2.2. Importing images via a USB mass storage connection

Your camera connects as a mass storage device via a USB cable. Depending on your smartphone, the required cable or operating procedure may differ.

2.2.1 Android

To use the USB mass storage connection method, your device must meet the following requirements.

  • USB Host Function, USB-C equipped, Mass Storage Class support model type.
  • 64 GB memory cards or greater must be exFAT-formatted.
  • May not be usable on smartphones not compatible with microSDXC.
  • Please see the "Verified mobile devices" page for a list of compatible mobile devices.

Connecting terminals and cables

  • Connect the cable to the USB Type-C terminal or Multi/Micro USB terminal on the camera.
  • You can also insert an SD card containing images into an SD card reader, connect the SD card reader to your smartphone, and import the images.
  • Images imported using a USB connection will always be saved in the internal memory.
  1. Select MENU [menu icon] > [Import Guide] > [Import wiredly] > [USB mass storage connection].
  2. Insert an SD card in slot 1 of the camera and shoot one or more photos.
    • Transfer & Tagging does not recognize SD cards in slot 2.
  3. Make the following settings on the camera.

    When using the ILCE-1/7SM3
    Make sure that the camera is not connected to a smartphone beforehand.

    • MENU > (Network) > [Cnct./Remote Sht.] > [Remote Shoot Function] > [Remote Shooting] > [Off]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB] > [USB Connection Mode] > [Mass Storage(MSC)]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB] > [USB LUN Setting] > [Single]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB] > [USB Power Supply] > [Off]

    When using the ILCE-9M3/7RM5/7CR/7CM2/7M4
    Make sure that the camera is not connected to a smartphone beforehand.

    • MENU > (Network) > [Cnct./PC Remote] > [PC Remote Function] > [PC Remote] > [Off]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB] > [USB Connection Mode] > [Mass Storage(MSC)]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB] > [USB LUN Setting] > [Single]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB] > [USB Power Supply] > [Off]

    When using another camera

    • MENU > (Network) > [Ctrl w/ Smartphone] > [Off]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB Connection] > [Mass Storage]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB LUN Setting] > [Single]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB Power Supply] > [Off]
  4. Connect the camera and smartphone with a USB cable.
  5. Select the memory card [Sony USB Drive]* in the camera.

    * The text may differ depending on your smartphone model.

    • When the contents of the memory card are displayed as shown below, either authorize access without proceeding to a lower level or tap [SELECT].
  6. Configure the USB mass storage import settings as described below.
    • With the default settings, only protected images will be transferred automatically.
    • The following configurations are available using Menu [menu icon] > [Setting] > [Import].
      USB Import
      • [Auto Import] : On or Off
      • [Import Target] : [All Images] or [Some Images] *

      * If you selected [Some Images], select [Protected] or [Voice Memo Attached]. If both are selected, the images will be imported if either is applicable.

      The transfer icon indicated by the camera and the smartphone is highlighted in the image.
      Viewing the USB connection status
      • 1
        • Gray mass storage iconCamera not connected
        • Green mass storage iconBlinks when camera is connected and while importing images
      • 2Tap here to change the transfer method.
  7. By turning off [Auto Import] under [USB import], you can select the images to be imported as shown below.

    Once the connection is established, the following screen is displayed.

    The screen which will be displayed when you operate the app is located. Each item on the screen is marked from A to G in order from the upper left. Refer to the following for details.
    A Check this box to only display images that are protected on the camera
    B White background An image that has not yet been imported
    C Black background An image that has already been imported
    DImporting icon of gray arrow and gray smartphone(Black arrow) Image import standby
    EImporting icon of green arrow and black smartphone(Green arrow) Importing the image from the camera to the smartphone
    FImporting icon of broken arrow and gray smartphone An image that will not be imported *1
    GKey icon An image protected on the camera *2

    *1 This icon is displayed under images when the Auto Import setting is turned off, or under images not protected on the camera when the import setting is [Only Protected].

    *2 This icon is displayed under images protected on the memory card of the camera. Protection settings configured on the camera are not applied when images are imported to the Transfer & Tagging.

