Connect a supported camera to your computer and open Lightroom Classic.
Last updated on
24 April 2025
- Lightroom Classic User Guide
- Introduction to Lightroom Classic
- Workspace
- Import photos
- Organize photos in Lightroom Classic
- Process and develop photos
- Develop module basics
- Create panoramas and HDR panoramas
- Flat-Field Correction
- Correct distorted perspective in photos using Upright
- Improve image quality using Enhance
- Work with image tone and color
- Masking
- Apply local adjustments
- HDR photo merge
- Develop module options
- Retouch photos
- Cure red eye and pet eye effects
- Use the Radial Filter tool
- Adjustments with Lens Blur
- Edit and Export in HDR
- Remove Tool
- Viewing photos
- Export photos
- Work with external editors
- Manage catalogs and files
- Maps
- Photo books
- Slideshows
- Print photos
- Web galleries
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Content Authenticity
- Lightroom and Adobe services
- Troubleshooting
- Technical Support
- Performance Guidelines
- Technical issues
- GPU Issues
- Startup Issues
- Rendering Issues
- Stability Issues
- Miscellaneous Issues
- Workflow Issues
When supported Canon or Nikon digital cameras are connected to the computer, you can import photos directly into a Lightroom Classic catalogue. You can bypass the camera's capture software and import directly from a camera.
Note:
- For a list of cameras that can be tethered to Lightroom Classic, see Tethered camera support | Lightroom Classic.
- If you're having problems with tethered shooting, see Troubleshoot tethered capture in Lightroom Classic.
Start Tethered Capture
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Select File > Tethered Capture > Start Tethered Capture.
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In the Tethered Capture Settings dialog box, specify how you want to import the photos:
Session
The session is the name of the folder that stores the captured photos. Select Segment Photos By Shots to create subfolders within the session. You can name the subfolders after selecting OK.
Destination
Choose a location for the session folder.
Information
Add metadata and keywords to the imported photos, if desired. See Apply metadata and keywords to photos when importing.
Disable Auto Advance
Select this option if you don't want Lightroom Classic to automatically select the most recently captured photo. Deselect this option to display the most recently captured photo in the preview area.
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Select OK to start the photo-capture session.
A camera detection window appears. The Tether bar appears after Lightroom Classic detects a camera.
Lightroom Classic detecting a connected camera for tether
Lightroom Classic detecting a connected camera for tether -
Use the floating tethered capture bar to adjust the camera controls and develop settings.
- To capture a photo, select the shutter release button (the large round circle) or press the camera’s shutter release button.
- Optionally, choose a preset to apply on import from the Develop Settings pop-up menu. See Apply Develop settings to photos when importing.
- Select the Settings button in the lower-right corner of the floating bar to edit capture settings.
- You can control the Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO, and White Balance of the tethered camera from the floating capture bar.
- If you are segmenting photos by shots, press Ctrl+Shift+T (Windows) or Command+Shift+T (macOS) to create a new shot. You could also click the current shot name and enter a new shot name.
- Press Ctrl+T (Windows) or Command+T (macOS) to show/hide the floating tethered capture bar.
- To end the session, close the floating tethered capture bar or choose File > Tethered Capture > Stop Tethered Capture.
Tethered Live View
See exactly what you are shooting right in real-time while tethering with Lightroom Classic's live view for Canon and Nikon cameras. To turn Live View on, do the following:
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Choose File > Tethered Capture > Start Tethered Capture.
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In the Tethered Capture Settings dialog box, specify how you want to import the photos:
Session
The session is the name of the folder that stores the captured photos. Select Segment Photos By Shots to create subfolders within the session. You can name the subfolders after clicking OK.
Destination
Choose a location for the session folder.
Information
Add metadata and keywords to the imported photos, if desired. See Apply metadata and keywords to photos when importing.
Disable Auto Advance
Select this option if you don't want Lightroom Classic to automatically select the most recently captured photo. Deselect this option to display the most recently captured photo in the preview area.
Disable Focus Selection
Select this option if you wish to turn off Tether Live View's focus point selection option.
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Select OK to start the photo-capture session. A camera detection window will appear. After Lightroom Classic detects a camera, the tether bar will appear.
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Select Live in the Tether bar to start Live View tethering.
Live view from the camera is shown in a separate window.
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In Live view, you can adjust your camera's focus from the Tether bar using the Focus Control buttons.
- Select the AF button to turn Auto Focus mode on/off.
- If the Auto Focus mode is disabled, use the
buttons to control the focus manually.
Focus Control buttons
Focus Control buttons Note:- Focus controls are enabled only if the lens of your connected camera is in Auto Focus mode.
- The Focus Controls to manually adjust the focus are enabled only when the Auto Focus mode is disabled.
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Use the floating tethered capture bar to adjust other camera controls and develop settings.
- Click the shutter release button (the large round circle) to capture a photo, or press the camera’s shutter release button.
- Optionally, choose a preset to apply on import from the Develop Settings pop-up menu. See Apply to Develop settings to photos when importing.
- Select the Settings button in the lower-right corner of the floating bar to edit capture settings.
- You can control the tethered camera's Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO, and White Balance from the floating capture bar.
- If you segment photos by shots, press Ctrl+Shift+T (Windows) or Command+Shift+T (macOS) to create a new shot. You could also select the current shot name and enter a new one.
- Press Ctrl+T (Windows) or Command+T (macOS) to show/hide the floating tethered capture bar.
- To end the session, close the floating tethered capture bar or choose File > Tethered Capture > Stop Tethered Capture.
