Cannot import photos into Lightroom for mobile (Android) from a plugged-in camera

When you plug a camera into your Android mobile device using a supported USB OTG cable to import photos into Lightroom for mobile, you face one of the following issues: 

• Issue 1: Your mobile device recognizes the camera USB connection but doesn't ask you to choose which app to use for this action. Instead, your mobile device automatically launches some other app by default. Hence, you are unable to associate Lightroom for mobile app with the plugged-in camera.
• Issue 2: Your mobile device recognizes the camera USB connection but doesn't ask you to choose which app to use for this action and doesn't launch any default app. 
• Issue 3: Your device does not recognize the USB connection of the plugged-in camera. 

Product version affected

Lightroom for mobile (Android) version 2.2

Operating system

Android

Solutions

Issue 1

This issue occurs when you have previously set a default app for USB connections by selecting the Always option when your mobile device asks you to choose an app. After you set a default app, your device doesn't ask you which app to use for that action anymore.

To resolve this issue, note the app that your device launches when you plug in the camera. Clear the default app setting on your mobile device so that the USB connection no longer defaults to that particular app:

1. Go to your device Settings > Apps.
2. Tap the app that your device launches when you plug in the camera.
3. Tap Open by default and then Clear defaults.

Now when you plug in your camera, your mobile device asks you which app to use and lists the Lightroom app along with other apps that can handle this action.

Issue 2

This issue occurs on some Android devices that require you to manually choose an app for the USB connection. To resolve this issue:

1. Go to your device Settings > USB Settings.
2. Select the Lightroom app.

For details, refer to your device manufacturer's documentation.

Issue 3

This issue occurs on some Android devices that do not support PTP protocol. In this case, manually change the USB connection mode to MTP protocol:

1. Go to your device Settings > USB Settings.
2. Change the USB connection Mode to MTP.

For details, refer to your device manufacturer's documentation.