EOS Utility 3 problem in macOS Catalina

I updated to Catalina 10.15.3 (non beta) and now EOS Utility 2.14.31 works again.

I just updated to Catalina 1.15.3 and:

My 7DMkII is now OK with EOS Utility 2.14.31 but not with EOS Utility 3

My EOS RP is not OK with EOS Utility 2 (does not recognize camera) and STILL not with EOS Utility 3 (Communication error - although PCsymbol shows on camera).

Just found, downloaded, and installed EU 3.12.1 - problems solved (at least for me)

Catalina (10.15.2)

Hi, a useful discussion on the Utility 3 v Mac connectivity. I have 7D mkII still failing to link using 10.15.3 and 3.12.1. I haven't tried the 5D mkIV yet. Anyone else still having problems?

I recently purchased a Canon 77D. What is the situation regarding Mac Catalina, 10.15.3?

I did not find it on Canon's list.

Hello,

I'm in trouble with Catalina 10.15.7 and Eos Utility 3.13.10, when I start the mac and connect the camera for the first time EU works fine but if I disconnect or switch off the camera for some reason there is to way to get it working again! EU starts but all choices are gray and not selectable, the only way to go is to restart the macbook!
Same behavior with EOS R and 5DmkIV. Anyone else is experiencing the same problem? This is annoying me a lot since a relay on remote camera control in many situation.

Same problem here with Catalina 10.15.7, Canon R5 and EOS Utility 3 (3.13.10.2) on MHP late 2013, tethered via USB 3.0. No solution yet.

Just found this on Canon Forum and it solved my problem:

"Here is what I have discovered:

1. WiFi must be disabled, that can be done by disabling or setting airplane mode on
2. The EOS Utility that appears in the menu bar at the top of the Mac display has an option that should be set to
   • “Start EOS Utility automatically when the camera is connected” to make life easier.
   • Even when set to not start automatically you can start EOS Utility 3 manually and all works
   • If you do not see the menu bar item you can find EOS Utility in Applications > Canon Utilities > EOS Utility

When setting this to “Start Automatically.. “ I paid closer attention to what started when I plugged in the camera into the USB port followed by turning on the camera. This is when I realized that another program prompted me to import photos, which I believe prevents the EOS Utility from seeing the camera. Once I quit the offending program and tried to connect then everything worked properly for both settings of the EOS Utility in the menu bar!

The offending program was a NAS utility that keeps shared folder in sync; when something is connected to the USB port it automatically prompts you to import photos. Responding no does not seem to free up the camera for the EOS Utility, however, ImageCapture is able to view the camera photos.

Bottom line: turn off Wifi on the camera, then watch for a program to automatically start when you turn on the USB connected camera. If the started program is not the EOS Utility then stop that programming from running and try to connect again!

Edit: I was able to connect to the camera via USB even with WiFi enabled and airplane mode off. This works for Catalina and Mojave 10.14.6 (Mojave works with NAS utility running, Catalina does not)"

In my case Google Drive (or "Backup and Sync from Google" as it's called now) was preventing Eos Utility from communicating with the camera. I just exit Google Drive and everything works fine.

So be sure you don't have any running application attempting to import pictures from connected cameras

FRANCE5CO said:

In my case Google Drive (or "Backup and Sync from Google" as it's called now) was preventing Eos Utility from communicating with the camera. I just exit Google Drive and everything works fine.

So be sure you don't have any running application attempting to import pictures from connected cameras

Click to expand...

Wow. I had similar problems with my EOS R for 1+ year and my workaround was to launch EOS Utility 3 or Webcam Utility (in some app) before turn on the camera. It worked for me.

Yesterday I suspected some app locked camera to be used with EOS Utility. I spent half a day today to find out what is it and noticed PTPCamera.app launches each time I turn on my cam what prevents EOS Utility to detect the cam. I tried to close Backup and Sync from Google and bingo! PTPCamera.app stopped launching each time when the camera was turned on.

Now I'm trying to manage the strange behavior of the Backup and Sync app. I disabled any actions with USB devices but no result. It launches PTPCamera.app so far.

miric said:

FRANCE5CO said:

In my case Google Drive (or "Backup and Sync from Google" as it's called now) was preventing Eos Utility from communicating with the camera. I just exit Google Drive and everything works fine.

So be sure you don't have any running application attempting to import pictures from connected cameras

Click to expand...

