Are you wondering how to find the IP address of the security camera that you just purchased? Finding the IP address of the camera is important because you can use it to access the camera’s settings or even add the camera to a recorder or camera management software.
There are many ways you can locate the security camera’s IP address. The easiest one is by using the software that the camera comes with. Each manufacturer provides its own tools that are supposed to work with their brands only.
Other methods include using an IP scanner to scan the network and list all the devices found (including the camera). Another way is by checking the devices connecting the router and locating the camera.
In this complete guide, we will show step by step how to find the camera’s IP address regardless of the brand name.
The camera needs to be connected to the network properly otherwise it may not be detected. Additionally, we will list all the IP locator tools that each manufacturer uses.
How to Connect the Security Camera to the Network
There are a few ways you can connect the camera, but the basic idea is that the camera needs to be on the same network as the laptop/PC where the IP scanning tool is installed.
Let’s take a look at the diagram below. The camera needs to be connected to the same router (WiFi or regular) where the laptop is getting the internet from. Or it can be hooked up to a switch and this switch must be connected to the same router where the laptop/PC is connected.
If your laptop is getting the internet from router A and the camera is connected to a different router that has no relation to your network, then the scanning software will not be able to detect the camera. That’s because they are on different networks.
You can power the camera via a 12V DC power adapter or using the PoE feature. Power-over-Ethernet allows the camera to transmit the data and get power via the same Ethernet cable. Make sure the switch or the router has PoE ports available, you should be able to see a “PoE” inscription above the port.
How to find the IP address of a Security Camera
A security IP camera is a type of electronic device that sends and receives data through the Internet (or local network). Each camera needs a unique IP address that you can use to view the live camera or manage it over the network/Internet.
There are three basic ways to find the IP address of any camera:
- Use the manufacturer’s IP locator software
- Use a third-party IP scanner
- Find the IP address of the camera on the router’s settings
Find the IP camera address using the manufacturer’s software
This is the easiest way to find the IP address of a security camera as long as the camera is connected to the same network. Each manufacturer provides its own camera tool that can be used to detect the IP address of security cameras.
For example, Hikvision uses the SADP tool to detect its cameras and recorders. Download the software on your laptop, install it and then run it. The tool will scan the local network and list any Hikvision devices found.
On this tool, you can modify the IP address of the camera to match your network, set the Getaway, Subnet Mask, check the model number of the unit, the MAC address, etc. Basically, it allows you to do all the necessary modifications to the camera.
Below we’ve listed all the IP detection camera tools used by major manufacturers worldwide. Simply find out the brand of the camera and then download their scanning tool. Install it on your laptop/PC, run it and let it scan the network. All the cameras found will be listed and you can adjust the settings.
Additionally, you can check the user guide that the camera comes with and see what software name you’re supposed to use to detect the IP address of the camera. Sometimes the software comes on an accompanying CD, but most of the time can be downloaded online on their official website.
Discovery Tools for IP Cameras
These tools help you to find the default IP address or current IP address of your IP camera, NVR or DVR.
- 3xLogic: Visix IP Setup Utility. Scroll down to the “Utilities” section.
- ACTi: IP Utility 4
- Alphafinity: IPC Search Tool
- Arecont: AV IP Utility / AV200. Find the one that is compatible with your device.
- Avigilon: Camera Configuration Tool (CCT)
- Axis: Axis IP Utility / Axis Device Manager
- Bosch: Configuration Manager
- Brickcom: Easy Config
- Dahua: ConfigTool. Applicable to Dahua OEMs sold under these brand names: Activecam, Advidia, Amcrest, Ameta, Ascendent, Backstreet Surveillance, BV Security, CCTV Security Pros, CCTV Star, CP Plus (Orange Line), Dax Networks, eLine, ENS (formerly Eastern CCTV and SavvyTech), Expose, Lorex, GSS, Honeywell, IC Realtime, Ikegami, Impath Networks, Inaxsys, IndigoVision, Infinity CCTV, Innekt, Intelbras, KBVision, Lumixen, Maxron, Montavue, Oco, Optiview, Rhodium, RVI, Saxco, Security Camera King (Elite), Space Technology, Speco, ToughDog, Tyco Holis, Tyco Illustra Essentials, Unisight, VIP Vision, Watchnet, Winic, Zuum.
