Most cameras nowadays can connect to your smartphone for some cool functionalities. The Sony a6500 is no exception and has 2 different ways that it can connect to your smartphone.
The 2 ways you can connect your Sony a6500 externally is either through Bluetooth or WiFi, but they are for completely different functionalities.
The Bluetooth connection that’s available is solely for providing geotagging and GPS location of where a photo was taken.
The WiFi connection on the other hand is for transferring photos from your camera to your smartphone or using your phone as a Smart Remote Control and secondary screen.
How You Might Use the Geotagging and WiFi Features
Let’s say you’re taking a road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles on the famous Highway 1 route later this year and know you will be taking a lot of pictures throughout your entire trip.
By connecting your iPhone or Android to your Sony a6500 through Bluetooth to your smartphone before the trip and turning on the geotagging functionality, the location of each photo that you take will be tagged to the photo.
With the Smart Remote Control app, you can easily trigger the photo, change the settings, and compose the photo all on your phone through the WiFi connection.
Then right after you can transfer some of the photos to your smartphone with the same WiFi connection to see how they look cropped or with a basic edit put on it.
Both features only take a few minutes to set up and can come in handy in a variety of situations, especially on a road trip like this one.
How to Set Up Your Sony a6500 to Use the WiFi and Bluetooth Features
Setting up your a6500 to geotag through Bluetooth and transfer photos or remotely tether through WiFi is very easy to do and you’ll have it ready in no time.
Here is a quick and easy step by step guide on how to set it up for the iPhone. The steps for Android are the same, so if you have an Android phone, these instructions also work for you.
Downloading the Imaging Edge Mobile App Onto Your SmartPhone
The first thing you should do is to download the Imaging Edge Mobile App onto your smartphone as you have to use this app to utilize the Bluetooth and WiFi functionality of the camera.
Just in case there is any confusion, the Imaging Edge Mobile App is Sony’s new app for your mobile device. Their app used to be called the PlayMemories App.
To download the app, just follow these easy steps:
Step 1: Head over to the iPhone App Store on iOS and Google Playstore on an Android device.
Step 2: Search for “Imaging Edge Mobile” in the search functionality of the app store.
Step 3: Download Imaging Edge Mobile App
Step 4: Now you’re ready to go!
Download and Install the PlayMemories Smart Remote App Onto your Sony a6500
The next thing we have to do is to install the FREE PlayMemories Smart Remote App onto your Sony a6500.
Again, PlayMemories is what Sony used to call ALL of their camera and smartphone apps.
Now they have Imaging Edge for mobile devices while all the camera-based apps are still PlayMemories.
If you need instructions on how to download and install the PlayMemories Smart Remote App onto your Sony a6500, check out my article on installing the PlayMemories Timelapse App onto my Sony Rx100 V.
The steps are the same, except instead of choosing the timelapse app, choose the Smart Remote App to install.
Pro Tip: You don’t need to install any additional PlayMemories camera-based apps to use the Bluetooth Geotag functionality. All you need to use this functionality is the Imaging Edge Mobile app to connect your smartphone to your camera.
Select Photos on your Sony a6500 to Transfer to your Smartphone with WiFi Connection
Transferring photos from your Sony a6500 to your Smartphone via the WiFi connection is one of the more useful features on the camera.
I especially like to use it when I’m on location and just want a preview of what the images will look like on my phone or with a basic edit thrown on it.
There are two different ways to transfer photos from your camera to your Smartphone that we’ll get into in second; both of which are very easy to use.
- Option 1: Choose photos to transfer from your camera
- Option 2: Choose photos to transfer from your Smartphone
Item to Note
You can only transfer photos through the WiFi connection and not video.
Maybe there will be a future model of camera and version of the app that will allow this, but for now, it’s not possible.
Option #1: How to Select Photo(s) on your camera to Transfer to your Smartphone
Most, if not all the time, I will choose the first option of selecting photos to transfer from the a6500.
This is because, for the second option to work, all the previews of your images on a certain date will have to upload to your smartphone before you can select which ones you want to transfer.