Wow. I had similar problems with my EOS R for 1+ year and my workaround was to launch EOS Utility 3 or Webcam Utility (in some app) before turn on the camera. It worked for me.

Yesterday I suspected some app locked camera to be used with EOS Utility. I spent half a day today to find out what is it and noticed PTPCamera.app launches each time I turn on my cam what prevents EOS Utility to detect the cam. I tried to close Backup and Sync from Google and bingo! PTPCamera.app stopped launching each time when the camera was turned on.

Now I'm trying to manage the strange behavior of the Backup and Sync app. I disabled any actions with USB devices but no result. It launches PTPCamera.app so far.

Click to expand...

I also disabled auto import from USB but nothing changed, I suspect it's a bug. Let me know if you find a solution

FRANCE5CO said:

I also disabled auto import from USB but nothing changed, I suspect it's a bug. Let me know if you find a solution

Click to expand...

On the weekend wave of digging `*.plist` and other system files many times I tried to find any hook or hint to kill the feature in the Google app but no result for the moment.

FRANCE5CO said:

I also disabled auto import from USB but nothing changed, I suspect it's a bug. Let me know if you find a solution

Click to expand...

Had a chat with Google support, sent them screen cast demo of workflow and screenshots of EOS Utility 3 and Webcam Utility. They are trying to figure out the issue reason now. They sent me a link to a new Backup app installer but the issue is still here.

Just a hint, I fought my way trough this and found one way to connect. And now 5D Mark IV works flawlessly over WiFi with M1 Mac Mini with macOS Big Sur.

- camera connected to network with manual IP settings

- NOT starting EOS Utility 3 directly, but EOS Utility in this folder:





This EOS Utility then itself starts the EU3. But directly starting EOS U 3 didn't connect

Did you ever get the Catalina -eos utility issue fixed?

in my case it’s very erratic, sometimes it works and sometimes doesn’t. As soon as I connect the 5D M IV to my MPB 16, EOS launches, but none of the options are active. I’ve tried everything, reinstalling, different ports, different cables, etc. The software does not work properly with Catalina and it does not look that canon qI’ll ever fix it

Since Google Backup and Sync is not running, EOS Utility works flawless in my case. Are you sure you don't have any software running in background that is trying to connect to USB devices?

I’m on Big Sur and M1 but it is not relevant. I removed Backup an Sync and installed brand new Google Drive. It does not have that issue. Also when I usually want to import photos from my wired EOS R through EOS Utility, I quit both Apple Photos and Lightroom and then it works. The main thing you should remember is PTPCamera process should be absent in Activity Monitor. It causes the issue with EOS Utility. If something does not work, just check it there and quit.

Hi everyone-joined the forums just to comment on this helpful thread.

Despite being shown as from 2019, the advice about Google Drive and PTPCamera was more help than I'd recived in weeks of issues.

Macbook Pro 16" - Canon R6 - USB-C cable and EOS Utility can't see the camera connected. Workaround was unplugging the cable and plugging it back in again - that usually worked but a hassle.

When I quit Google Backup and Sync via MacOS menu bar, EOS utility started working. Huh! All this time and that was interplaying somehow. Happy now thanks guys.

Glad it was useful to you!

Sad that after three years the problem is still there

captaineos said:

Hi everyone-joined the forums just to comment on this helpful thread.

Despite being shown as from 2019, the advice about Google Drive and PTPCamera was more help than I'd recived in weeks of issues.

Macbook Pro 16" - Canon R6 - USB-C cable and EOS Utility can't see the camera connected. Workaround was unplugging the cable and plugging it back in again - that usually worked but a hassle.
When I quit Google Backup and Sync via MacOS menu bar, EOS utility started working. Huh! All this time and that was interplaying somehow. Happy now thanks guys.

Click to expand...

The issue still persists on the latest Big Sur, M1. I just have the Activity Monitor app icon in Dock and run it each time when I connect my R. Then I filter apps there by "ptp" and do quit. Then run EOS Utility. Of course, I run Lightroom Classic after that to import a bunch of new photos there. You might ask why. Because Lightroom still does not provide custom folder names I need (YYYY_MM_DD). I have the entire library in this format and don't want to rename everything.

I still don't get why Apple didn't manage a function "do nothing" upon a camera connection to avoid launch PTPCamera app at all.