Many users want to disable the white lights (IR LED lights) on Dahua cameras, most likely because their area is well lit and there’s no need for additional light. Some other users are bothered by the camera’s lights or are trying to keep the camera discreet.
In this guide, we will show how to turn off or adjust the white light on Dahua cameras via the DVR. Also, you can make the light dimmer, or brighter, depending on your preference. It also can be done physically on the camera which will be explained later on. Note: These instructions applicable to HD-CVI cameras.
Keep in mind that the white light or the IR lights are used by the camera to capture images in low light conditions.
When it gets dark, the IR lights turn on automatically and the camera will be able to record black and white recordings. If you disable the white lights and the area is not well lit, then the image on the footage will most likely be pitch black.
Turn off IR LED lights on Dahua cameras
Connect the camera to the DVR and then go to the Live View screen. You should see the camera there as shown in the screenshot.
Then we need to bring up the OSD (On-Screen Menu) which is an extra menu inside the camera’s chipset. OSD offers a few options that are built-in on the camera’s internal software, one of them being the option to switch off the IR lights.
To bring up the OSD menu, right-click with the mouse anywhere on the screen, then select “PTZ menu” and then on the following menu click on the + sign of the Iris (bottom right corner). After that, you should see the OSD menu on the camera’s screen.
One of the lines reads Light: Smart Light and that’s the option that we need to turn off. Using the little menu on the screen, navigate with the DOWN or UP button to the light option.
Then to turn it off, click the RIGHT button on the menu. The IR lights will go off on the camera. The RIGHT and LEFT buttons work as a knob, you can keep clicking it and you turn it on again.
Once you turn it off, the picture on the screen will be pitch black (if it’s nighttime) or you can see something if there’s environmental light.
Adjust Brightness and Sensitivity
Using the little menu, you can adjust other settings on the camera such as the Brightness or the Sensitivity.
Navigate to the Light option with the arrows (up-down), hit the + Iris (which serves as “enter”) and then you should see the Level and Sensitivity modes.
Adjust them according to your needs. For example, you can set the Sensitivity to 1 and the camera will turn the lights on only when it’s really dark.
Don’t forget to Exit through the little menu and Save the settings. You’re done once the OSD menu is gone from the screen.
We recommend performing these settings at night, as you can adjust them accordingly and check on the progress via the local monitor.
Turn off the IR light by cutting the cable
Another way to turn off the IR lights is by unplugging the cable of the IR block from the camera’s motherboard. Open up the front of the camera, inspect the IR block and trace the cabling.
Usually, the cable should be plugged into the motherboard. Simply disconnect it and you are done.
You may need to use a small screwdriver to force the connection out. Basically, the IR block won’t be powered anymore, thus it won’t turn on. The camera will still work fine, just no white light.
Final Word
The method via the OSD menu is easier since you don’t need to climb to the camera, all can be done via the DVR and remotely. However, cutting physically the cable of the IR block is an option if the lights can’t be turned off via the DVR.
The OSD menu comes up only on Dahua coaxial cameras, which are the cameras that get plugged into the back of the DVR via the BNC connectors.
If you’re using an IP camera, simply access the camera via the web browser, locate the IR lights option on the settings and switch it off.