Even for a small number of images, like 500, it takes a few minutes and I usually don’t like to wait for it.
Step 1: Head over to menu tab 3 “Wireless”
First, head over to menu tab 3 “Wireless”. The tab is green in color and looks like this.
Step 2: Click on “Send to Smartphone”
Now select the “Send to smartphone” menu item to start the process of connecting your a6500 to your Smartphone.
Step 3: Choose “Select on This Device”
After choosing the “Send to Smartphone” menu item, you will be brought to this screen where you can select to either choose the photos to transfer from your camera or your smartphone.
Hit “Select on This Device”
Step 4: Choose which image(s) to select to transfer
At this point, the camera will give you 3 different options on how you would like to select your photos to transfer.
You can select the current image that is selected in the play menu, all the images on the date of the image you have selected, or multiple images at a time.
- Option #1: Select the current image that is selected to transfer
- Option #2: Select all the images on a certain date to transfer
- Option #3: Select multiple different images at a time to transfer
I will go over each of these options in the same order, but they all work in a very similar way.
Step 4 – Option #1: Select the current image that is selected
Let’s go over transferring a single image first.
Step 1: Select “This Image” in the Send to Smartphone menu
To choose a single image to transfer, select “This Image” in the Send to Smartphone menu.
Remember that this option selects the current image which is being viewed from the Play Menu.
So, if you want to select another single image to transfer, go back to the Play Menu, move to the picture you want to select, and select “This Image” in the Send to Smartphone menu again.
Item to Note
If this is your first time transferring images, you will probably get a “Checking Image Database” message after selecting how to send the image.
Wait for the camera to read the memory card (I’ve had to wait as long as 10 minutes).
After reading the memory card, you may see an “Image Database File Error” and it will ask you if you want to recover.
Hit enter to continue. (I have never had my photos deleted from hitting continue in the multiple years I’ve used this functionality, but to be safe, make sure you back up your photos before hitting continue.)
After hitting continue, you should see the QR code screen where you can scan the QR code with the Imaging Edge Mobile app to connect your smartphone to the camera.
Step 2: Your camera should show a QR code to scan and connect at this point
The next step is to connect your smartphone to your camera.
I found the easiest and quickest way to do this is to scan the QR code with the Imaging Edge Mobile app.
At this point on your camera, you should see the message “Operate the smartphone to scan the QR code with PlayMemories Mobile” and a QR code to the right side of it.
Again, PlayMemories Mobile is referencing the Imaging Edge Mobile app.
The screen on your camera should look like this.
Step 3: Preparing the Imaging Edge Mobile App to Scan
Open up the Imaging Edge Mobile app on your smartphone if you haven’t done so yet.
Also, make sure the WiFi on your phone is turned on.
Tap on the “Scan NFC/QR Code of the Camera” option. At this point, a message box should pop up allowing you to choose whether to scan the QR code or the NFC of the camera.
Tap on “Scan QR Code of the Camera” to continue the process.
Step 4: Allow the Imaging Edge Mobile App to Access your Smartphone’s Camera
At this point, another message box should pop up informing you that the app needs to access your smartphone’s camera to scan the QR code.
Tap on “OK” or “Don’t show this again” to continue.
The message box should look like this.
Step 5: Scan the QR Code on your Camera with the Imaging Edge Mobile App
The camera on your smartphone should now be activated and you should be able to scan the QR code now.
Once you scan the QR code, a message box will pop up informing you that the “Imaging Edge Mobile wants to Join Wi-Fi Network DIRECT-AuE1: ILCE-6500”.
Tap on “Join”
After tapping “Join”, you should see the photo selected start to transfer over from your camera to your smartphone.
If you completed the transfer correctly, you should see a message box that says “Items Copied” at the end of the transfer process.
Step #4 – Option 2: Select All Images from a Certain Date
Next up, let’s go over how to select all images from a certain date to transfer from your camera to your smartphone at one time.
Step 1: Select “All Images on This Date” in the Send to Smartphone menu
The date that is selected is based on the current image selected in the Playback Menu.