- Digital Watchdog: DW IP Finder
- EverFocus: IP Utility Program
- Geovision: GV IP Utility
- Hanwha / Samsung: Wisenet Device Manager
- Hikvision: SADP tool. Applicable to Hikvision OEMs sold under these brand names: ABUS, Acegear, Activecam, ADJ, Advidia, Alarm.com, Alibi, Allnet, Alula, Anaveo, Annke, Arcdyn, Armix, Aukoo Technology, Aventura Technologies, Avue, Cantek, CCTVStar, ClearWay, Covert Security, Dax Networks, DMP, Dodwell BMS, DSS, Dunlop, DVR Unlimited, Ellipse Security, Epcom, Esypop, Ezviz, Gess Technologies, Global Network Security, GovComm, Grundig, GVS Security, Hinovision, Hitachi, Hitosino, Honeywell, Hunt CCTV, Hyundai Security, Infinite Pixels, Inkovideo, Innekt, Interlogix, Invidtech, JFL, Jlinks, LaView, LTS, Mercury Security, MicroView, Nelly’s Security, Norelco SafeCam, Northern Cameras, Novicam, NTT, Oculur, Onix. Power Technology, Protect Group, Raster, Remark Thermal, RVi, Safety Vision, Safire, Scati, SecurityTronix, Sentry CCTV, Sharp, Siqura, Smart CT Solutions, SnapAV / Luma, Space Technology, Syscom, Technomate, Toshiba, Trendnet, Vantage Security, Vezco CCTV, Videoteknika, Winic CCTV, Zicom.
- Illustra: Illustra Connect
- Interlogix: TruVision Device Manager
- Longse: IPC Search
- LTS: Platinum IP Portal / Platinum Toolset
- Merit Lilin: IPScan
- Milesight: Milesight Smart Tools
- Oncam: Camera Configuration Tool
- OpenEye: Network Camera Manager
- Panasonic: Easy IP Setup Tool
- Pelco: Pelco Device Utility
- Sony: SNC Toolbox
- Uniview: EZTools. Applicable to Uniview OEMs sold under these brand names: 2M Technology, Cantronic, CCTV Security Pros, CNB, CP Plus, Dax Networks, Dorani, Eclipse, Envirocams, Fermax Australia, Galaxy, Geovision, Gess, Global, Grupo PV (Voxel), Invid Tech, LTS, Norden (Eyenor), Openeye, Oviss, People Fu, Q-See Presidio line, Raster, Revo, Security Camera Warehouse, Uniview Tec.
- Vivotek: Vivotek Shepherd
Find the IP address of the camera using the IP address finder tool
An IP camera or a recorder like any other network device can be located on the network using generic IP scanner software. These tools are usually called IP address finders and can be installed on the computer.
Once you run, the tool will scan your local network and will list all the devices connected to the Internet (network). It will list devices such as printers, scanners, IP cameras, NVR, DVR, doorbells, and basically any device that has an IP address.
There are many free IP scanners that you can use, however, the two most popular are Advanced IP Scanner and Angry IP scanner, both available for Windows and Mac. Download one of them, install it and then run the software.
As shown in the screenshot below, it will list all the devices. Find which one is your camera, either by inspecting the brand name or by ruling out the other devices.
Detect the camera’s IP address on the router settings
Another way to figure out the security camera’s IP address is by inspecting the devices connected to the router. If you access your router, you should see all the “DHCP clients” or the attached devices.
Basically, all the devices connected to the router or to the switch under the router will be listed on the router settings. It’s like the router is saying “these are the devices that I can see on my end”.
