I posted a comical Reel on my Instagram account about the much maligned Fujifilm Cam Remote App, and it clearly struck a nerve. Between all of the social media accounts where I posted the short video, I had over 3,000 reactions (hearts, thumbs up, etc., etc.) and about 350 comments, which is a lot more than usual. Most of the comments were in agreement: the Cam Remote App is frustrating, and doesn’t seem to work well. By far, the biggest issue is getting the camera to even connect to the app. It often takes several tries before it will work, if it does at all. There have been times that, despite my best efforts, I just couldn’t get it to work, and I gave up trying to connect the camera to the app.
It’s really unfortunate that I cannot get the app to work sometimes—and when I can it is often a frustrating experience—because it is an important part of my workflow. I shoot with Film Simulation Recipes, then transfer the JPEGs off my camera and to my phone using the Cam Remote app, straighten and/or crop if necessary, and then upload to cloud storage. 99% of the time that is the full extent of my photographic workflow. When I can’t get the app to work, it’s a significant issue for me.
I haven’t always had trouble with Fujifilm’s Cam Remote app. Years ago I would receive reports from people stating that the app sucks, but I didn’t share those experiences; however, the problems began to show up after I purchased my Fujifilm X-T30. Then it got worse and worse. What changed? I think two things: Bluetooth and multiple bodies. In my experience, the Bluetooth feature is sometimes the cause of the hangup. Also, the app didn’t seem to like when I connected to one camera and then tried to connect to another camera right afterwards. So using the app for multiple cameras, and especially if one or more of those cameras have Bluetooth, is where it went wrong for me. It could be other problems, too, that I’m just not aware of.
While most of the comments to my Reel were in agreement, there were some who reported a different experience. A small number seem to have no issues with the app at all. It could be that they are using only one camera (and not multiple) and/or they don’t have Bluetooth models, but that’s just a guess. A few of the comments and messages that I received suggested that it was user error. Someone even told me the reason why I was having trouble is because I’m technologically inept and perhaps even stupid. People can be mean sometimes. Thankfully, some other people shared that they figured out a solution, and now the Cam Remote app works just fine for them.
There were a number of ideas put forth to resolve the issue. I spent a couple of hours putting these different potential solutions to the test. What I discovered through this process is a method that (so far) seems to work every time. You have to jump through some hoops that shouldn’t be necessary. Oh, and this method is for iPhones only. I assume there must be a similar method for Android, but I’m an iPhone user and not Android, so I cannot help much with that. So if you have an iPhone, I invite you to try this solution and see if it fixes the problem for you. Hopefully you’ll find that you can now consistently connect to Fujifilm’s Cam Remote app without issue.
Step 1: Open the Fujifilm Cam Remote App and select the camera you are going to connect with. Then swipe out of the app (exit out completely).
Step 2: Turn on WiFi on your Fujifilm camera.
Step 3: Open the Settings app and select Bluetooth. Tap the green slider to turn Bluetooth Off (disable). If Bluetooth works consistently for you or if your Fujifilm camera doesn’t have Bluetooth, skip this step. For me, Bluetooth is sometimes a hangup, so disabling it allows the app to work more consistently (albeit more slowly).
Step 4: Select Wi-Fi in the Settings App.
Step 5: Find the camera’s WiFi (in the Settings app—might be found under “My Networks” or “Other Networks”). Tap the “i” with a circle around it. Toggle Off (disable) “Private Wi-Fi Address” (if it is enabled).
Step 6: Turn Wi-Fi Off on your phone (tap the green slider) then immediately turn it back On. Select your camera’s WiFi before the phone auto-connects to another network. Wait a moment to make sure that the phone is connected to the camera.
Step 7: Relaunch the Cam Remote app. It should open to the camera you are trying to connect to (because of Step 1), but if it didn’t, select your camera from your list. The app might automatically connect to the camera (it sometimes does for me, although I don’t know why), but if it doesn’t (which is what should happen most of the time), tap “Import images selected on app” and it should connect. Boom, done!
Since following these seven steps, I have been able to connect with all of my Fujifilm cameras consistently each time on the first try. I tried it over and over and over just to be sure. Yes, it’s a hassle, and more steps than should be necessary, but it works, and eventually it becomes easier and more natural (second nature). If you have had problems with Fujifilm’s Cam Remote app on your iPhone, this should solve the issue for you.
I want to thank everyone who shared their experiences with the Cam Remote app with me, and especially for those who shared their solutions. It was a big help. Thank you! Supposedly Fujifilm has been working on a new app for awhile. With any luck that app will be ready soon and will work much better. I have no inside information on that, it’s just been rumored for awhile, so hopefully it is true.
That is a really good summary and matches my experience with the Camera Remote App with different Fuji cameras. The „Workaround“ is the solution I figured out a while ago, too. Interestingly on the X-T5 it always works first try, with Bluetooth enabled. The trick here was, at least I think, to choose 5GHz Wi-Fi. Since I chose that it never failed.