So, if you want to select another date, navigate to the other image taken on that date either through the Playback Menu or the View Mode before continuing.
Select “All Images on This Date” to continue.
Step 2: Your camera should show a QR code to scan and connect at this point
This is the same step as above.
After you hit this option, your screen should look like this.
Again, if this is your first time transferring photos, your camera might have to read the memory card first and recover the file.
If this happens, make sure to backup your images before continuing.
Step 3: Preparing the Imaging Edge Mobile App to Scan
This is the same step as above. Open up the Imaging Edge Mobile app on your smartphone if you haven’t done so yet.
Also, make sure the WiFi on your phone is turned on.
Tap on the “Scan NFC/QR Code of the Camera” option.
At this point, a message box should pop up allowing you to choose whether to scan the QR code or the NFC of the camera.
Tap on “Scan QR Code of the Camera” to continue the process.
Step 4: Allow the Imaging Edge Mobile App to Access your Smartphone’s Camera
The same message will now pop up on the Imaging Edge Mobile app as we went through when we transferred a single image.
The message again, informs you that the app needs to access your smartphone’s camera to scan the QR code.
Tap on “OK” or “Don’t show this again” to continue.
The message box should look like this.
Step 5: Scan the QR Code on your Camera with the Imaging Edge Mobile App
The camera on your smartphone should now be activated and you should be able to scan the QR code now.
Once you scan the QR code, a message box will pop up informing you that the “Imaging Edge Mobile wants to Join Wi-Fi Network DIRECT-AuE1: ILCE-6500”.
Tap on “Join”
After tapping “Join”, you should see the photos from the date selected start to transfer over from your camera to your smartphone.
Depending on the number of photos you have taken on this date, it might take a little while before the full transfer is complete.
You will be able to see a status bar of how many photos have copied over and how many photos are left like this screenshot below.
Once your images have all transferred, you will see the message “Items Copied”.
Step 4 – Option 3: Select Multiple Different Images to Transfer
Since the steps are pretty much the same as Option #1 and Option #2, I’m not going to bore you by repeating all the same steps.
The main difference with this option is that after selecting “Multiple Images” on the Send to Smartphone menu you will be able to mark which images you would like to transfer before continuing with the transfer process that we have gone through above.
I took some photos of what your camera menu will look like below.
If you don’t want to mark each image one by one, you can also press down on the wheel to see multiple images at a time to mark for transfer.
Note: If you do press down to view multiple images at a time, you can press the AF/MF/AEL button to go back to viewing 1 image at a time.
Option #2: Select Photo(s) on your Smartphone Device to Transfer from your Camera via WiFi
This option allows you to select which images to transfer right on your smartphone.
The interface is nice, but like I was saying before, I rarely use this option because the loading time can take much longer depending on how many photos you have on your memory card.
With that said, it is nice to be able to view your images on your phone which has a larger screen with better resolution,
So try it out and see what you think! Even though I don’t use it doesn’t mean you won’t like it!
Step 1: Head over to menu tab 3 “Wireless”
First, head over to menu tab 3 “Wireless”, like we did in the first option. The tab is green in color and looks like this.
Like we did with Option #1, select the “Send to Smartphone” menu item to start the process of connecting your a6500 to your Smartphone
Step 2: Choose “Select on Smartphone”
After choosing the “Send to Smartphone” menu item, you will be brought to this screen where you can select to either choose the photos to transfer from your camera or your Smartphone.
Hit “Select on Smartphone”
Once you hit “Select on Smartphone” you will again be brought to the camera menu screen with the QR code.
Step 3: Scan the QR Code on your a6500 with the Imaging Edge Mobile App
Open up the Imaging Edge Mobile App.
Tap the “Scan NFC/QR Code of the Camera” option. A message box will pop up at this point.
Tap “Scan QR Code of the Camera”.
A message box will pop up at this point informing you that the app needs access to your camera.
Tap “OK” or “Don’t show this again” to continue.
