Connecting Canon EOS 850D / Rebel T8i to the Intervalometer App

Step-by-step instructions for pairing your Canon EOS 850D (Rebel T8i) with the Intervalometer for Canon app over Bluetooth.

App Store

Google Play

Before you start

When the Intervalometer app first starts, allow Bluetooth access so it can discover and connect to your EOS 850D.
Allow the app to use location / localisation services when prompted. On many phones this permission is required by the operating system to scan for nearby Bluetooth devices, even though the app does not use your location for tracking.

Pair the EOS 850D with the Intervalometer app

Open the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connection menu.
Press the MENU button and navigate to [Wireless settings: Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connection].
Select Connect to smartphone.
Select [Connect to smartphone].
Add a new device.
Select [Add a device to connect to].
Skip the QR code.
A screen appears with app installation options. Select [Do not display] to skip the QR code, since the Intervalometer app is already installed.
Select Pair via Bluetooth and start pairing.
Select [Pair via Bluetooth], then press the Quick Control/Set button to start pairing.

The camera begins searching for a Bluetooth device.
Open the Intervalometer app on your phone.
Unlock your phone and start the Intervalometer app for Canon.
Tap "Add new camera" in the app.
In the main control screen, tap the camera icon in the top-right corner labelled Add new camera.

The app scans for nearby Bluetooth devices and lists available cameras.
Select your EOS 850D from the list.
When your camera appears, tap the entry that matches your EOS 850D to start pairing.
Confirm Bluetooth pairing on the phone.
Your phone shows a Bluetooth pairing request. Confirm the request to allow the Intervalometer app to connect.

The camera shows an OK confirmation screen.
Confirm pairing on the camera.
Select [OK] on the camera screen to complete pairing.
Check that pairing is complete.
The camera confirms pairing is complete.

In the Intervalometer app, your EOS 850D is listed as the active camera and the main control screen is ready to trigger the shutter.
Start using the Intervalometer app.
You are now ready to use the Intervalometer app as a Bluetooth remote and interval timer for your EOS 850D.

After pairing

Once the connection is established, you can start and stop exposures from your phone without touching the camera.

Set exposure time and interval directly in the app.
Use BULB mode on the camera and let the app control how long each exposure runs.
Run an open-ended sequence or stop automatically after a chosen number of images.
Use the Bluetooth link to minimise camera shake when starting and stopping exposures.

Cancel pairing and start again

If you change phones or run into connection problems, delete the existing pairing and set it up again.

On the EOS 850D

Press MENU and navigate to [Wireless settings: Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connection] → [Connect to smartphone].
Select [Edit/delete device].
Choose the smartphone to remove.
Select [Delete connection information] and confirm with [OK].

On the smartphone

Open your phone's Bluetooth settings.
Find the entry for your EOS 850D and remove or forget the device.

After removing the pairing on both camera and phone, follow the steps in the pairing section above to connect the Intervalometer app again from scratch.

Troubleshooting

Phone cannot find the camera

Make sure the camera is on the [Add a device to connect to] screen and that you pressed the Quick Control/Set button to start pairing.
Check that Bluetooth is enabled on your smartphone and that the EOS 850D (Rebel T8i) Bluetooth setting is active.
If the camera still does not appear, cancel pairing on both camera and phone, restart both devices, and try again.

Camera shows a different smartphone name or will not pair

On the camera, navigate to [Wireless settings: Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connection] → [Connect to smartphone] and use [Edit/delete device] to delete any smartphones you no longer use.
On your phone, remove old EOS 850D entries from the Bluetooth device list.
Repeat the full pairing process, including tapping Add new camera in the Intervalometer app.

Intervalometer app does not connect, but the camera shows a paired phone

Ensure no other app is trying to control the camera in the background. If you use Canon's own remote control app, close it completely before using the Intervalometer app.
In the Intervalometer app, tap your camera entry or use the reconnect option to establish the Bluetooth link again.
If the problem persists, delete the pairing on both camera and smartphone (as described above) and set it up again from scratch.

Camera shows "Connection target not found"

On the camera, remove the existing phone entry under [Wireless settings: Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connection] → [Connect to smartphone] → [Edit/delete device] by selecting your phone and choosing [Delete connection information].
On your phone, open Bluetooth settings and remove / forget the EOS 850D entry.
Start the pairing process again from the beginning and, in the Intervalometer app, use Add new camera to scan for the EOS 850D and add it as a new device instead of tapping connect on an old entry.

If none of these steps solve the issue, please contact us at help@intervalometer.app and include your camera model, phone model, and a short description of what happens during pairing.