All you have to do is inspect the list, rule out the devices that are not cameras such as “phone”, “printer”, etc until you locate the camera’s address. Sometimes the brand name of the camera will be displayed on the list (for example “Hikvision” or “Axis”).
Additionally, the camera’s IP address can be identified using the MAC address of the camera which is listed on the camera’s box.
The MAC address is a unique identifier that links the devices to the manufacturer, the address can be found on the label or sticker of the package (sometimes it’s on the camera itself).
For example, access the router by its default IP address (usually it’s 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), enter the password of the router, and navigate to the attached devices. Inspect the list carefully and locate the camera (either by identifying it via the MAC address or simply the manufacturer’s brand name).
Do you need the camera’s IP address if you’re using a PoE NVR?
Technically you don’t need to find out the IP address of the camera if you’re using an NVR with a built-in PoE switch. In this case, the cameras are not plugged into an external switch or router, instead, they go straight to the back of the NVR.
The NVR will auto-detect the cameras, assign them a unique IP address, activate them automatically by giving the cameras the same credentials as the NVR, and then they’ll just show up on the screen.
Most of the newer NVRs work like this, there’s no need to do any configuration, they’re designed to be plug and play. However, if the cameras are not new and were used with another NVR, then you need to find the camera’s IP address and reset the settings to default so the new NVR can auto-detect them.
Note: The PoE NVR will automatically place the camera on a subnet, meaning this IP camera address is only used for video transmission from the camera to the NVR. You can then access the recordings and live view after connecting NVR to a monitor. You can’t access the camera individually, you can access them through the NVR only.
How to access the camera via web browser using the IP Address?
The IP address of the camera needs to be modified to match the router’s IP address. For example, if the router’s IP address is 192.168.1.1, then the camera’s IP address should be the same format 192.168.1.XXX where XXX is a number between 2 and 254. We commend using a higher range to avoid any IP conflicts, let’s say set the camera’s IP address to 192.168.1.100.
Some logic, if the router’s address is 192.168.0.1, then the camera should be in the same format (for example 192.168.0.100). Or if the router’s address is 10.0.0.1, then the camera can be set on 10.0.0.100. To get the idea, the camera’s IP address has to match your local network.
Once you have identified and properly modified the IP address of the camera, you can access the camera directly via the web browser.
Open your browser, preferably Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, and type the IP address of the camera or the recorder (NVR, DVR). For example http://192.168.1.100.
If everything is okay, you should see the login screen. Sometimes the camera will ask the user to install plugins, install them, and refresh the page. Then type the username and the password of the camera.
You should see the live view of the camera and the configuration or the setting page (the terms depend on the brand name).
On the settings, you can make adjustments on the camera such as image parameters, color improvement, or network settings such as frame rate, bandwidth, compression type, etc.
In other words, all the settings that the camera offers can be adjusted by accessing it via a web browser using the IP address.
Some parameters that you need to pay attention to are the ports. These ports are used to access the camera remotely via a phone app or a computer. There are four main ports:
- HTTP port (for remote computer access),
- Server port (for phone apps)
- RTSP port (for remote streaming) and
- ONVIF port (to hook up the camera on a third-party software/app).
You may need to modify these ports and make them unique, or you can leave the default values. Depending on the camera’s brand, you may need to open (port forward) one or all of them on the router for remote access.
However, for the new camera models, there’s no need to do any port forwarding, they’re designed differently and all you have to do is install the camera’s phone app and scan the QR code on the box or on the settings page. Then you should see all the cameras.
This new technology is called P2P and allows the user to easily access the camera’s live streaming locally and remotely by using the UID (unique ID) number or the camera.
Conclusion
Finding the IP address of your security camera is quite easy, the fastest method being the one where you use the IP finder tool provided by the manufacturer of the camera.
Simply download the software that works for your camera, install it, and then scan the network. The camera will be listed there and you can modify the password accordingly.
Other methods include using a generic IP scanner tool such as the one explained above, or just checking the router’s settings and inspecting the devices connected to it. If you have any suggestions or questions, let us know in the comment box.