Scan the QR code on your a6500 with your smartphone.
Once you scan the QR code, a message box will pop up on the Imaging Edge Mobile app.
Tap “Join”.
The rest of the steps are going to be completed on the Imaging Edge Mobile app.
Step 4: Select the Images you want to Transfer in the Imaging Edge Mobile App
Now head over to your smartphone.
After scanning the QR code, you should now see a screen like this in the Imaging Edge Mobile app.
Choose the date of the photos that you would like to select from.
After selecting the date, the load time will vary depending on how many photos were taken on this date. I have had to wait up to 5 minutes for it to load before.
Select which images you would like to transfer by tapping on an open circle in the top left corner of the photo.
Selected photos will show an orange filled circle with a checkmark.
If you want to enlarge the image, tap on the image itself instead of tapping on the circle.
Item to Note
You cannot choose images from another date to transfer at the same time.
If you try to do this and hit the “Back” button in the top left corner, all the images that you have selected from the date folder you are in will be reset.
Step 5: Hit Send to Start the Transfer Process
Once all of the images that you want to transfer have been selected, hit the send button that is located in the bottom middle of the screen.
After you hit the send button, you will see the photos start to transfer.
There also will be a status bar showing you how many photos have transferred and how many are left.
The time to finish the transfer will vary depending on how many photos you have selected.
Once all the photos have transferred a message box will pop up saying “Items Copied”.
Use the Smart Remote App to Turn your Smartphone Into Remote for Your Sony a6500
Now that you know how to transfer photos from your a6500 to your smartphone by connecting them via WiFi, it’s time to learn how to use your smartphone as a smart remote for your camera.
The steps are very easy, but you need to make sure to download the Smart Remote App from the PlayMemories Online Store and install it on your a6500.
If you have not installed the Smart Remote App and don’t know how to, make sure to check out my article on installing the Time Lapse app on the Sony RX100 V.
Although the apps are different, the steps to install it on your camera are the same.
Step 1: Head to Menu Tab 4 “Application”
Head over to menu tab 4 “Application”. The tab is green in color and should look like this. Select the “Application List” menu item to continue to the next step.
Step 2: Enter the “Application” Menu to Choose the Smart Remote Control App
Once you have selected the “Application List” menu item, you will be brought to this screen where all your applications are stored.
As you can see I have installed the “Smooth Reflection”, and “Time-lapse” app in addition to the “Smart Remote Control” app.
Again, you can find these apps plus many more in the Playmemories Online Store.
Select the Smart Remote Control app from this menu.
Once you select the Smart Remote Control app, the camera will begin to get ready to connect to your smartphone and you will be brought to the QR code screen as we went over above.
Step 3: Connect your a6500 to the Imaging Edge Mobile app on your Smartphone by Scanning the QR Code
As you did when you transferred photos from your camera to your smartphone, connect your a6500 to the Imaging Edge Mobile app by scanning the QR code. To do this:
Make sure your phone’s WiFi is on.
Open up the Imaging Edge Mobile app.
Tap the “Scan NFC/QR Code of the Camera” option.
A message box will pop up at this point.
Tap “Scan QR Code of the Camera”.
A message box will pop up at this point informing you that the app needs access to your camera.
Tap “OK” or “Don’t show this again” to continue.
Scan the QR code on your a6500 with your smartphone.
Once you scan the QR code, a message box will pop up on the Imaging Edge Mobile app.
Tap “Join”.
Step 4: Read the Message About Bluetooth and the Smart Remote Control App
At this point, a message will pop up letting you know that the use of Bluetooth might impact the fluidity of the Smart Remote Control app video feed.
Tap on “Don’t show this again. or “OK” to continue onto the Smart Remote Control app.
Step 5: That’s It! Now you can use Your Smartphone as a Remote Control for Your a6500
That’s it! You’re now able to use your smartphone as a smart remote control for your Sony a6500 via the built-in WiFi on the camera.
Since it is connected through the camera’s internal WiFi, the recommended maximum distance that you can be away from your camera while using this feature is 16 feet.
