Troubleshooting connection issues

Common connection problems and how to fix them.

Having trouble connecting your camera to Camera Sync? This guide covers the most common issues and solutions.

Connection checklist

Before troubleshooting, verify:

  • [ ] Your camera is connected to WiFi
  • [ ] You're using the correct server address
  • [ ] You're using port 21 (FTP), 990 (FTPS), or 2022 (SFTP)
  • [ ] Your username and password are entered correctly
  • [ ] Your camera's FTP/transfer function is enabled

Common issues

"Connection refused" or "Cannot connect to server"

Possible causes:

  • Incorrect server address
  • Wrong port number
  • Firewall blocking the connection

Solutions:

  1. Double-check the server address from your dashboard
  2. Try port 21 for standard FTP
  3. If on a corporate network, try using your mobile hotspot

"Authentication failed" or "Login incorrect"

Possible causes:

  • Typo in username or password
  • Password contains special characters the camera doesn't support
  • Using old/expired credentials

Solutions:

  1. Copy credentials directly from the dashboard (use the copy button)
  2. Reveal and re-enter your password carefully
  3. If issues persist, contact support for assistance

Uploads stuck at 0% or timing out

Possible causes:

  • Weak WiFi signal
  • Large file sizes
  • Network congestion

Solutions:

  1. Move closer to your WiFi router
  2. Switch to a 5GHz network if available
  3. Try a different WiFi network
  4. Reduce image quality/size for testing

Photos uploaded but not appearing in Google Photos

Possible causes:

  • Processing delay
  • Free tier quota exceeded
  • Google Photos sync issue

Solutions:

  1. Wait a few minutes - processing can take up to 30 seconds
  2. Check your dashboard for upload status
  3. If status shows "queued," you may have exceeded your quota
  4. Try refreshing your Google Photos album

Intermittent connection drops

Possible causes:

  • WiFi interference
  • Camera power saving mode
  • Router issues

Solutions:

  1. Disable camera WiFi power saving if available
  2. Keep camera active during transfers
  3. Use a dedicated WiFi network for photo transfers
  4. Restart your router

Using SFTP or FTPS instead of FTP

If you're having persistent FTP issues, try a secure alternative:

SFTP (recommended)

  1. Change the port to 2022 in your camera settings
  2. Enable SFTP mode if your camera supports it
  3. SFTP is more reliable on restrictive networks

FTPS (FTP over TLS)

  1. Change the port to 990 in your camera settings
  2. Enable FTPS/TLS mode if your camera supports it
  3. Use implicit TLS mode if prompted

Testing your connection

  1. Take a single test photo
  2. Wait 30 seconds
  3. Check your dashboard for the upload status
  4. If it appears, your connection is working

Still having issues?

If none of these solutions work:

  1. Note your camera model and the exact error message
  2. Check your dashboard for any error status
  3. Contact support@camerasync.app with details

Include the following in your support request:

  • Camera make and model
  • Error message (if any)
  • Screenshot of your camera's FTP settings (hide your password)
  • Time when the issue occurred
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