. Once set, and after a connection is made successfully, the camera will seamlessly pair (transitioning from bluetooth to wireless) moving forward. My R5 C has the older standard. The R50v has the new standard. While I prefer the older one, I have since had to become intimate with the latter. It's a bit more finicky. I'm using it with a BR-E1 and phone.

Re: Connect with Canon Camera Connect without WiFi

KDC4201 — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:05:08 GMT

Thanks Shodow,

I understand all that. The wifi is a direct connection between the phone and camera for faster data transfer. I have an RP for several years, and an R6 for a few months. Both were connecting just fine, image transfer, remote control, worked great. Suddenly, they don't anymore.

After one email response from Canon, I was able to connect to the R6m3. Once.

I found the password from the connect to EOS utility tab. Input it, and connected. But if I disconnect, the SSID and password for the camera changes. Which means every time I want to connect I have to jump through camera screens to find the password, then jump to my phones wifi settings and connect via password to that moments SSID before the session times out.

Like I said, it worked with out any of this a couple weeks ago. So I don't know if the SSID/password changed on the camera each time because I never looked at it. No new camera software has been installed. Not sure when the last time camera connect was updated.

Re: Connect with Canon Camera Connect without WiFi

Waddizzle — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:01:41 GMT

“ Like I said, it worked with out any of this a couple weeks ago. So I don't know if the SSID/password changed on the camera each time because I never looked at it. No new camera software has been installed. Not sure when the last time camera connect was updated. “

Did the phone update itself? I suggest deleting the existing connection setups in both the phone and the camera.