How to view Hikvision cameras or NVR on Google Chrome

Many users want to view their Hikvision cameras or access the DVR/NVR using Google Chrome. What plugin to install on Chrome? How to see a Hikvision camera or NVR using Chrome?

Since Hikvision cannot be accessed directly using Google Chrome, you need to do a  few tricks. In this step-by-step guide, we will show how to access a Hikvision device (IP camera, NVR, DVR) using Google Chrome.

And let’s face it, Chrome is better and faster than Internet Explorer. The Hikvision experience will be much more comfortable and smoother if you’re using the Chrome browser.

You’ll be able to see the live feed, playback, modify the settings, etc. If you think Mozilla Firefox is better, read the instructions in this link.

How to access a Hikvision device in Chrome?

If you just try to access your device (IP camera, DVR, NVR) via Chrome you’ll see a message that says “Please click here to download and install the plug-in.

Even if you try to download it, nothing will happen. Or, you may install it but the message comes again and again and you still can’t see any camera.

To view your device using the Chrome browser, you must add the IE tab extension to Google Chrome. The IE tab emulates the IE rendering engine which allows the use of Java, Silver Light, and Active X controls that work with Hikvision devices.

So, by installing this Chrome extension, we will emulate the environment of Internet Explorer, thus successfully installing the Hikvision plugin.

Step 1. Open a new tab and click Apps at the top right corner. Or you can type this into your Chrome browser URL box: chrome://apps/.
Step 2. Once you go to your Apps section, from there you click on Web Store (it will bring you to the Chrome apps).
Step 3. Now that the Chrome app store is open, search for “IE Tab” in the search bar (as shown below in the picture below). This extension will let you access the Hikvision devices from Chrome.
Step 4. Click on “Add to Chrome” for the “IE Tab” extension (Chrome app).
Step 5. Once that has clicked, a download file will show up at the bottom of the page. Click the file and then hit “Run” when prompted. In other words, you need to install this extension/app.
Step 6. Now you will have an icon to the far right of the address bar. Click on the icon (which looks like the letter “e”).
Step 7. After this, you’ll have a new address bar on your browser. Type in your device’s IP address into it (on the second URL bar, the one with the Internet Explorer logo).

You can type the IP address or the DDNS of Hikvision NVR, DVR, or even a single IP camera. For example http://192.168.1.100 or http://myaddress.myddns.com. Remember to use the “HTTP” before the IP address, don’t just type the IP.
Step 8. Log in with your username and password. And you’ll be able to see the live view and the rest of the settings of your Hikvision CCTV device.

Note: Install any plugins, if the browser asks you to. If you see a message prompting you to install the I.E. helper.exe, install it since this piece of software is used to communicate with the Internet Explorer engine.

Is the IE Tab extension safe to use on Google Chrome?

There’s nothing safe on the Internet, but his plugin is used by over two million satisfied people and the reviews online say that it’s safe. The developer takes the security of this popular Chrome extension quite seriously.

The extension is free for noncommercial users. If you’re using it for commercial purposes you need to purchase a license from the developer (BLackfish Software LLC) which is relatively affordable.

Why does the regular Chrome plugin doesn’t work for Hikvivison devices?

The main reason why the Hikvision devices can’t show live video on Google Chrome is that it does rely on a feature called NPAPI which was developed by Netscape many years ago. Obviously, this feature is no longer supported on Chrome.

Once the NPAPI feature was discontinued from Google in 2015, Hikvision didn’t bother to fix it or find a solution (they’ve acknowledged though).

That’s why the users still need to use Internet Explorer to access their Hikvision devices or use Chrome extensions such as I.E. Tab.