It’s funny, my X-T5 Bluetooth seems to work fine, but my X-E4 and X100V almost never do. Thanks for the comment!
I don’t use iPhone and I hate the app so I have up reading just like using the app….I have a otg usb c card reader for moving files onto my phone/tablet and that works a treat, previously I was a Snapseed only for editing and now it’s lightroom mobile because it accepts Fuji raw files.
Yeah, the Cam Remote app doesn’t transfer RAW files, so the SD-Card dongle is your best option.
While you are here, you should check out this article I wrote 😀:
https://www.shopmoment.com/reviews/why-shooting-jpegs-is-so-popular-10-fujifilm-simulation-recipes
Excellent article, I agree with shooting in jpeg and especially since using your recipes I prefer getting it right in camera with maybe a few adjustments if needed. Sometimes raw is my only hope and jpeg+raw is my reassurance. Still I really hate the app and it’s not exclusive to Fujifilm with camera app failure. Hopefully Fujifilm are releasing a new app? The rumours are rife. Definitely shooting live with an app has advantages, not needing a cable release for long exposures or taking a me in the scene without rushing around on a timer.
Glad that you liked the article! 😀
I have used the app as a remote release. It does have a limited range… one time I found that out as I was just too far outside of it using the 90mm.
Wow. Thank you. This issue has caused me to use my X100v less than I might otherwise. It is appreciated.
I hope it helps!
I have been doing this as well and the probability of success is indeed much higher.
Awesome!
I’m one of the lucky ones with no issue, although I only have 1 Fuji camera…the XT-3. Before I turn the camera off I make sure my phone is close by with the Cam Remote app running. When I turn the camera off, my phone asks me to join the Camera Network, then it automatically downloads the photos. I can’t remember if that option is in the iPhone camera app or in the camera menu, but at some point I turned it on.
Glad that it works great for you! 😀
I could deal with this process (which I have been utilizing more or less like this since owning the X100V), what annoyed me most however is that I recently picked up an X-T1 and the app just works flawlessly on this much older camera and the transfer is much, much faster (not explainable by just the smaller file size).
Apple could also do their part and let us permanently disable the private Wi-Fi adress for a specific Wi-Fi.
My best Cam Remote app experiences are with my Fujifilm X-T1. It’s crazy that the newer models aren’t “better” but are instead noticeably “worse” when it comes to the app.
Spent 30min trying this morning with every combo of my xt3, x100v xpro3 and 50r with my iPad Pro, iPhone 14 pro, iPhone 13 mini and every combo still failed using this technique. Fuji… be better.
That’s too bad. So far it is still working for me. I wish it was easier and more consistent.
Yes, this is the process that also works for me when I am unable to connect my XT20 on the first try. Glad to have someone finally document these steps! 🙂
Thanks for letting me know!
I’m an Android user and have similar issues with the App. It’s not too bad with X-E2 and X-T2, although it often loses the connection, but it’s hopeless with my (Bluetooth) X-E3.
I’ve found that it’s most troublesome in areas with multiple WIFI signals, like offices and busy airports. Perhaos a Faraday cage would help?
Maybe that is the problem: too many WiFi networks within reach.
Ritchie, thank you so much! Just two weeks ago I swore that I would never again try to get the camera and the phone to communicate using the Fuji app. I’ve said that many times before but this time I meant it. Now, with your help, I am successfully transferring images from both my X100V and my XT3 to the iPhone. For me Bluetooth was not the problem; I just leave it on. The simple secret was resetting Wi-Fi on the phone and then immediately selecting the Fuji network. THANK YOU!
Rick Cairns
Wow, awesome! Glad to help!
Gadzooks, the amount of hair pulled from my already receding head, trying to connect the Fuji Cam Remote app with my X70! I arrived at a similar solution as yours that could be reproduced reasonably, and I also agree that the “hoops” seem dumb and unnecessary for all this to work. I concluded the “handshake” tech Fuji included is simply old and/or unreliable, and (still?) hadn’t caught up with newer mobile technology with which the camera is trying to connect. Summary: I got my X70 to connect (to iPodTouch and iPhone), but damn, it was painful; a lot more than it should be.
I hope they are working hard to fix it. Perhaps they should hire out if they can’t do it themselves.
It’s an extremely frustrating issue. I recently picked up a Ricoh GR3 and the image transfer app works first time, every time and doesn’t need intricate workarounds. So much for Fuji’s famed user experience. Ricoh’s customer service however leaves a lot to be desired, but that’s another story…
I have never had any issues with connecting Ricoh (first time, every time, as you said). I hope Fujifilm fixes it soon.