    Select the image to be imported, then tap [Import] at the bottom right of the screen. To select multiple images, long press each image.

    Note：

    • Please do not edit the names of photos on the Memory Card, for example, using a PC.
    • If the memory card contains a large number of images, adding captions and FTP uploading may take a long time. In this case, open the [Setting] menu in the app and set [Import Target] to [Only Protected Images], or turn off [Auto Import] under [USB import].
    • Opening another app or locking the device while multiple images are selected will deselect them.

2.2.2. iOS

To use the USB mass storage connection method, your device must meet the following requirements.

  • To use the Lightning terminal of your iPhone or iPad to connect to the camera, connect to the USB Type-C terminal or Multi/Micro USB terminal of the camera via a Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter from Apple. The camera will not be recognized if you use a direct connection.
  • If your iPad has a USB Type-C terminal, you can use a Type-C to Type-C cable to connect to the camera. The ILCE-9 does not have a USB Type-C terminal, so you will need to use the USB-C to USB Adapter from Apple.
  • You can also insert an SD card containing images into an SD card reader, connect the SD card reader to your iPhone, and import the images.

Notes on importing images

  • HEIF images cannot be imported.
  • In the case of images with voice memos, the images are imported but the voice memo audio data is not imported.
  1. Select MENU [menu icon] > [Import Guide] > [Import wiredly] > [USB mass storage connection].
  2. Insert an SD card in slot 1 of the camera and shoot one or more photos.
    • Transfer & Tagging does not recognize SD cards in slot 2.
  3. Make the following settings on the camera.

    When using the ILCE-1/7SM3
    Make sure that the camera is not connected to a smartphone beforehand.

    • MENU > (Network) > [Cnct./Remote Sht.] > [Remote Shoot Function] > [Remote Shooting] > [Off]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB] > [USB Connection Mode] > [Mass Storage(MSC)]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB] > [USB LUN Setting] > [Single]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB] > [USB Power Supply] > [Off]

    When using the ILCE-9M3/7RM5/7CR/7CM2/7M4
    Make sure that the camera is not connected to a smartphone beforehand.

    • MENU > (Network) > [Cnct./PC Remote] > [PC Remote Function] > [PC Remote] > [Off]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB] > [USB Connection Mode] > [Mass Storage(MSC)]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB] > [USB LUN Setting] > [Single]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB] > [USB Power Supply] > [Off]

    When using another camera

    • MENU > (Network) > [Ctrl w/ Smartphone] > [Off]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB Connection] > [Mass Storage]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB LUN Setting] > [Single]
    • MENU > (Setup) > [USB Power Supply] > [Off]
  4. Connect the camera and smartphone with a USB cable.
    • When you connect for the first time, a message about access permission appears, so please agree. If you do not agree at this time, you will need to do so from iOS [Settings] later. (In iOS, select [Settings] → [Privacy] → [Files and Folders] → [Transfer] → ON.)
  5. When the message [Connected to camera. Select an operation.] appears, select [Manual import] to import images or [Camera connection settings] to make changes to the settings.
    • To proceed with manual import, continue from step 6 below.
    Camera connection settings
    • Behavior when a camera is connected
      • Display a dialog (default setting): A dialog is displayed when you connect a camera.
      • Auto Import: Unimported images among images matching the conditions specified in [Auto import settings] are imported automatically.
      • Do nothing: Nothing happens when you connect a camera.
    • Auto import settings
      • You can select either all photos (default setting) or protected images as the auto import target.
    The transfer icon indicated by the camera and the smartphone is highlighted in the image.
    Viewing the USB connection status
    • 1
      • Gray mass storage iconCamera not connected
      • Green mass storage iconBlinks when camera is connected and while importing images
    • 2Tap here to change the transfer method.
  6. To perform a manual import, select the images you want to import and tap [Import].
    • If you select [Import unimported images], you can specify conditions such as unimported images or the timeframe when images were shot.
    • Select [Only Protected] to import only images that are protected.