When you try to view an Axis IP camera using the VLC player, you may get a black screen. The issue is related to the multicast stream and can be fixed by adjusting a few settings on the player and the camera as well.
The screenshot below shows the issue. As you can see, the camera’s video feed shows a black screen and doesn’t cast an image on the player.
It has been reported that the issues show on various Axis camera models, regardless if they use the old or the new firmware. There’s nothing to worry about, check the next section and follow the instructions.
How to fix Axis camera VLC Black Screen problem
There are a few reasons why this issue shows up. It may be caused by problems with the VLC settings (configuration) or video card drivers. Another reason is related to multicast settings on the camera’s side.
Adjust the settings on the VLC player
When the black screen shows on the screen, it may be caused by a misconfiguration on VLC settings or issues with the video card drivers (on your PC/laptop). Most computers use DirectX or OpenGL.
To adjust the settings, open up the VLC player and go to Tool and then Preferences.
On the Input/Codecs tab, under Hardware-accelerated decoding ensure that the option is set to Automatic.
Next, go to the Video tab and ensure that Enable video and Windows decorations are both checked (ticked) as shown in the screenshot. Additionally, change the video out mode to OpenGL Video Output.
Most of the time, just by doing these steps you’ll solve the issues. Some additional things you can try:
- Update the video card driver. Go to your Device Manager and update all the video drivers of your computer/laptop. Just right-click on the drivers and select “Update Driver”.
- Make sure you’re using the latest version of the VLC player.
- Run the VLC player as Administrator (right-click over the VLC icon and choose “Run as Administrator”).
Multicast and VLC Black Screen
Sometimes this issue shows up if you have configured your Axis camera (or any other Axis device) to work with multicast streams. If so, try the following tips.
Leave only one WiFi connection running and disable the rest including any virtual ones. Go to the Network Connections of your computer/laptop and make sure that only one connection is deployed. The rest should be disabled.
Another thing you should do is to enable the Force Multicast RTP via RTSP on your VLC player. Open up the VLC preferences and at the bottom of the option select All to show all the settings.
In advanced preferences, go to Input / Codecs > Demuxers > RTP/RTSP and then check the box beside (enable it) “Force multicast RTP via RTSP”.
Basically, that’s all you have to do. Now you should be able to see your Axis camera live feed showing on the VLC player.
Also, always ensure that the camera is running on the latest firmware. Sometimes issues are caused by software problems that get fixed once a new firmware version is released.
Lastly, if your problem persists, you can contact Axis for further technical assistance (or your installer/reseller). Provide the correct information and they’ll provide support.