Another tip that may help: don’t leave the wifi settings screen on your phone until the wifi bars actually show in the top-right. Until those bars show, the phone is attempting to connect to the camera’s network and validate that it has an internet connection there. It doesn’t — the camera’s network has no internet! It’s an internet-less wifi network. So the phone’s default behavior is to connect, then consider bailing since it doesn’t have internet. If you stay on the settings screen, it’ll end up connecting even though there’s no internet (or ask you “Are you sure? This one has no internet…” And you hit “connect anyway”). Once those wifi bars are at the top of the screen, you’re fully connected, and you can switch back to the app.
Same deal with the Instax Share apps 😁
And, for what it’s worth… while I know it’s frustrating for all parties, Fuji took the best route they could with the app at the time it was made. Wifi speeds are SO MUCH higher than bluetooth speeds — that’s still true now-a-days but was VERY true several years ago when they built these systems. Transferring a single full-res 20+MP image over bluetooth would’ve taken minutes 😬 so I understand why they went the wifi-route. It also makes sense that the camera spins up its own network instead of relying on one being present to begin with (and just connecting to it) — if you want to transfer a photo to your phone in the middle of the wilderness there’s likely no existing networks out there.
You could make the case that now basically all phones can spin up their own network on THEIR side (personal hotspot) and the Fuji should connect to that, and I think there’s a case to be made for that(!), but I don’t know that Personal Hotspots were main-stream / widespread available when they first built the app stuff.
Finally, the real culprit here, IMO, is actually the iPhone’s wifi connection behavior. If I tell it to connect to NETWORK_XYZ, it should connect to NETWORK_XYZ. I selected it for a reason. Apple disagrees and (I guess?) considers most phone users to be less-aware… so the phone makes a lot of almost-automatic decisions around connecting to networks and bails if that network doesn’t have a full-fledged internet connection, or even if that internet connection is slower than cellular! Makes it tough to interface with non-internet-connected Wifi networks even when you know what you’re doing! 🤦🏻♂️
With my Ricoh GR III, I get a connection to my phone first time, every time, no fuss. Works flawlessly. Not sure what Fujifilm is doing different, but they should prioritize figuring out whatever it is and fixing this issue. The app has 1.4 stars in the Apple App Store (my apps have 4.6 and 4.7 currently). They should be embarrassed by that.
You get a little blue checkmark, too. Excellent tip!
I have never, ever had a problem with connecting my XT-3 to my various iPhone models. I turn my camera on, hit the playback button. Open my Fujicam Remote app. It takes about 30 seconds and a connection request appears on my camera to Join, press Ok and I’m in. Works brilliantly
You are one of the lucky ones. I wish it was that easy for me! Hasn’t worked well for me in years….
Maybe its because I have only one Fujifilm camera (although waiting patiently for the successor to the x100v!)
It was when I had two different cameras in the Cam Remote app that it began to go downhill for me….
I haven’t been able to get this to work, but I’ve had some luck with a process which basically does the same thing, but with a bit less interaction. I select images I want to transfer using Image Transfer Order. I turn off wifi on my phone, but leave the bluetooth connected. I turn off the camera, the camera displays its transfer dialog, and the phone prompts me to join the camera’s network. It will turn on the wifi to do so, meaning you don’t have to super-quickly choose the camera network from the phone’s network list. Then the image transfer starts.
That’s interesting. I have to do the steps mentioned to even get to the transfer order screen. It’s crazy the hoops that Fujifilm makes us jump through….
I get as far as step 7 with my x-t30ii and it just spins on “connecting.. please wait.” The longest I can keep it going is 5 minutes and eventually the camera turns off. It’s extremely frustrating. My x-e2 continues to connect flawlessly. If I could understand how this connection tries to establish, I might be able to configure things differently but I don’t get the difference between the different cameras and why some connect and some don’t.
I’m sorry. This is frustrating, and shouldn’t be this difficult! I hope that Fujifilm fixes this soon.
Same issue as Juliette above – gets hung up on Connecting… Please Wait message. Never had an issue that couldn’t be resolved with a little troubleshooting before with the app with my XT3 or X100F, but this one has me beat.
It’s frustrating. I haven’t experienced any trouble myself using the method I described, so I have no idea why it’s not working for some. I wish it wasn’t so difficult, and I hope Fujifilm fixes it soon!
So I tried your method a week or so ago and it worked flawlessly. But now I am trying it again and it’s not working. Doing the same steps as I did before on my X-T3 and iPhone 14
It’s crazy. Shouldn’t be this difficult. In any event, I had a similar situation with my X100V last week, where it suddenly wasn’t connecting. I restarted my iPhone, and then it did work. So frustrating.
In my case, I had to disable Blokada which is a VPN that blocks ads, trackers en uses a different DNS-server.
Make sure to disable anything that may affect your wifi connection and make sure your DNS on the phone is default.
Thanks for sharing!