You are now able to do the following through your smartphone.
I’ve also included some screenshots to show you what the functionalities look like.
- Trigger the photo/start recording
- Open and close the shutter for bulb mode
- Tap to focus if you’re in autofocus mode
- Change the shutter speed
- Change the aperture
- Decrease or increase the ISO
- Select a single shot or burst mode. If burst mode is chosen, you can select Hi, Mid, or Low burst settings
- Select which white balance settings you would like to use
- Use a self-timer. The choices are 2 second or 10-second delay
- View the image taken and transfer the photo to your smartphone
- Change exposure mode when recording video in Movie Mode on the camera
Items to Note
You are not able to change the shooting mode from the Smart Remote Control App.
If you want to change to M, S, A, P, Intelligent Auto, or Movie shooting modes while using the Smart Remote Control app, you have to do it physically on the camera.
Also, you are not able to use Memory Recall 1 or 2 when using the Smart Remote Control app.
Connect Your Sony a6500 with Bluetooth to Your Smartphone for Geotagging
Honestly, I haven’t used this functionality very much since the geotagged location of where I took the photo isn’t that important to me.
Plus, enabling Bluetooth on your camera and smartphone eats up the battery in both devices, so I usually have it turned off when I’m shooting.
All I’m saying is it’s not for me, but I know a lot of other photographers who use this feature and love it.
Here is the easiest way to connect your camera to your smartphone via Bluetooth to geotag the photo location.
Item to Note
The instructions on older YouTube videos that were created before the Sony Imaging Edge Mobile App was released don’t apply anymore.
Since the new Imaging Edge Mobile app was released, the steps on connecting your a6500 to your smartphone for geotagging has changed slightly
Step 1: Go to tab 3 “Wireless” in the Sony a6500 menu
To find the Bluetooth settings on your Sony a6500, first, go to the Tab 3 “Wireless” menu in your camera. The tab is green in color and looks like this.
Step 2: Go to tab 2 of 2 in the “Wireless” menu and select the Bluetooth Settings
Now head over to tab 2 of 2 of the “Wireless” menu, which is the same one from above, and select the “Bluetooth Settings” which is the first option on this menu screen.
Your camera menu should look like this after hitting the “Bluetooth Settings” menu item.
Step 3: Turn the Bluetooth Function on
Hit the “Bluetooth Function” menu button, which is the first one on the list, and turn it on. After turning it on, your menu should look like this.
Step 4: Enable Location Information Link on your camera
Before you can attempt to pair your camera to your smartphone, you will have to enable the “Location Information Link” setting on your camera.
Go back to tab 2 of 2 on the “Wireless” menu, which is where you selected “Bluetooth Settings”
Select the “Loc. Info. Link Set.” menu item. Once you select this menu item, you should be moved to a menu page that looks like the second image below.
Step 5: Turn On Location Info. Link
Once you are in this menu, select “Location Info. Link” and turn it on.
Before you turn it on, this should be the only menu item you can select.
After you turn it on, you will get a pairing message that tells you “Make Bluetooth connection via PlayMemories Mobile on Smartphone”.
As I mentioned before, Sony has not yet updated the name of its mobile app on this page.
What they mean is to make the Bluetooth connection through the Imaging Edge Mobile app.
Your screen should look like this.
Step 6: Open up Imaging Edge Mobile App to continue with the Bluetooth Pairing process
Once your Imaging Edge Mobile app is open, tap on the “Location Information Linkage” option on the app’s home screen.
This is located right under the words “Scan NFC/QR Code of the Camera”. Make sure the Bluetooth on your phone is turned on too.
Once you tap this option, a dialog box should open giving you more information about linking your camera to your smartphone to collect location information.
The dialog box should look like the second image below.
Hit either the “OK” or “Don’t show this again” on the dialog box to continue.
Item to Note
If you don’t see the “Location Information Linkage” option at this point, you need to first send a photo that you’ve taken from your camera to your smartphone through the Imaging Edge Mobile app.
