Adobe Lightroom Classic supports native tethered shooting for compatible Sony cameras using a direct USB connection, provided specific camera settings and system requirements are met.
Why the USB Driver (AppleT8122 vs AppleT8142) Isn't the Root Cause
The strings AppleT8122USBXHC1 and AppleT8142USBXHC1 refer to Apple Silicon hardware chip architecture identifiers embedded in the macOS kernel for the USB xHCI controller:
- AppleT8122 corresponds to an M2-series or specific Apple Silicon chip generation.
- AppleT8142 corresponds to a different generation (such as M3 or M4 variants).
You cannot manually change or "swap" these low-level Apple Silicon kernel extension drivers on macOS, as they are hard-coded to the physical SoC (System on a Chip) inside your MacBook Pro and iMac. The failure to tether on your MacBook is governed by macOS USB/PTP communication, camera network/USB settings, or Rosetta/permission quirks rather than the chip's internal controller name.
How to Fix Sony A7IV Tethering on Your MacBook Pro
Walk through these essential checks that frequently block Sony PC Remote communication on macOS (full disclosure, the Sony-related and LR-related instructions are from the internet, I shoot with a Canon R1, tethering has not been an issue for me on my M4 Pro MBP though I don't use LR for that).
Disable Smartphone Control on the Camera
- On your Sony A7IV, go to MENU > Network (globe icon) > Ctrl w/ Smartphone > Ctrl w/ Smartphone > Off. Leaving this enabled frequently hijacks or blocks the USB PC Remote signal.
Configure PC Remote via USB
- On the camera, go to MENU > Network > PC Remote Function > Set PC Remote to On.
- Check PC Remote Cnct Method and ensure it is set to USB (rather than Wi-Fi/pairing modes).
Check Rosetta
- If you are running an older version of Lightroom Classic on Apple Silicon, tethering plugins or backend frameworks may require Rosetta translation.
- Quit Lightroom Classic, go to your Applications folder, right-click Adobe Lightroom Classic, select Get Info, and check the box for "Open using Rosetta", then relaunch. (Note: Native support improved in LrC 13.3+, but Rosetta can bypass architecture-specific plug-in handoff issues).
Inspect macOS Privacy & Security Permissions
- On your MacBook Pro, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network or Automation / Files and Folders, and ensure Lightroom Classic has full permissions.
- Also check System Settings > Privacy & Security > USB & Accessories (or accessories connection prompts) and set it to Always Allow when connecting the camera.
Cables and Ports
- Swap out the USB cable or test a different USB-C port on the MacBook Pro. Sony A7IV tethering is notoriously sensitive to power delivery and data-line shielding over USB-C