To do this, please follow the instructions above to transfer photos
Step 7: Enable the Location Information Linkage Setting
Once you hit “OK” or “do not show again”, you will enter the Location Information Linkage menu.
Once you’re in this menu, hit the top right toggle to enable Location Information LInkage.
When you toggle this switch on, another dialog box will pop up giving you a warning about the signal becoming more unstable if you use Bluetooth and WiFi at the same time.
The dialog box should look like the second image below.
Hit either “Don’t show this again” or “OK” to continue.
Step 8: Set the Camera
Your smartphone is now ready to be connected to your camera.
If you have not touched your camera for a few minutes, your camera menu will automatically reset back to the “Loc. Info. Link Set.” menu page.
If this is the case, turn the “Location Info. Link” option to on again.
Now, go back to the Imaging Edge Mobile app and hit the “Set the camera” button.
When you hit this button you should be moved to a screen like the one in the second image.
Step 9: Pair your non-paired camera
If you have not paired your camera before, this is where you will choose to pair with your camera’s Bluetooth.
Find your camera under the “Non-Paired Camera”. It should be named ILCE-6500.
Tap on your camera in the “Non-Paired Camera” section.
When you select your camera, a message box will pop up that says “Performing paring. Permit connection by operating the camera”.
Your screen should look like the second image after selecting your non-paired camera.
Item to Note
Again, if you don’t touch your phone for a little bit of time, the pairing process will stop and you will see a message that says “Could not pair”.
If this happens, just tap OK and tap on your camera to start the pairing process over.
Step 10: Allow the connection from your phone on the camera
Now head back over to your camera. You should see a message screen that says “Allow connection from the device?” with the name of your phone.
Your screen should look like the first image.
Click “OK”.
When you click “OK”, you will see that the camera is pairing and there will be a little loading icon in the middle.
Item to Note
If you don’t see your camera screen change to the message in the top photo “Allow connection from the device?”, don’t worry, this happened to me too.
To fix this, go into the Bluetooth menu on your smartphone and manually connect to the a6500’s Bluetooth which should be named ILCE-6500.
Then right after successfully connecting to the a6500’s Bluetooth, go back in and choose “Forget this device”.
After you have done this go back to step 9 and try it again.
Step 11: Enable pairing on your Smartphone
Now head back over to your phone.
You will notice after clicking “OK” on your the a6500 that a Bluetooth Pairing Request message box pops up on your smartphone.
It should look like the 1st image below.
Hit the “Pair” button.
Once you tap the “Pair” button, another message box will pop up to ensure that you have set “Location Info. Link” in the menu of your camera to on.
You have already done this in Step 6.
Tap on “Don’t show this again.” or “OK” to exit this message box.
Step 12″ Select when to allow the Imaging Edge Mobile app to access your location
After you exit the message box, another message box will pop up asking you when to allow your Imaging Edge Mobile app to access your location to provide the geotagged location for your photo.
If you want all your images to be geotagged then select “Allow While Using App”.
If you only want a specific image to be geotagged then select “Allow Once”
Selecting “Don’t Allow” in this menu will mean that none of your photos will be geotagged.
Step 13: Double-check the Bluetooth connection
Head back to the home page of the Imaging Edge Mobile app.
On the “Location Information Linkage” section, you should now see it say “Connected with the camera”.
If it says “Searching for the camera…” make sure your camera is on.
If your camera is on and you are still getting this message, go through the steps one more time to make sure your Bluetooth connection was successful in the first place.
Your screen should look like this.
Item to Note
After making the initial Bluetooth connection, your a6500 should automatically connect to your smartphone’s Bluetooth when you have your Bluetooth setting turned on.
If you ever get the status “Searching for the camera” likely, your camera is just turned off, your camera is on standby, or your Bluetooth is turned off on your phone.
Step 14: Congrats! You just connected your a6500 to your Smartphone for geotagging.
That’s it! Now your a6500 is connected to your smartphone and your photos will now be geotagged with the location of where the photo was taken.
The geotagged photo will display the geolocation on the bottom left corner of the image like the one below.